Writer, Cheong Kiet Cheng: Dust and the Silence in the Sun, essay for Cheong Kiet Cheng’s solo exhibition at Wei-Ling Gallery, 2019

From 21 August to 22 September 2019, Wei-Ling Contemporary presents Dust and the Silence in the Sun, Cheong Kiet Cheng’s third solo exhibition with the gallery, exploring spiritual connections between our world and the universe. Drawing inspiration from space travel, meditation, and nature, Cheong creates surreal, monochromatic compositions that evoke a sense of tranquillity and contemplation. Her meditative drawing process allows imagery to emerge organically, emphasizing the fluid relationship between artistic expression and spiritual awareness. In this series, Cheong embraces black ink on white canvas, using the medium’s natural flow to guide her creative process. Her round canvases create a unique perspective, distorting figures and space to emphasize depth and movement. Dust and the Silence in the Sun is supported by UOB Malaysia.

"As part of Cheong's new series are five round canvases. The choice of this format is not merely aesthetic, rather serves as a symbol of the cycle of life. Cheong questions what actually shapes the world we live in. By interrelating various living creatures in one frame, she came to realise that the universe constitutes of different elements that co-exist. Everything runs in circles, turning together in the same direction and at the same time."

— Excerpt from Dust and the Silence in the Sun by Amanda Ariawan, 2019.

Read Amanda’s full writing here.

About Cheong Kiet Cheng

Cheong Kiet Cheng is a Malaysian artist whose works have consistently highlighted the relationship between humans and nature. Her art is deeply influenced by a decade of Zazen meditation, focusing on nature and depicting life’s journey from a Buddhist perspective. Using surrealistic imagery, Kiet Cheng invited viewers to contemplate and reflect on their own lives, beliefs, and experiences. The romantic quality of her work is a reflection of her own personal feelings toward nature, drawing inspiration from philosophy, literature, poetry, music, and theatrical drama. She has won several major awards and prizes, including the main prize at the 2018 UOB Painting of the Year (Malaysia) competition amongst many others, and was the recipient of the 2018 UOB-Fukuoka Asian Art Museum Artists Residency Programme. 

About Wei-Ling Gallery

Established in 2002 by Lim Wei-Ling, Wei-Ling Gallery aims to nurture the development of Malaysia’s contemporary art scene. In 2011, the gallery expanded with its second space, Wei-Ling Contemporary, dedicated to showcase special projects and more experimental art forms. With two art spaces in Kuala Lumpur, it establishes itself as the largest commercial gallery in Malaysia. In its continuous efforts of cultivating the local contemporary art scene, Wei-Ling Gallery is also one of the most prolific publishers of art publications in Malaysia, valuing the importance of archiving and encourages an appreciation for contemporary art through its publications. Learn more about Wei-Ling Gallery on weiling-gallery.com.