Tan Choon Ghee

072

b. Penang, 1930 - d. 2010
Tan Choon Ghee
Khoo Kongsi At Cannon Square
1985
signed and dated ‘CHOON GHEE 1985’ (bottom left)
watercolour on paper
53.5 x 63.5cm
Provenance
Private collection, Kuala Lumpur; acquired directly from artist. Private collection, Kuala Lumpur.
Estimate
RM 8,000 – 15,000
Price Realised
RM 24,200

LITERATURE
The Art of Tan Choon Ghee, cover essay by Ooi Kok Chuen, Georgetown Printers, Penang, 1997, illustrated p. 55.
1986 Desk Calendar, Malaysia Smelting Corp Bhd, illustrated in section December ‘85 - February ‘86.
Ooi Kok Chuen, Being A Part of What You Paint, Penang Economic Monthly, Issue 03-11, March 2011, illustrated p. 49.

The Leong San Tong (Dragon Mountain Hall), better known as Khoo Kongsi, is one of Choon Ghee’s favourite subjects, and this piece done in 1985 is outstanding. Khoo Kongsi, set up for immigrants from the Sin Kang Village in China, is one of the five big clans in Penang, the others being those of Cheah, Yeoh, Lim and Tan. The present temple was rebuilt in 1902-1906 after the original 1851 structure was burnt down in 1894, purportedly due to lightning strike. Located in Cannon Street, it was one of the locations for the Hollywood film, Anna and the King.

Aesthetically, it shows Choon Ghee’s sound draughtsmanship, attention to details in the ornate roof, and his beautiful control with pastel hues and subdued reds. The whole composition is enlivened by the activities of young and old, within and outside the confines of the temple building.