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In his hard-cover book, The Art of Tan Choon Ghee, the artist wrote: “the Tower Bridge is the most ideal theme to a painter”. Built across the River Thames, the bridge spans 244 metres long and reaches a height of 65 metres tall, with a horizontal sky walkway. It is a combined bascule and suspension bridge and was given a facelift in 2008. Here, Choon Ghee captures this relic shrouded in slight fog creating an aura of mystery.
Born in Penang in 1930, Tan Choon Ghee is one of the best known watercolour artists in Malaysia. He received his art education at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore in 1951 and Slade School of Art, London in 1959. He won a German Government scholarship and Australian Government TV set design scholarship and was honoured with a retrospective exhibition from Penang State Art Gallery in 2000. Choon Ghee is known for his beautiful watercolour renditions of common people in Penang and his capturing of Penang streetscape. A Tribute Exhibition was also held in remembering Tan Choon Ghee at Art Salon @ Seni, Kuala Lumpur in 2009.