This month, we feature an artwork from the collection of Khai and Annie Lee.
By Kay Lynn Chua
Chan Kok Hooi, Windows to the Souls, 2011, Acrylic on Canvas, Glass & Wooden Frame, Stainless Steel, 25.8 cm x 61.2 cm. Image courtesy of Khai and Annie Lee.
Penang native Chan Kok Hooi (b.1974) has established himself as a Malaysian contemporary artist who never fails to excite. He is recognised for his extensive use of mediums and images to create artwork which is not only barrier-breaking but also relatable to the viewer. Hailing from the prestigious Malaysian Institute of Art, Chan has exhibited worldwide in countries such as Singapore, Japan, USA, and China. Locally, he has been awarded The Young Contemporaries (Bakat Muda Sezaman) twice and has a string of international awards such as the Pacific Breweries Foundation Signature Art Prize by the Singapore Art Museum. Today, Chan is represented by A+ Works of Art.
Chan Kok Hooi’s artworks serve as emotional allegories by which the artist navigates themes of nostalgia, imagination, and daily life through the lens of humour and absurdity. His artwork “Windows to the Souls” is an acrylic on canvas and glass diptych portraying two ‘eyes’ that quintessentially capture these themes. The title takes direct inspiration from the quote “Eyes are the windows to the soul”—the idea that by looking into the eyes of a person, one can understand their emotions and thoughts.
The artwork consists of two square frames connected by a rectangular metal piece suggesting that the viewers are to view these frames as a pair of spectacles. These frames hold a realistically-painted set of eyes complete with eyelashes and eyebrows. However, the wholeness of the eyes have been replaced with a detailed rendition of an anus. Chan intentionally paints the anus, eyebrows, and eyelashes with great detail to emphasise the meaning of the painting: The windows to the soul are erotic, grotesque, and immoral.
A fine art graduate, Kay Lynn Chua splits her time between being an artist and running her own business, ‘Private Art Lessons KL’, in Kuala Lumpur.