About the Exhibition
A medium of grace and versatility, Chinese Ink has long been regarded as an embodiment of cultural heritage and historical continuity - one that captures the essence of nature's spirit and simplicity through the fluid dance of ink and brush on xuan paper.
Self-taught Chinese Ink painter Lee Choon Kooi has reimagined the possibilities of this ancient art form. Rather than confining it to traditional landscapes, he employs Chinese Ink as a vessel of memory, capturing livelihoods and living traditions in motion.
In June 2025, Lee embarked on a journey across Sarawak. Beneath the tropical sun and rural roads, he encountered cultures and crafts on the verge of disappearance - the elegant Ring Ladies, the classical Hakka green lions, the enduring craft of songket weaving, as well as the mundane life, unique to Bumi Kenyalang.
Moved and captivated by these cultural guardians and living beauty of Sarawak, Lee transformed his encounters into art. Each brushstroke stands as a timeless act of remembrance - bridging Sarawak's landscapes with its enduring heritage and the outer world.
The Artist
Kedah born artist Lee Choon Kooi is a self-taught artist. Lee is known to be experimental in his creation. Using Chinese ink as his medium, Lee’s skillful technique is heavily depicted through his range of expressive brushstrokes, colour and lines. His works primarily feature cultural characteristics, showcasing various interpretations from his creative lens.
One of his notable works – One Face One Story Series, depicts his subjects of Chinese opera performers in colorful and vibrant masks and costumes, with the background showing consistency of lines, mimicking the Bornean traditional woven carpet.
As the current vice chairman for the North Kedah Art Society, Lee has participated in selected exhibitions from 2011 till 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Kedah, Penang, Pahang and China.
His works are currently held in public collections by the U.O.B Bank and local businesses.
Sons of Sarawak I, 2025
Daughters of Sarawak, 2025
Sons of Sarawak I, 2025
ARTWORKS
Encounters in Sarawak explores the perspective of Kedah artist Lee Choon Kooi, as he paints his heart away interpreting culture in his Old Chinese Opera and Rural Sarawak Series. Marking Hoan Gallery's final show of the 2025 season, Lee's works aspires to bring these cultural symbolism to life, with hopes for a lasting appreciation in the coming generations.
