TAN SUZ CHIANG 陈书强 (b. 1974, Malaysia) Signature member of AWS & NWS
Selected works
Biography
Suz Chiang has always tried to break the rules of conventional watercolour painting. He believes that an artist has to constantly improve and challenge himself, to ensure that he evolves to the next higher level of artistry. Over the years, Suz Chiang has developed an astonishingly free way of painting using a dynamic palette of colours and style. He believes that Art is more than just capturing a scene or memory, it tells a story, evokes critical thinking of the viewers, and laying bare the emotions of the artist for all to marvel. With this philosophy in mind, Suz Chiang develops paintings with strong compositions, interesting perspectives and above all, strength and vibrancy in his colour compositions.
Suz Chiang’s latest artistic evolution uses a contemporary approach towards traditional watercolour techniques, challenging norms, and experiments with a capricious style. It is a combination of seemingly contrasting painting techniques: Batik, Chinese Ink and traditional watercolour techniques.
Suz Chiang recognizes the potential in these two particular techniques to develop his art works, and therefore, challenges himself using his watercolour ability to recreate the Batik and Ink Painting effects in his paintings. Suz Chiang also infuses some form of Abstract Expressionism in his works by allowing his moods and feelings to dictate his vibrant use of colours and strength in his execution. Although his effortless technique seems to be gestural in nature, it is meticulously structured and planned. The result is a miraculous and effective fusion of cultures, emotions and rhythmic harmony.
Suz Chiang expresses his love of spontaneity, shape, and colour; and tries to create atmospheric mood and feelings, in all his works. Suz Chiang’s paintings delight his viewers and give them a glimpse of his life experiences which are often challenging, emotional and uplifting. His works are full of reminiscences of his earlier life and brings us into his world of lost heritage. Although his works are filled with cheerful and bright pastel colours to create a pleasant sensory experience for his viewers, you cannot help but sense that there is a deeper meaning in his works and the inner struggle of the artist to keep the love for his heritage alive. Suz Chiang is narrating a story of lost “love” and the cruelty of time fading our precious memories. He seems to be challenging us to remember a place that we love, to close our eyes, and to recapture the image of that particular building, that particular place, or that particular scenery….. as he believes that what we see in our mind is a vague, “misty”, and possibly abstract memory that is similar to his works. He archives the essence of his memories and his subjects as a fleeting moment in time, and he uses his spontaneous way of painting and use of colours, to record effectively the light and images in its many guises and the drama of that moment in his life. In a personal way, his paintings form pages in his artistic-diary which attempts to express his interests, experiences and the place he finds himself connected to at any given time. His “modern”-artistic style, which is clearly a fusion of techniques and culture, seems to lament that heritage is slowly losing its place to modernization.
Tan Suz Chiang was born in 1974 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. In 1997, he graduated from Central Academy of Art, Malaysia. He was awarded Signature Member of National Watercolour Society (NWS) and America Watercolour Society (AWS), USA and held various membership including Malaysia Watercolour Society, Singapore Watercolour Society, Penang Watercolour Society and North Kedah Art Society. His work has been widely exhibited internationally in solo and group exhibitions. Suz Chiang lives and works in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
CV
Global Ambassador of Mijello Mission Watercolour from Korea
Memberships
Signature Member of American Watercolor Society (AWS), USA
Signature Member of National Watercolor Society (NWS), USA
Australian Watercolour Institute (AWI)
Malaysian Watercolor Society
Singapore Watercolor Society
Solo Exhibition
2023 “10th solo art Exhibition” Life & State In Nature, Y2ART Gallery, Singapore
2019 “9th solo art Exhibition” Watercolour Circle, Shanghai, China
2018 “ Tan Suz Chiang solo exhibition”, Dongnan Art Museum, Suzhou, China
2018 “ Virtual & Real ” Batu Gallery , Malaysia
2017 “ 6th solo “ Shenzhen International Art Fair, China
2016 “No Limits” Y2ARTS Gallery, Singapore
2014 “Reminiscence” Art Expo, Malaysia
2014 “Reminiscence” Y2ARTS Gallery, Singapore
2013 “Expression of watercolour” Red House, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
2006 “Colour of Life” Pan Puteri Hotel, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Collection
Johor Art Gallery, Pan Puteri Hotel, JB , Capital Land Singapore, European Bank Singapore, Ming Gallery Shuzhou, Nanjing Art Gallery, China, Astaka Condominium, Johor Bahru
And in Private Collection in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Poland, USA , Taiwan and Japan
Awards
2022 Friend of PWS Award – 43rd Annual International Juried Exhibition, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, USA
2021 Juror’s Commendation Award, 81st Annual NNWS International Open Exhibition, USA
2021 Tong Fong Memorial Award – 53rd Annual Watercolor West International Exhibition, USA
2021 Jurors Award – Society of Watercolor Artists International Juried Exhibition, USA
2020 Sandra Sawin Memorial Award For Representational Landscapes in Watercolor –
120th Anniversary Watercolor International Exhibition, Philadelphia Watercolour Society, USA
2020 ScholART ship – 100th International Open Exhibition, National Watercolor Society, USA
2020 Honorable Metion – Splash 22 Watercolor Competition, USA
2018 Bil and Magda Peregin Award – 50th International Juried Exhibition, Watercolour West Society, USA
2018 Bonnie and Harrison von Duyke Award – 118th Anniversary Watercolour International Exhibition, Philadelphia Watercolour Society, USA
2017 Ericsson Family Awards – 9th annual Signature American Watermedia Exhibition, Fallbrook Art Center, USA.
2017 Frank Nofer Memorial Award for Transparent Watercolour – 117th Anniversary Watercolour International Exhibition, Philadelphia Watercolour Society, USA
2017 Innovative Use of Medium Award – 76th Annual International Open Exhibition, Northwest Watercolour Society, USA
2016 Mary Spivey Memorial Award – 47th National Exhibition, California Watercolor Association, USA
2016 Holbein Artists Materials Award – 40th Annual International Exhibition , North East Art Watercolour Society, USA.
2016 Excellence Award – IWS China 1ST International Watercolour Exhibition , China
2016 Top 10 artists - International Watercolour Young Masters Invitational Exhibition, Handan, China
2016 Signature Member of America Watercolour Society – (AWS)
2015 Honorable Mention – China/National Watercolour Society (NWS) Small Watercolour Painting Art Exchange Exhibition 2015/2016, China/USA.
2015 Juror Peter Frank Award – Combined Cash Award lll and Travel Exhibit for the 95th National Watercolour Society Annual Exhibition , NWS Main Gallery, San Pedro, USA.
2015 NWWS Diamond Award – First Place – 75th Annual International Open Exhibition, Northwest Watercolour Society, Washington State Convention Center, Washington, USA.
2015 Diploma Award – International Watercolour Biennial CASTRA , Slovenia.
2015 Gold Level Guerilla Painter Merchandise Award – Pikes Peak Watercolour Society’s International Watermedia, Colorado Springs, Library 21c, USA.
2015 Honorable Mention & Special Award – 4th IWS “Homer Lover and Peace Through Art” International Watercolour Festival & Contest in Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
2015 Honorable Mention – 45th Annual International Exhibition , Louisiana Watercolour Society, New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, Louisiana, USA.
2015 Helene H.Ross Award & The People Choice Award – 6th annual Signature American Watermedia Exhibition, “World of Watercolour”, Fallbrook Art Center, USA.
2015 Honorable Mention Award – The Artists Magazine All Media Online Art Competition , The Artists Magazine, USA
2014 Excellence International Artists Award International Art Camp and Exhibition, Malaysia
2014 4th Place CWA Signature Members Award – The 45th National Exhibition of California Watercolour Association , Harrington Gallery , USA
2014 Bronze Prize – Nanjing International Art Festival, China.
2014 First Prize – Lushan International Watercolour Art Festival, China
2014 Winsor & Newton Award – Royal Watercolour Society Contemporary Watercolour Competition, London, UK
2013 Philadelphia Watercolour Society Award for Excellence and Traveling Exhibit for the 93rd National Watercolour Society Annual Exhibition, USA
2013 Signature Member of National Watercolour Society – (NWS)
2013 Savoir Faire: Fabrino/Raphael Award – Pikes Peak Watercolour Society International Watermedia – LEGACY 2013 Awards , USA
2012 Faber Castell Award – 87th Annual Open Juried Exhibition of CSPWC/SCPA,Canadian Society of Painters In Watercolour 2012, Canada
2007 Special Prize – China –Asean Youth Artwork Creativity Contest (Oil Painting), China.
2006 Special Prize – 1st Putrajaya National Watercolour competition 2006 , Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2003 Special Prize – 2003 Johor Open Competition for the Visual Art Rendition, Johor, Malaysia
2000 Special Prize – Buncho National Watercolour Award 2000, Selangor.
1996 4th Prize – Johor Temple Sketching, Johor Bahru
1996 1st Prize – Central Academy Oil Painting Competition, Johor Bahru
Juried Exhibitions
2021 “ Impression of Europe” International Watercolor Art Exhibition, IMWA
2021 42nd Annual International Juried Exhibition, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, USA
2021 Pikes Peak Watercolor Society, International Watermedia Exihibiion, USA
2021 51st Annual International Juried Exhibition, Louisiana Watercolor Society, USA
2020 80th North West Watercolour Society Annual International Exhibition, USA.
2020 41st Annual International Juried Exhibition, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, USA
2020 120th Anniversary International Exhibition of Works on Paper, Philadelphia Watercolor Society ,USA
2020 52nd Annual Waterco[or West International Juried Exhibition, USA
2020 153rd Annual International Exhibition, American Watercolor Socirty, USA
2019 The Second Shenzhen International Watercolor Biennale, China
2019 The 13rd National Exhibition of Fine Arts, China
2018 The 1st Universal Watercolour Exposition, Shanghai, China
2018 38th San Diego Watercolour Society International Exhibition, USA
2018 78th North West Watercolour Society Annual International Exhibition, USA.
2017 Splash 19, The illusion of Light – Best of Watercolor , NORTH LIGHT BOOK, USA.
2017 36th Annual International Exhibition San Diego Watercolour Society, USA.
2017 China – South Asia Southeast Asia International Art Exhibition ( paper works ), Kunming Museum, China
2017 Society of Watercolour Artists Internatuinal Watercolour Exhibition, USA.
2017 77th North West Watercolour Society Annual International Exhibition, USA.
2017 8th annual Signature American Watermedia Exhibition, Fallbrook Art Center, USA.
2016 1st International Watercolour Exhibition China, Shanghai.
2016 40th International Exhibition, North East Watercolour Society, USA.
2016 93rd Annual Exhibition, Vivid : The Luminous World of Watercolour, Australia Watercolour Institute, Australia.
2016 4th edition of the International Prize “ Marche d’Acqua ” Fabriano Watercolor Biennial, Italy.
2016 Splash 18, Value + Light – Best of Watercolor , NORTH LIGHT BOOK, USA.
2016 149th Annual International Exhibition , American Watercolor Society, New York, USA.
2015 2nd Nanjing International Art Festival, China.
2015 Shenzhen International Watrecolor Biennial China, Luohu Art Museum, Shenzhen, China.
2015 Splash 17, Inspiring Subjects - Best of Watercolor , NORTH LIGHT BOOK, USA.
2015 Royal Watercolour Society Contemporary Watercolour Competition, Bankside Gallery, Club, London, UK.
2015 148th Annual International Exhibition , American Watercolour Society, The Salmagundi Club, New York, USA.
2014 94th National Watercolour Society Annual Exhibition, USA.
2014 2 edition Eau en Couleurs International Watercolour Biennial, Belgium.
2014 34th Annual International Exhibition San Diego Watercolour Society, USA.
2014 147th Annual International Exhibition – American Watercolour Society (AWS), USA.
2014 Top 23 Finalists of the “The Art of Watercolour’s first World Watercolour Competition” exhibited at Narbonne, France.
2013 Travelling Exhibit of the “ISEA/NWS Wales International Exchange Exhibit” ,USA.
Publications
Splash 18 : Value / Light + Darrk, North Light Books USA (2016)
Masters of Watercolor- From East to West , Russia (2015)
Watercolor Artist Magazine, USA (Aug 2015)
International Watercolor Artists Hand book 2 – 2015
Splash 17 : Inspiring Subjects, North Light Books USA (2015)
The Art Of Watercolor, France issue 17 (January – April 2015)
ART : art, Singapore issue#22 (November –December 2014)
A Collection of the Contemporary Chinese Malaysia Artists2014
ART INVESTMENT, China – October 2014
Asian Art News, Hong Kong volume24 Number 5 (September – October 2014)
The Art of Watercolour’s first World Watercolour Competition Catalog2014, France
The Art Of Watercolour, France issue 16 (September –December 2014)
Malaysia Art Gallery Guide issue #20 (July –September 2014)
Art Malaysia Magazine issue 27
Interviews
Asian Art News, Hong Kongvol. 25 , Sept- Oct 2015
Watercolor Artist Magazine, USA Aug 2015
The Art Of Watercolor, France issue 17 January – April 2015
The Edge Singapore, 15 September 2014
Kwang Hua Ji Po (Press), 10, April, 2014
Art Paper, Malaysia issue 8
Art Malaysia Magazine issue 27
Sin Chew Ji Po (Press), 13 September 2013
New Strait Time (Press), 14 February 2006