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 Place75th 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 + LightBest 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

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