Among these individuals stands artist Li Hua, 33, whose talent has led to collaborations with major global brands like Chanel and Bentley.
Born in Kedah, Li Hua’s artistic journey has been nothing short of remarkable, propelling her to international recognition and culminating in her second solo exhibition, ‘Busana Malaysia’.
This exhibition, which is a celebration of Malaysia’s multiculturalism, will go on display in Kuala Lumpur, then to Penang before heading to Italy, bringing a taste of Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage to a global audience.
Before travelling, ‘Busana Malaysia’ will merge with Paris’s ‘Galerie Martel’ from July 30 to Aug 13 at Eslite Spectrum in Kuala Lumpur.
“When I was living in Europe, I realised that not many people even knew where Malaysia was on the map. So I’m very proud that I’m able to showcase our culture to the world,” shared Li Hua.
But this isn’t the first time Li Hua has achieved global acclaim. Her artistic flair has garnered her prestigious collaborations with international fashion brands, including Bulgari and Christian Louboutin, solidifying her position as a prominent figure in the art world.
In fact, it’s safe to say that many high couture, luxury brands that have set foot in Malaysia have been knocking on Li Hua’s door.
“I would say the collaboration with Louboutin and Chanel was my biggest achievement on the professional front.”
Li Hua’s popularity with major brands is a result of her unique fusion of Chinese calligraphy and Western watercolours in her artworks.
Her unconventional brush strokes breathe a contemporary twist into tradition, setting her apart in the art world. While many artists favour acrylics, Li Hua has always preferred watercolours.
“I like that watercolour gives me certain mistakes or happy accidents, because then I get new ideas to change things up from what I had in mind,” she explained.
Despite attaining global popularity, Li Hua remains grounded and true to her roots, infusing elements of her homeland into her artworks, particularly through fashion.
“I find that in the fashion illustration industry, there’s not much representation of Malaysian culture.”
In fact, her ability to measure and represent the real world, especially humans, is why she is often approached by luxury fashion brands.
“I like to show female silhouettes. Nowadays people like to wear baggy clothing, but back then our traditional costumes like the kebaya and cheongsam enhanced the female body.”
Although she comes from a Chinese Malaysian background, her artwork features the beauty of all the races and cultures of Malaysia.
In her exhibition ‘Busana Malaysia,’ Li Hua’s paintings of Nyonya outfits, cheongsams, Indian sarees, and more, breathe life into Malaysia’s diverse heritage on canvas.
“I wanted to show to the world that my culture is very colourful and vibrant,” she said.
Coming from a calligraphy background, the artist spends two hours every morning practising calligraphy, considering it her version of meditation.
Reflecting on her artistic journey, she said: “My mom stopped me from going to art school, like any other typical Asian mom. But somehow I managed to half fund my education to join art school.”
Li Hua graduated from The One Academy in 2011 with a Diploma in Illustration and later earned her Bachelor of Arts in design and visual communications from Birmingham City University in 2016.
Despite attempts to pursue a more practical career path, she ultimately gravitated to art, finding her true passion in painting on canvas.
As a new mother and a fashion illustrator lecturer at Esmod KL Fashion School, Li Hua remains driven to continue her artistic journey.
“I want people to disconnect from the real world. Also, I treat my artwork like my diary,” she shared, explaining her deep connection with art that she sees no end to.
‘Busana Malaysia’ by Li Hua is on display at Eslite Spectrum, The Starhill until July 30. The collaboration with Galerie Martel will be on display until Aug 13.
Eslite Spectrum
G36 & L1 01-34,
The Starhill,
181 Jln Bukit Bintang,
Bukit Bintang,
Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: +601121028452
Email: [email protected]