Though Chia Hoy Sai has had many challenges in his journey as a painter, his steadfast dedication to his art never wavered.

Born in a fishing village in Tanjung Sepat in Selangor, the humble, spirited 74-year-old was passionate about art from a young age. “My father and three brothers were fishermen. They worked hard so I could further my education in art,” he told FMT.

Further inspired and encouraged by his school teachers, he studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore.

Back in Malaysia, he worked as a book illustrator as there wasn’t much of an art scene then. He stayed in publishing for 15 years before quitting.

“I had to often work overtime, and I hardly saw sunsets; it made me question the meaning of life. I knew that if I wanted to realise my ambition as a painter, I had to keep trying to find a lifestyle that was suitable for me,” he said.

So, he taught art classes on weekends, and painted on weekdays.

Encouraged by the growing number of art galleries and collectors, he eventually left teaching and became a full-time artist in his late forties, specialising in realist art using oil paints, charcoal and pastels. His work depicted contemporary life and nature.

At 52 – when others his age were contemplating retirement – he embarked on solo backpacking trips around Southeast Asia, visiting hill tribes and minority communities living in remote areas.

Not having a tour guide, he planned his journey as he went, through word-of-mouth recommendations.

He was especially fond of Laos and the Batak community in Danau Toba, and learned basic words and phrases in Thai, Cham, Lao and Batak, out of love and respect for the different cultures he encountered.

While travelling, Chia worked on charcoal portraits. In addition, he also took photographs so he could use them as reference for future paintings.

When he ran out of money, he’d return home to paint and sell artwork. Once he had saved enough again, he’d resume his travels. He did this for eight years.

Next came an eight-month exhibition tour covering 14 locations in the country in collaboration with Soka Gakkai Malaysia, a community-based Buddhist organisation.

“It was wonderful to be able to share and talk about my journey,” he reminisced, adding that he received great feedback from the public.

The paintings from his travels are currently displayed at his gallery in the idyllic Lee’s Cocoa Farm in Tanjong Sepat, where he also lives. In addition, one can view his paintings at the Morib Coconut Grove homestay gallery.

Needless to say, one can lose all sense of time and space looking at his portraits, as they convey powerful emotions. “People talk with their mouths, but paintings ‘talk’ with their eyes – which are the windows to one’s soul,” he said.

According to him, individual pieces are not for sale and one has to purchase the series in its entirety. “It’s not about the money, it’s about the story of my journey. My soul is a part of these paintings; you can’t just ‘cut’ my soul into pieces.”

In addition to portraits, Chia also paints still life. His paintings of local fruits are incredibly vivid. “They are a part of the ‘Kesyukuran’ or gratitude series. It’s my way of thanking God for giving us fruits to eat, enjoy and live off,” he said, adding that an exhibition will be held at the Pinkguy gallery later this year.

He has also published a book in Chinese that documents his travels. Currently out of print, he is open to collaborating with others to reprint and translate the book.

To aspiring painters, Chia has this to say: put in the time needed to learn the craft.

“People often ask, which paint medium is the easiest to learn? But nothing is easy. Choose one that you enjoy, give it your all, and you will eventually master it.

“And once you’ve made up your mind to be an artist, just keep at it, regardless of the obstacles that come your way.”

Having said that, he admits that life as an artist is very challenging. “There are a lot of uncertainties, a lot of ups and downs, and you don’t know if people will buy your paintings. But I’ve put my heart and soul into it, and I think my life has been rather wonderful.”

Follow Chia on Facebook. To view his paintings, contact Lee’s Cocoa Farm and Morib Coconut Grove.

Lee’s Cocoa Farm
Kampung Batu Lapan
Tanjong Sepat
Selangor