He, an artistic pioneer for over six decades, seamlessly merged Eastern and Western painting, earning acclaim as a paragon of Chinese artistry.

He modernized Chinese ink painting in the Nanyang region, hailed as the "Father of Modern Art Education in Malaysia" and the "Father of Modern Ink Painting in Malaysia."

He, with profound patriotism and devotion to art education, introduced modern art and design to China, fostering innovation and cultural exchange.

He is Chung Chen Sun, an internationally renowned artist and educator.

Chung Chen Sun, born in 1935 in Melaka, Malaysia, hails from Meixian, Guangdong, China. He graduated from the Art Education Department of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore in 1955, where he studied under Mr. Chen Wenxi, the founder of the Nanyang art style. In 1985, he earned a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco, USA.

Chung has played a pivotal role in art education. Since 1967, he has founded five art institutions, including the Malaysian Institute of Art, MSC International College of Media, Art and Design, International Modern Art & Design College of Yunnan University, and International Modern Art & Design College in Zhuzhou of the Hunan Province. His educational philosophy has significantly influenced modern art and design education in both Malaysia and China.

He also actively promoted global art exchange, serving as president of the Asian Pacific Conference on Arts Education. In 1982, he initiated the International Contemporary Ink Painting Association, where he served as president for ten years, aiming to modernize Chinese ink painting. As president of the Malaysian Chinese Cultural Society for 15 years, he worked tirelessly to promote Malaysian Chinese culture and foster international cultural exchanges.

Chung is well-versed in Chinese and Western art history, and his deep understanding of Taoist philosophy has been a key source of inspiration for his art. His earlier works were influenced by Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. He believes in the practice of "Reading thousands of books, traveling thousands of miles," emphasizing that artists, like scientists, must constantly explore, discover, and create. Rather than adhering to any single artistic school, he experiments with various styles and seeks to express his insights, experiences, and emotions, aiming to capture life in its most pure, perfect, and beautiful form.

Chung’s contributions to art education and his reinvention of ink painting are widely recognized. His mastery of art has earned him a prominent place in art history. Taiwanese art critic Professor Luo Qing praised his blending of Eastern and Western aesthetics, noting that his work, infused with traditional spirit, established him as a master of his generation.

Chinese art critic Professor Shao Da Zhen commended Chung's progressive contributions, highlighting how his work has inspired many artists, especially in China. Chung’s remarkable achievements in modern art education and contemporary ink painting have earned him the titles "Father of Malaysian Modern Art Education" and "Father of Malaysian Contemporary Ink Painting."

Art Timeline

1935

  • Born in Melaka, Malaysia on 28 August. His ancestors came from Meixian County of the Guangdong Province

1955

  • Graduated with a major in Art Education from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Formerly Nanyang School of Fine Arts) in Singapore, under the tutelage of Chen Wenxi, Chen Chong Swee, and Chung Si Ping.

1958

  • Received the Outstanding Teacher Award from The Ministry of Education, in recognition of his achievements in teaching

1964

  • 1st Solo Exhibition presented by the Malaysian Federation Art Association at the British Council, Kuala Lumpur;

  • Represented Malaysia at the Commonwealth International Art Exhibition in London, UK

1967

  • Founded Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA), appointed Principal of MIA for 33 years until the year 2000. The idea of “Merging Fine Arts and Function” had been practicing throughout MIA since then  

1969

  • 2nd Solo Exhibition presented by the Samal Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur；

  • Invited by German and British governments to further study the contemporary art education in both countries. Was impacted by the concept of Bauhaus of Germany, then implemented the concept into the development of core course in MIA.  

1970

  • Represented Malaysia at the 5th International Art Exhibition in New Delhi, India;

  • Invited by the US government to further study the contemporary art in America

1973

  • Appointed the President (Malaysia Chapter) of the International Association of Art (IAA), Attended the IAA seminar in Kyoto and convention in Osaka, Japan;

  • Invited by Taiwan Ministry of culture to visit the art institutions in Taiwan

  • Named Who’s Who I Malaysia 1973-1974, p. 67

1975

  • 3rd Solo Exhibition in aid of the building fund for Malaysian Institute of Arts;

  • 4th Solo Exhibition held at Museum of Asian Art, Universiti Malaya;

  • Became a trustee of the National Art Gallery of Malaysia

1976

  • 5th Solo Exhibition jointly presented by the Singapore Society of Chinese Artists and the Singapore Art Society, Singapore;

  • Attended the 4th Asian Conference on Art Education jointly organized by the UNESCO and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

1977

  • Received the decoration of Pingat Pangkuan Negara (PPN) conferred by Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Malaysia;

  • Participated in the Invitational Art Exhibition organized by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan

1978

  • 6th Solo Exhibition presented by the Bangkok Metropolitan Bank, Thailand;

  • Represented Malaysia at the Malaysia National Art Exhibition in London, UK

1979

  • 7th Solo Exhibition presented by Sarawak’s International Times, Malaysia;

  • Participated in the Invitational Art Exhibition organized by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan

1980

  • 8th Solo Exhibition presented by Art House Gallery, Malaysia;

  • Participated in the Asian Modern International Art Exhibition in Fukuoka, Japan;

  • Appointed Visiting Professor at the Art Department of Chinese Culture University, Taiwan

1981

  • 9th Solo Exhibition presented by the Hwa Kang Museum, Taiwan;

  • 10th Solo Exhibition presented by the National Museum of History, Taiwan;

  • Participated in “The Trend of Modern Chinese Painting” Exhibition at the Oriental Gallery of Fine Arts in Paris, France;

  • Participated in the 1st International Symposium on Aesthetics presented by the Chinese Culture University, Taiwan;

  • Attended the 1st Asian Pacific Conference on Arts Education (ASPACAE), organized by the National Taiwan University of Arts, Taiwan

1982

  • Co-Founder and President of the International Contemporary Ink Painting Association (ICIPA) in Taiwan with Kuan Chih-Chung, to promote the modernization of ink painting;

  • Followed by the 1st ICIPA International Exhibition and Symposium at the National Museum of History, Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore; 

  • Appointed the President of the Malaysia Chinese Cultural Society, until 1998

1983

  • 11th Solo Exhibition presented by the Hall of Fame Gallery, Taiwan;

  • Appointed the Fellow of the Chung-Hwa Academy Institute, Taiwan;

  • Attended the 2nd Asian Pacific Conference on Arts Education in San Francisco, USA;

  • Participated in the Invitational Art Exhibition of National Art Gallery, Malaysia

1984

  • 12th Solo Exhibition presented by Spring Gallery, Taiwan;

  • Received the Honorary Art Award presented by the Chinese Writer’s & Artist’s Association, Taiwan;

  • Participated in the Invitational Exhibition in tandem with the Opening of Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taiwan;

1985

  • 13th Solo Exhibition presented by Art House Gallery, Malaysia;

  • Appointed the Chairman of the organizing committee of the 3rd Asian Pacific Conference on Arts Education jointly organized by Malaysian Institute of Arts and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore

  • Selected as an album of selected characters in the World Who's Who published in Cambridge, UK 

1986

  • 14th Solo Exhibition “Duo Solo Exhibition of Chung Chen Sun and YuYu Yang, presented by ShenLai Gallery, Taiwan;

  • Participated in the Contemporary Chinese Painting Symposium and Exhibition organized by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong;

  • Participated in the Modern Asian Ink and Color painting Exhibition SEOUL 86, South Korea;

  • Received Master Degree in Public Administration from San Francisco University, USA

1987

  • Participated in International Artists Group Exhibition, Japan;

  • Exhibition in tandem with the Opening of the National Taichung Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan;

  • Participated in 4th Asian Pacific Conference on Arts Education (ASPACAE), Japan

1988

  • Participated in the Malaysian Modern Art Exhibition, curated by the National Art Gallery of Malaysia, at the Asian Pacific Art Museum, Pasadena, Los Angeles, USA;

  • Curated the World Touring Juried Exhibition of ICIPA members;

  • Attended the 1st International Ink Painting Symposium and the International Ink Painting Exhibition organized by the China National Academy of Painting in Beijing, China;

  • Participated in the International Ink Painting Exhibition Festival in Wuhan, China;

  • 1st Fine Art Exhibition of the Federation of Asian Art Association organized by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan;

  • Appointed the External Examiner for the Fine Arts Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (until 1991)  

1989

  • Received the Outstanding Alumni Award presented by the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Alumni Association, Singapore;

  • Participated in the 2nd Fine Art Exhibition of the Federation of Asian Art Association, Malaysia;

  • Hangzhou’s 2nd China Art Festival, China;

  • Asian Artists Invitational Exhibition curated by Taichung City Cultural Center, Taiwan;

  • 5th Asian Pacific Conference on Arts Education and International Joint Exhibition at Columbia University, USA;

  • Curated the World Touring Juried Exhibition of ICIPA members;

1990

  • 15th Solo Exhibition: Retrospective Exhibition of Chung Chen Sun’s paintings of the 80’s, Malaysia

1991

  • Led a Fine Arts Delegation of the Malaysian Chinese Cultural Society to visit art colleges and academy in China;

  • Appointed the Advisor to the Xi’an Chinese Painting Academy;

  • Attended Xi’an 1st International Symposium and Exhibition of Imagery Art;

  • And Zhengzhou Museum “Invitational Exhibition of Domestic and Overseas Established Artists”;

  • Participated in the Touring Juried Exhibition of Malaysian Contemporary Art to Germany and Japan, curated by the National Art Gallery, Malaysia 

1992

  • Appointed the Tenure Honorary Professor to China Xi’an Conservatory of Music, China;

  • Received the International Distinguished Individual of Hakka Kinship at the 11th World Hakka Conference in Kaohsiong, Taiwan;

  • Participated in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Alumni Art Exhibition, Singapore;

  • 8th Bird & Floral Invitational Exhibition, and 2nd International Ink Painting Exhibition in Shenzhen, China;

  • 4th Exhibition of the Federation of Asian Art Associations, and 92’ SEOUL International Modern Calligraphy Exhibition in South Korea  

1993

  • International Invitational Exhibition of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, China;

  • Malaysia’s Top Ten Innovative Ink Painting Artist Exhibition, Malaysia

1994

  • Joint Venture with Yunnan University and Inner Mongolia Normal University, and Founded International Modern Design & Art Colleges in both Universities, practicing a new model of two art education system within one school;

  • Named One of the 118 Distinguished Hakka Individuals since Tang Dynasty at the 12th World Hakka Conference held in Meizhou City, China;

  • 2nd Asian International Ink Painting Exhibition, Taiwan

1995

  • 16th Solo Exhibition: The Retrospective Exhibition at Chung Chen Sun’s Sixtieth Birthday, held at Nanyang Art Gallery of Hong Leong Group, Malaysia;

  • 17th Solo Exhibition: The Retrospective Exhibition at Chung Chen Sun’s Sixtieth Birthday, held at China National Academy of Painting, Beijing, China;

  • Appointed Visiting Professor at Jiaying University, Meizhou, China;

  • Received the International Calligraphy and Art Master Award jointly presented by the Chinese Cultural Renaissance Association and Association of Chinese Graphic Arts;

  • Literati Painting and Oriental Spirit International Ink Painting Invitational Exhibition, Gwangju, Korea

1997

  • 18th Solo Exhibition held at Sinological Institute, University of Leiden, the Netherland, an invitation by the Netherlands East-West Art Foundation;

  • Commemorative Cultural Exhibition of Hong Kong’s Handover 1997, Antwerp, the Netherlands

1998

  • Appointed Tenure Honorary President of the Malaysia Chinese Cultural Society;

  • Invited to attend the Opening Ceremony of Qi Baishi Memorial Hall in Hunan, China, and was appointed researcher of the center, China;

  • 1st International Ink Painting Biennial and Symposium in Shenzhen, China

1999

  • In charge of the 4-Country, 5-University Students’ Works Exhibition, and the Modern Art Education Symposium, jointly organized by the Inner Mongolia Normal University, Modern Art Academy of Yunnan University, Singapore Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Malaysian Institute of Arts, and the Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney, Australia;

  • Invited by the China International Culture Association to lead 10 artist representatives of different ethnic group to participate in the Malaysia-China Contemporary Painters Art Exchange Exhibition in Beijing, China;

  • 31 December, retired from his position as the Principal of Malaysian Institute of Art  

2000

  • Founded Malaysia MSC International College (Media, Art & Design), merging of Art and Science as the education model, Malaysia;

  • Joint Venture with Hunan Zhuzhou Yandi University, and founded the Chen Sun International Modern Art & Design College in Zhuzhou, China

2002

  • A Retrospective Exhibition Celebrating the Over-Five-Decades Friendship of Four Artists: Foo Chee San, Chuang Kim Siew, Chung Chen Sun, and Lim Mu Hua, presented by Soka Gakkai, Malaysia

2004

  • Retrospective Art Exhibition of Four Friends presented by Soka Gakkai, Taiwan;

  • 4th International Ink Painting Biennale, Shenzhen, China

2005

  • 19th Solo Exhibition: Five Decades of Ink and Brush- A Retrospective Exhibition celebrating Chung Chen Sun’s 70th Birthday, National Art Gallery, Malaysia

  • 20th Solo Exhibition: Five Decades of Ink and Brush- A Retrospective Exhibition celebrating Chung Chen Sun’s 70th Birthday, China Yunnan Provincial Museum, China

2006

  • 21st Solo Exhibition: Five Decades of Ink and Brush- A Retrospective Exhibition celebrating Chung Chen Sun’s 70th Birthday, Guan Shanye Art Museum, Shenzhen, China

2007

  • 22nd Solo Exhibition held at Rong Bao Zhai Beijing, China;

  • Appointed Leading Professor of Yunnan University of Finance and Economics cum Director of the Institute of Chinese Studies, Kunming, China

2009

  • 23rd Solo Exhibition at Malacca Museum, open ceremony by Yang di-pertuan Negeri Melaka, Malaysia

2010

  • Appointed an Overseas Committee member of the China National Academy of Painting in Beijing, China;

  • Participated in the Chinese Ink Painting Group Exhibition featuring the works of Liu Dawei, Li Chi-mao, and Chung Chen Sun, at the Wuhai Municipal Hall, Inner Mongolia, China

2011

  • Opening Ceremony of Chung Chen Sun Art Museum at the Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming, China;

  • Participated in the invitational Exhibition Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of China National Academy of Painting, Beijing, China

2012

  • 24th Solo Exhibition: Time Traveling Through the Arts: Duo Solo Exhibition of works by Chung Chen Sun and Li Chi-mao at the National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan;

  • Appointed Overseas Researcher of the China Art Research Institute, the appointment letter was presented by the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Culture, China cum the president of the China Art Research Institute, Wang Wenzhang, China

2013

  • 25th Solo Exhibition: The Bamboo Culture Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, presented by Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery of Dong Chan Temple;

  • 26th Solo Exhibition: The Bamboo Culture Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, presented by Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Centre, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;

  • 27th Solo Exhibition: Homecoming—Chung Chen Sun Solo Exhibition, presented by Museum of Luxun Academy of Fine Arts, Shengyang, China;

  • Received the Artist Award for Contribution to the Country commemorating the 55th Anniversary of the National Art Gallery, Malaysia 

2014

  • The Chinese Embassy in Malaysia presented a certificate in recognition of Chung Chen Sun’s outstanding contribution in building friendship between China and Malaysia over the years

2015

  • 28th Solo Exhibition: Life is but a few Masterstrokes—Chung Chen Sun: The Endless Journey of Search and Creation, at Oriental Art and Cultural Association, Malaysia;

  • Awarded「Vessel of Southern University」: Spirit of Humanity Award at the Southern University College, Malaysia;

  • Awarded Honorary Model Award at the World Hall of Fame, Malaysia

2016

  • 29th Solo Exhibition: Harmony—Exhibition of Chung Chen Sun, Zheng He Duo Yun Xuan Art Gallery, open ceremony by Yang di-pertuan Negeri Melaka, Malaysia

  • Awarded 「炎黄赤子奖」True YanHuangdi Descendant Award at the Global Outstanding Chinese Award, Malaysia

  • Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award at the Blossom Art Festival Malaysia

  • Balik Kampung: Chung Chen Sun & Daughters Chinese Ink Painting Exhibition, at Zheng He Duo Yun Xuan Art Gallery, Melaka, Malaysia 

2017

  • Appointed Leading Art Advisor by Malaysia 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road Foundation, Malaysia;

  • Appointed Tenure Honorary Advisor by The Alumni Association of Xiamen University in Malaysia;

  • The Nanyang Style: Malaysian Artists Joint Exhibition, presented by Duo Yun Xuan Group, Shanghai, China

  • Ink Global 2017, Hong Kong

  • Journey 50: MIA Alumni Art Exhibition 2017, organized by MIA Alumni Association, Soka Gakkai, and National Art Gallery, Malaysia

  • Malaysia-China Ink Painting Invitational Exhibition, MCA Hall, Malaysia

2018

  • 30th Solo Exhibition: BackGround series, PINKGUY Gallery

2019

  • Opening of the "Chung Chen Sun Art" office in Guangzhou, China

  • Interview with www.artron.net

  • Chung Chen Sun: The World of Bamboo, Guangzhou, China

  • Founded "Chung Chen Sun's Artwork Authentication Center"

2020 

  • Special Exhibition and auction at China Guardian Hong Kong

  • In search of Integrity, Kind, and Beauty: Aboriginal Series by Chung Chen Sun. Guangzhou, China