Artist Biography

Dr Cheah Thien Soong graduated from Singapore’s Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1962, where he was trained under Nanyang art pioneers such as Chen Wen Hsi, Georgette Chen, Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Chong Swee, and See Hiang To. In 2002, he was awarded a Doctorate of Art Philosophy at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. Cheah served as a lecturer of Chinese ink painting at the Malaysia Institute of Art from 1990 until 2002. He was the President of Cao Tang Men Eastern Arts Society; Honorary Director of the Oriental Art and Cultural Association; Specially-Appointed Artist of Nanjing Calligraphy and Painting Academy, China; Advisor of Guangxi Art Society, China; Honorary Director of Nanyang Painting Academy and Honorary Director of Asian Art Association.

Since the 1960s, Cheah held over 20 solo exhibitions in Malaysia and China. In 1993, he became the first Malaysian artist invited by the Chinese Ministry of Culture to present a solo show at the Beijing Central Academy of Fine Arts and the Nanjing Jiangsu Art Museum. In 2015, the National Art Gallery Malaysia launched his solo exhibition - “Cheah Thien Soong · Nanyang Ink Painting”, officiated by Ybhg. Tan Sri Dr. Rais Yatim, the socio-cultural advisor to the Malaysian government. Other notable solos include shows at Guangxi Arts Institute, China (1994); Maybank Art Gallery, KL (1997); Soobin Art Gallery, Singapore (1997 & 2001); Cui Zifan Art Museum, China (1999); Shandong Art Museum, China (2012); and Edsvik Konsthall Gallery, Sweden (2012). His recent solo, "Cheah Thien Soong: Emerging Untainted - An Inspiration from the Lotus Sutra," was held at Wisma Kebudayaan SGM, Kuala Lumpur (2019).

Cheah participated in numerous group shows across Malaysia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Canada, Singapore, and South Korea. Highlights included the National Art Gallery Malaysia (1963 & 1964); National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, which now holds his painting in its permanent collection (1988); Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur (1990); China Art Fair, Guangzhou (1993); Hong Kong Chinese Assembly Hall (1998); National Art Museum of China (2000); National Museum of Indonesia (2014); and Duo Yun Xuan Art Museum, Shanghai (2017). In 2013, Cheah received the “Salut 55” Honorary Award from the National Art Gallery Malaysia, and in 2019, he was featured on the Nasdaq billboard in Times Square, New York. His artwork is part of the collection of National Art Gallery Malaysia.

谢忝宋，原名谢天送，后由恩师施香沱改名为“谢梅”，出道后取“忝向宋人学习”之意，名字更为“忝宋”。又因其姓“谢”可分解为“寸身言”，而“忝”字上下分别为“天”和“心”，常自称“寸身言天心”或“天心”。1962年毕业于新加坡南洋美专，期间师从著名艺术名家如陈文希、张荔英、钟泗宾、陈宗瑞、施香沱等名师。2002年获得美国美联大学艺术哲学博士学位。曾任马来西亚艺术学院水墨画科主任。现任草堂门金石书画会会长、东方人文艺术馆名誉馆长、南京书画院特聘画师、广西美协顾问、南洋画院名誉院长，及亚洲美术家协会名誉主席。

自1960年代起，谢忝宋成功举办了超过20次个人画展。1993年，他受中国文化部和中央美院邀请，成为首位在北京中央美院陈列馆展览的马来西亚艺术家，同年在南京江苏美术馆展出。2015年，马来西亚国家画廊为他举办“谢忝宋 · 南洋水墨”个展，由政府社会文化事务顾问Tan Sri Dr. Rais Yatim主持开幕。他的个展地点还包括在中国广西艺术学院（1994）；吉隆坡马来亚银行画廊（1997）；新加坡斯民艺苑（1997和2001）；中国青岛崔子范艺术馆（1999）；中国山东美术馆（2012）；瑞典Edsvik Konsthall画廊（2012）等。最近的个展是“如莲华在水”，于吉隆坡马来西亚创价学会综合文化中心举行（2019）。

谢忝宋曾参与无数海内外联展，展出地点遍及马来西亚、中国大陆、香港、台湾、日本、加拿大、新加坡及韩国。其中包括：马来西亚国家画廊（1963及1964）；台中国立美术馆，作品《悠悠河中游》被馆收藏（1988）；澳洲驻马大使馆（1990）；广州中国艺术博览会（1993）；香港大会堂（1998）；北京中国美术馆（2000）；印尼国家博物馆（2014）；以及上海朵云轩艺术中心（2017）。2013年，他获得马来西亚国家画廊颁发的SALUT 55视觉艺术表扬贡献奖。2019年，他登上了美国纽约时代广场的纳斯达克大屏幕。其作品被大马国家画廊收藏。

ART EDUCATION 艺术教育
1962
Graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore

ROLES & POSITIONS 职务
Co-ordinator, Ink-Painting Section, Malaysian Institute of Art
Co-ordinator, Ink-Painting R&D Division, Oriental Arts Research Centre
Chairman, Contemporary Ink-Painting Research Division, Oriental Arts Research Centre
Chairman, Art Society of Negeri Sembilan
Chairman, Allied Organization for Seremban of Persatuan Seni Tulis, Malaysia
Committee, Persatuan Seni Tulis, Malaysia
Member, International Contemporary Ink-Painting Association
Member, International Society of Plastic & Audio-Visual Arts, Malaysia
Member, Federation of International Colour-Ink Artists
Chairman, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Malaysia) Alumni
1989 - Participated in the First International Academy Seminar in Dunhuang, Kansu Province, China
1991 - Participated in the First International Seminar on Yi-Xiang Art & Art Exhibition in Xian, China
1991 - Deputy Group Leader of the Malaysian Chinese Culture Society's Art Delegation to China

SOLO EXHIBITIONS 个展
2019
“Cheah Thien Soong: Emerging Untainted – An Inspiration from the Lotus Sutra”, Wisma Kebudayaan SGM, Kuala Lumpur

2001
“Reflections of Nature Recreated”, Soobin Art Gallery, Singapore

2000
“Transcended onto Jiangde Porcelain”, Hotel Flamingo, Kuala Lumpur

1999
“Nature Recreated”, Cui Zi Fan Art Gallery, Qingdao, China

1997
“Nature Recreated”, Maybank Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
“Nature Recreated”, Soobin Art Gallery, Singapore

1994
Guilin Art Gallery, Guilin, Guangxi, China
Guangxi Institute of Fine Arts, Nanning, China
Ji Ya Zhai Art Gallery, Guangzhou, China

1993
Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
Academy of Traditional Chinese Painting, Beijing Art Academy, Beijing, China
Art Gallery of Jiangsu, Nanjing, China
Collectors Focus, Kuala Lumpur

1992
RHB Securities, Kuala Lumpur
Sabah Chinese High School, Tawau, Sabah

1991
City Gallery, Kuala Lumpur (in conjunction with the launch of Painting by Cheah Thien Soong, published by the Oriental Arts Research Centre, Malaysian Institute of Art)

1990
Thean Hou Temple, Kuala Lumpur

1989
Art Gallery at 10 Kia Peng, Kuala Lumpur
Tong Guan Association, Johor Bahru

1987
Taman Seni Budaya, Negeri Sembilan

1985
Chin Woo Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur (Fundraising for Seremban Chung Hua High School)

1967
Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Kuching, Sarawak

GROUP EXHIBITIONS 联展
2016
’The Silk Road of Art & Culture‘, Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur
（《文艺丝路--马中42年友好名家书画展》, 马华大厦底楼Banking Hall展区 （配合2016马来西亚华穗艺术节））

2009
Tradition and Modernity: The Second Invitational Exhibition of Famous International Chinese Artists, Luoyang Museum of Art, China
（傳統與現代：第二回國際華人美術名家作品邀請展）

2006
The Society of Chinese Artists Annual Exhibition, Singapore
（《艺术-生活-创新》常年美展，新加坡义安文化中心展览厅）

2004
International Sumi-E Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
（《国际墨画会展》，日本国立美术馆/日本东京国立新美术馆）

2000
“Contemporary Malaysian Painters Art Exhibition”, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
（10位马来西亚当代名家~受中国文化部之邀－展于中国美术馆）
“Ten Artists in Huanghe Art Exhibition”, Jinan, China
“Cultural and Art Festival Exhibition”, Shenyang, China

1998
“The Contemporary Painters”, Hong Kong Chinese Assembly Hall, Hong Kong

1996
70th Anniversary Exhibition of Jiangsu Arts Academy, Nanjing, China
The First International Exhibition of Color-Ink Paintings, exhibition on tour in Taiwan, Canada and U.S.A. (Taichung Municipal Cultural Centre, Taichung, Taiwan; Friendship Multicultural Art Center, Canada; Gallery International, Houston, United States) （第一屆國際彩墨畫展，台灣，加拿大，美國巡迴展）

1995
1st Exhibition of Contemporary Ink-Painting Society, Malaysian Institute of Art, Kuala Lumpur

1994
Asian Art Exhibition, Seoul, Korea

1993
International Exposition of Chinese Calligraphy & Painting, Beijing, China
Chinese Art Exposition, Guangzhou, China
Art Exhibition of the Top Ten Malaysian Contemporary Ink Painters, Penang, Malaysia

1992
International Exhibition of Contemporary Calligraphy, Seoul, Korea
8th Bird-and-Flower Ink-Painting Exhibition, China
International Ink-Painting Exhibition of Outstanding Chinese Artists, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada, Singapore and China

1991
Malaysia Painting Exhibition, Taipei, Taiwan
International Artists Exhibition, Zhengzhou, Henan, China

1990
Creative Art Exhibition of Malaysian Artists, Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur

1989
Collective Exhibition of Asian Artists, Taichung, Taiwan

Contemporary Landscape Painting Exhibition, Jiangsu Publishing House, China
Figure Drawing Exhibition, Zhejiang Figure Drawing Research Association, China

1988–1992
Invitational Exhibition, Federation of Asian Art Association

1988–1990
World Exhibition Tour, International Contemporary Ink-Painting Association

1987
Exhibition of Malaysian Chinese Artists, Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur

1983–1984
Invitational Exhibition of Malaysian Ink Painting, Kuala Lumpur

1963–1964
Invitational Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur

1962
Malaya Art Exhibition Tour, India

AWARDS & ACCOLADES 获奖经历
1995
1st Prize, 1st International Competition of Calligraphy, Painting & Seal Art Exhibition, Taipei, Taiwan

1995
Honorary Degree in Classical & Contemporary Poetry, Calligraphy & Painting, Chinese Calligraphy, Painting & Seal Art Society, Taipei, Taiwan

1995
Outstanding Creative Award, Chinese Calligraphy, Painting & Seal Art Society and Chinese Cultural Activity Association, Taipei, Taiwan

1989
Creative Award, Persatuan Alumni Seni Lukis Akademi Nanyang Singapore, Malaysia

1989
Special Award, Joint Exhibition of Johor, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan

COLLECTIONS 收藏单位
National Art Gallery Malaysia（马来西亚国家美术馆）, Penang State Art Gallery（槟城州立美术馆）, The National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA)（台中国立美术馆）

PUBLICATIONS 出版
2002
200 Malaysian Artists, published by The Art Gallery Penang, Malaysia