Artist Biography

Chia Hoy Sai was born in a fishing village on the west coast of Selangor in 1948. He received his formal training at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts from 1968 to 1969, before returning to Malaysia, where he spent fifteen years working in publishing as a book illustrator. After leaving the profession, he devoted himself increasingly to painting, teaching weekend art classes while developing his own practice during the week and mentoring younger artists, including Lui Cheng Thak. Encouraged by the growing local gallery scene and collector base, he eventually became a full-time artist in his late forties, working across oil, pastel and charcoal.

From 2000 onwards, Chia’s artistic development was shaped by extensive travels across Southeast Asia. At the age of fifty-two, he began undertaking solo backpacking journeys through remote regions, visiting hill tribes and minority communities. These experiences informed a distinctive body of work depicting rural life, indigenous figures in traditional attire, and the vibrant abundance of tropical fruits, inspired by landscapes and communities encountered in Sarawak, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines and Myanmar.

In 2009, Chia collaborated with Soka Gakkai Malaysia on the touring exhibition The Differing Faces of Southeast Asia, which travelled to fourteen locations across Malaysia over six months. His subsequent solo exhibitions include Kesyukuran & Kemanusiaan at Galeri Shah Alam (2011) and Harvest at PINKGUY Gallery, Kuala Lumpur (2022), and The Sound of Silent, at the same venue in 2026. He continues to participate in exhibitions organised by the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Alumni Association and the Klang Artists Society, and currently operates an art gallery in collaboration with Lee’s Cocoa Farm in Selangor.

谢惠载1968至1969年受训于新加坡南洋美专。返马后，他曾在出版界从事书籍插画工作十五载，其后转而传授绘画，四十余岁全身投入绘画创作，成为职业艺术家，专攻油画、粉彩及炭笔。2000年后，足迹遍及东南亚，深入砂拉越、寮国、柬埔寨、菲律宾及缅甸偏远乡野，由此激发一系列描绘乡村生活、原住民族传统服饰及热带水果丰饶景象之作。2009年，与马来西亚创价学会合作举办巡回展《东南亚民族风采》，足迹遍及全马十四地。曾于砂拉越（2002）、菲律宾华教中心（2006）、雪兰莪莎亚南画廊（2011），以及吉隆坡PINKGUY画廊举办个展（2022、2026）。

ART EDUCATION 艺术教育
1968 - 1969
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore

SOLO EXHIBITIONS 个展
2026
“Sound of Silent: From Human Presence to the Poetry of Landscape”, PINKGUY Gallery, Kuala Lumpur

2022
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, PINKGUY Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
“Harvest”, PINKGUY Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Solo Exhibition, Morib Coconut Grove Gallery, Selangor

2015
”ASEAN & China: Beautiful Experience“, Klang Spring Cultural Festival, Klang, Selangor （《东盟与中国：美的感动——谢惠载美术作品展》）

2011
“Kesyukuran & Kemanusiaan”, Galeri Shah Alam, Selangor

2009
“The Differing Faces of Southeast Asia: Touring Exhibition of Chia Hoy Sai’s Artworks”, organised by SGM Cultural Centre; toured 14 locations, including: Klang, Seremban, Johor Bahru, Labis (Johor), Malacca, Kuantan, Terengganu, Kelantan, Ipoh, Kampar, Penang, Bukit Tambun (Penang), Penang Island, Kedah and Kuala Lumpur （《东南亚民族风采—谢惠载美术作品巡回展》，SGM文化艺术中心）

2006
Solo Exhibition, Philippine Chinese Education Research Center, Philippines （《马来西亚谢惠载艺术作品展》，菲律宾华教中心）

2002
Solo Exhibition, Wisma Saberkas, Sarawak


GROUP EXHIBITIONS 联展
2023
“Art Century”, Pin Hwa High School Klang, Selangor（《艺百年》，巴生滨华中学）

2018
Art Asia@KL 2018 Hotel Art Expo, Palace of The Golden Horses, Selangor
“Golden Brush III”, Younie Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Klang Artists Society Exhibition, SGM Cultural Centre, Selangor （《和平美展话巴生》）

2016
Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies, Kuala Lumpur （《华研书画暨书展》，马来西亚华社研究中心）

2015
Art Exhibition, Memorial Lim Lian Geok, Kuala Lumpur （《迎风·而立》，林连玉纪念馆）

2013
NS Art Society Exhibition, Negeri Sembilan

2012
“Art Beyond Boundaries Exhibition”, Galeri Seni Mutiara, Penang

2011
“Back to Basic”, Younie Gallery, Kuala Lumpur

2010
Klang Artists Society Exhibition, Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery, Selangor （《结艺缘》，巴生艺术协会，東禅寺佛光缘美术馆）

COLLECTIONS 收藏单位
Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies （马来西亚华社研究中心）