Artist Biography

With a burning passion for art since young, Heng Eow Lin began his artistic journey when he studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art, Singapore, where he was taught under prominent art pioneers including Georgette Chen, Lim Yew Kuan and Shi Xiangtuo. After graduating in 1970, he worked in the art field for a few years in Singapore, before setting off to explore Europe, the Middle East and India, having visited around 40 countries in total. His voyage was funded by art commissions of oil portraits and paintings throughout his journey. A self-proclaimed wanderer with 'no fixed base', Heng turned wherever he was into his studio. His artistic prowess extends from portraits and sculptures to captivating paintings that defy the constraints of popular taste. Heng had done a major sculpture commission for the Malacca Museum, and monumental sculpture work at Karpal Drive and for other institutions.

Heng has held over 15 solo shows to date, with the first one being held at the Malaysian Institute of Art, Kuala Lumpur, and Dewan Sri Pinang in Pinang in 1992. Other solos were held at the National Art Gallery, Singapore (1977), Delia Butcher Gallery, Hyatt Regency Hotel Gallery, Singapore (1988), Penang State Art Gallery (1996), The Art Gallery, Penang (2000 & 2017) and NN Gallery Kuala Lumpur (2012). In 2015, Soka-Gakkai Malaysia honoured Heng Eow Lin with a major retrospective titled "A Journey of 47 Years”, celebrating nearly five decades of Heng’s dedication to his craft. His most recent solo was “My Friends” at Wisma Kebudayaan SGM, Kuala Lumpur (2023). Heng also took part in group exhibitions held in Japan, Switzerland, France, Britain, Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, and Thailand.

王耀林早年于新加坡南洋美专习艺，师从南洋画派先驱张荔英、林友权及施香沱。1970年毕业后，他先于新加坡工作，其后远游欧洲、中东及印度，足迹遍及近四十国，视野因之大开。曾受托完成多项公共艺术项目，包括为马六甲州立博物馆创作大型雕塑。举办个展逾十五次，首展于1972年吉隆坡马来西亚艺术学院举行。其后个展包括1977年于新加坡国家画廊、1996年于槟城州立美术馆、2000年及2017年于槟城The Art Gallery。2015年，SGM文化中心为其举办大型回顾展，2023年再举办《有缘人》个展。他亦积极参与国际群展，展迹遍及日本、瑞士、法国、英国、中国、台湾、澳门及泰国。


ART EDUCATION 艺术教育
1970
Graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore

SOLO EXHIBITIONS 个展
2023
“My Friends: Heng Eow Lin 100 Portraitures Exhibition”, SGM Cultural Centre, Kuala Lumpur（《有缘人——王耀麟百幅肖像作品展》）

2017
“Aspects of Life and Nature”, The Art Gallery, Penang, Malaysia

2015
“Art Journey of 47 Years”, SGM Cultural Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2012
“Joy of Space”, NN Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2011
“In Pursuit of Life and Beauty”, SGM Cultural Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia（《爱·美追寻》）

2009
“Divine Love”, Fo Guan Yuan Art Gallery, Selangor, Malaysia（《温馨》）

2000
“Lovers Embrace”, The Art Gallery, Penang, Malaysia

1997
“Lin & Friend”, Alor Star, Kedah, Malaysia（《麟与朋友》）

1996
“Lin & Friend”, Penang State Art Gallery, Penang, Malaysia（《麟与朋友》）

1993
“New Life II”, The Art Gallery, Penang, Malaysia（《新生 II》）
“Lin and Things”, Room at the Top Gallery, HELP Institute, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia（《麟与作品》）

1988
“New Life”, Delia Butcher Gallery, Hyatt Regency Hotel Gallery, Singapore（《新生》）

1987
“Sculptures”, Penang, Malaysia（《雕塑》）

1981
“Portraiture”, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia（《肖像》）

1979
“Sculptures”, Dewan Sri Pinang, Penang, Malaysia（《雕塑》）
“Sculptures”, Singapore（《雕塑》）

1977
3rd Solo Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Singapore

1972
1st Solo Exhibition, Malaysian Institute of Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2nd Solo Exhibition, Dewan Sri Pinang, Penang, Malaysia

GROUP EXHIBITIONS 联展
2024
“Guangdong International Art Week”, Guangdong, China（《广东国际艺术周》，中国）

2023
“Integration & Diversity – Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary Malaysian Figure Paintings of Eminent Artists”, China Cultural Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (《融合与多元—当代马来西亚人物画名家邀请展》,吉隆坡中国文化中心）

2022
“艺齐同心” Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, Ruyu Art Studio, Malaysia

2019
“Colourful Northern Art Exhibition”, City Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur (《情牵北马》，吉隆坡连城画廊)


2017
“Art Exhibition at The Black Box”, Penang, Malaysia
“34th Anniversary of NAFA Alumni Association Malaysia Exhibition”, Selangor, Malaysia

2016
“Blossoms Art Festival Malaysia”, Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia（《马来西亚华穗艺术节》）
“The Nanyang Show”, Visual Art Centre, Singapore

2015
“Back to Basics IV”, Younie Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
“Penang Art Show: Then & Now 2015”, Penang and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
“Landmark Art Exhibition”, Penang, Malaysia
“Galeri Seni Mutiara 10th Anniversary Exhibition”, Penang, Malaysia

2014
“Langkawi Art Biennale 2014”, Kedah, Malaysia
“Art for Nature (AFN) 2014”, WWF-Malaysia
“Island of the Mind: International Art Exhibition”, Cultural Affairs Bureau of Kinmen County, Taiwan（《心灵的岛屿—国际艺术家联展》，台湾金门县文化局）
“Back to Basic IV”, Younie Gallery, Kuala Lumpur（《返璞归真 IV》，吉隆坡颜丽轩画廊）

2013
“Back to Basic III”, Younie Gallery, Kuala Lumpur （《返璞归真 III》，吉隆坡颜丽轩画廊）

2012
“Past, Present, Future: Timelines of Mutiara Artists”, Galeri Seni Mutiara, Penang, Malaysia
“Art Beyond Boundaries Exhibition”, Galeri Seni Mutiara, Penang, Malaysia
”Still Life Exhibition by 5 Artists”, Younie Gallery, Kuala Lumpur （《静物五人展》）

2011
“Malaysian Contemporary Art Exhibition”, Galeri Seni Mutiara, Penang, Malaysia

2010
Art Expo Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
“Artistic Expressions”, Galeri Seni Mutiara, Penang, Malaysia
“Bali Menawan – Enchanting Bali”, Galeri Seni Mutiara, Penang, Malaysia
“Malaysia Independence 53rd Anniversary Exhibition”, Penang & Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
“Thai Princess Day Exhibition”, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
“6th International Artists Camp”, Thailand
“2nd Thai Visual Arts Association Exhibition”, Bangkok, Thailand
“Nanyang Style Exhibition”, Zhejiang Library, China（《南洋风情展》）

2009
“Stepping into the Imagined Space – Malaysia & Singapore Contemporary Artists Exhibition”, Penang & Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia（《跨入想像的空间》）
“25th Anniversary of Malaysia–China Diplomatic Relations Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition”, Melaka, Malaysia

2008
Prince of Songkla University Exhibition, Thailand

2007
“Malaysia 50th Independence Anniversary International Invitational Art Exhibition”, Malaysia
“Power of Art”, Emjaroen Gallery, Thailand
“Twenty Singapore–Malaysia Artists Exhibition”, Thailand

2006
3rd Asian New Expression Art Exchange Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
“Malaysian Teochew Artists Invitational Exhibition”, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
“Contemporary Teochew Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition”, Guangzhou, China

2005
“Sino–Malaysia Painting Art Exchange Exhibition”, Shanghai, China
“Painting Phuket”, Phuket, Thailand

2004
“Malaysian Chinese Artists with Over 30 Years of Practice Exhibition”, Penang, Malaysia
Asia–Japan Exhibition, Japan

2003
“Artistic Dreams Altogether II”, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
“All Asia Beauties”, Bangkok, Thailand
“Tradition to Modernity” Exhibition

2002
“The Art Exhibition by Artists”, Bangkok, Thailand
“Spectacular Trang”, Bangkok, Thailand
“New Expression of Asian Art Touring Exhibition”, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan

2001
“Pintu Seni”, Jakarta, Indonesia

2000
10th Contemporary Art Exhibition, Samila Group, Phatalung, Thailand
“Spiritual Journey” Exhibition

1999
“Art Exhibition Talanoi Relationship”, Phatalung, Thailand

1998
“Kedah II”, Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia
“Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts 60th Anniversary Art Exhibition”, Singapore

1997
12th Asian International Art Exhibition, Macau
Guangzhou International Art Fair, China

1996
“Durian Lover”, The Art Gallery, Penang, Malaysia
11th Asian International Art Exhibition, Singapore
Guangzhou International Art Fair, China

1995
Southern Thailand Artists Exhibition, Bangkok, Thailand
10th Asian International Art Exhibition, Singapore

1994
9th Asian International Art Exhibition, Taipei, Taiwan
Singapore Modern Art Society Exhibition, Macau

1993
Della Butcher 70th Birthday Commemorative Exhibition, Singapore
8th Asian International Art Exhibition, Fukuoka, Japan
“An Exhibition for Mother of Artists”, Singapore

1992
“RATT–HELP Art Exhibition”, HELP Institute & Room at the Top Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
7th Asian International Art Exhibition, Gedung Merdeka, Bandung, Indonesia

1991
“33 Years After”, Room at the Top Gallery, Regent Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
“Sketches”, Room at the Top Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1990
International Artists Camp, Museum & Art Gallery, Penang, Malaysia

1989
National Day Art Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
“TITIAN II”, National Museum of Art, Bangkok, Thailand

1979–1978
National Art Exhibition, Singapore

1977
“Large Painting Exhibition”, National Museum, Singapore
Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Commemorative Exhibition, London, United Kingdom

1976
National Art Exhibition & “Our People Exhibition”, Singapore

1975
Group Exhibition, Switzerland and Southern France

1972–1970
National Day Art Exhibition, Singapore

1969
Singapore 150th Anniversary Art Exhibition, Singapore


PROJECTS & ACHIEVEMENTS 项目
Mannequin sculptures representing various ethnic groups of Sarawak, Sarawak Museum, Malaysia
Life-size sculpture “Flying High”, Johor, Malaysia
Life-size sculpture “Lover’s Embrace”, Penang State Art Gallery, Penang, Malaysia
Life-size sculpture of a mother and child, Lam Wah Ee Hospital, Penang, Malaysia
Life-size buffalo sculpture, The Art Gallery, Penang, Malaysia
Mural sculpture of the warrior hero Hang Tuah, Malacca State Museum, Malaysia
Designed the landmark sculpture The Rhythm of Life for The Light City, Penang, Malaysia

COLLECTIONS 收藏单位
Penang State Art Gallery（槟州美术馆）, Tha Art Gallery, Penang（槟城艺术画廊）, Lam Wah Ee Hospital, Penang（槟城南华医院）, National Gallery Singapore（新加坡国家美术馆）

PUBLICATIONS & LITERATURE 出版
1992
“Penang Artists 1920's-1990's”, published by The Art Gallery Penang, Malaysia

1997
“12 Penang Artists: A Critical Analysis of Their Works”, published by NN Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2002
“200 Malaysian Artists”, published by The Art Gallery Penang, Malaysia