KOI by Puah Kim Hai
PUAH KIM HAI 潘金海
b. Kuala Lumpur, 1950
KOI如鱼得水
Signed and sealed (center right)
Ink and colour on paper
27.5 cm x 40 cm
About the Artist
Puah Kim Hai, a distinguished Malaysian artist, honed his skills under the guidance of Chung Chen Sun. Graduating from the Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA) in 1972, he further developed his Chinese ink painting techniques in Hong Kong under renowned Lingnan Art Master Yang Shanshen in 1980. Infatuated with batik, he ingeniously merged its allure with ink painting, giving rise to a unique style characterized by vibrant colors infused with local culture. As a leading Lingnan Art Master, Puah Kim Hai serves as President of the Malaysian Lingnan Art Society and holds notable positions in other artistic associations. His accolades include the Silver Prize in the 1992 International Shui Mo Art Competition and the Excellent Prize from the Overseas Chinese Art and Calligraphy Studies Association. Exhibiting globally, his captivating fusion of batik and ink painting stands as a hallmark of Lingnan-style art, seamlessly harmonizing Eastern and Western influences to create an art movement centered on life and nature.