The Art of Choo Beng Teong: Birds of Malaysia Including Sabah & Sarawak

The Art of Choo Beng Teong showcases of over a hundred of the prolific artist’s watercolour paintings of birds in their natural habitat. As you turn the pages of this book, you’ll be drawn into an incredible diversity of Malaysian birds that are our last, best connection to an already receding natural world.

Choo Beng Teong’s love for birds is evident in his masterful attention to their every detail; nothing is overlooked. His breathtaking paintings possess a tactile reality, giving us the sense of having been where even the most intrepid of bird guides have not ventured. His insistence of anatomical perfec- tion in his paintings stems from his philosophy that nature, itself, is perfection.

Born in Penang, Choo has drawn since childhood and spent most of his childhood drawing inspira- tion from nature. Since his first solo exhibition at Galeria, Penang in 1987, Choo’s works have been showcased both locally and abroad, including Sweden, Hong Kong, Singapore and Korea. One of the highest points in his career as an artist was when his selected works were featured in Christie’s South Kensington Wildlife Art Auction in London in 1997 and 1998.

As a dedicated conservationist, Choo intends to raise awareness for environmental and conservation causes with his internationally acclaimed artworks. He truly believes that conservation doesn’t always have to be flashy to successfully engage the commu- nity. Sometimes the tried and true-paintbrushes and canvas are the best ways to reach out. With a little out-of-the-box thinking, everyone can walk away having learnt something important about preserving the environment they share.

Author
Tan Choo Eng has been a member of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) since 2006. Born in Kedah, Tan spent his schooling days in Penang before completing his university education in the United Kingdom, qualifying as a polymer technologist.

He has been actively involved in championing conservation and holds several key positions includ- ing being on the board of advisors to the Penang National Park and chairing both the MNS Penang Branch and the Bird Conservation Council.

]It is his hope that fellow nature lovers, bird-watchers, photographers, decision-makers and Malaysians everywhere will appreciate Choo’s beautifully- detailed water colour artworks and understand that these breath-taking birds form part of our precious natural heritage that should be protected, conserved and enjoyed by everyone.