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Exploring Southeast Asia with Chuah Thean Teng: Father of Batik Painting

Eva Wong Nava
,
Jeffrey Say
,
Quek Hong Shin
Buying Options
Paperback / Hardback

EXPLORING SOUTHEAST ASIA WITH… is a series of narrative non-fiction picture books for young readers between the ages of seven and twelve. Each book will focus on one national artist, taking readers through the country’s history, the artist’ place within its history, and how art is a reflection of our times. Each book contains critical thinking questions comprising visual thinking strategies (VTS), an enquiry-based method to encourage children to think about the content and formal structure of the artworks.

The series encourages young children to read about artists who had made an impact on the art scene in Southeast Asia.

The main character in this story is CHUA THEAN TENG, a Malaysian batik painter. This story takes the reader through the artist’s colourful life from Fujian, China, where his mother made shoes for women with bound feet, to Penang, Malaysia, where Chua opened a batik factory following WWII. His artworks were featured in UNESCO’s greeting cards in 1989. Chuah is widely regarded as the father of batik painting. Through Chuah’s paintings, readers will learn about the the importance of batik in the Malay world as well as the techniques of batik and batik painting. Readers will also get a glimpse of a Malaysian kampung and a Malaysian way of life.

Published: Dec/2022

ISBN: 9789814954372

Length: 32 Pages

Exploring Southeast Asia with Chuah Thean Teng: Father of Batik Painting

Eva Wong Nava
,
Jeffrey Say
,
Quek Hong Shin

EXPLORING SOUTHEAST ASIA WITH… is a series of narrative non-fiction picture books for young readers between the ages of seven and twelve. Each book will focus on one national artist, taking readers through the country’s history, the artist’ place within its history, and how art is a reflection of our times. Each book contains critical thinking questions comprising visual thinking strategies (VTS), an enquiry-based method to encourage children to think about the content and formal structure of the artworks.

The series encourages young children to read about artists who had made an impact on the art scene in Southeast Asia.

The main character in this story is CHUA THEAN TENG, a Malaysian batik painter. This story takes the reader through the artist’s colourful life from Fujian, China, where his mother made shoes for women with bound feet, to Penang, Malaysia, where Chua opened a batik factory following WWII. His artworks were featured in UNESCO’s greeting cards in 1989. Chuah is widely regarded as the father of batik painting. Through Chuah’s paintings, readers will learn about the the importance of batik in the Malay world as well as the techniques of batik and batik painting. Readers will also get a glimpse of a Malaysian kampung and a Malaysian way of life.

Buying Options
Paperback / Hardback

Eva Wong Nava

Eva Wong Nava was born on a tropical island where a merlion spurts water. Her ancestors braved monsoon winds sailing from the Middle Kingdom to British Malaya to plant roots in Southeast Asia. When the winds changed, her relatives sailed again and found another home somewhere in the western hemisphere, braving snow storms and hail. Eva has done many things in life, like banking and teaching, but writing remains her most favourite thing to do. She combines degrees in literature and art history and writes stories that explore identity, culture, and belonging by adding a dash of magic. Eva has written an award-winning middle-grade book (Moonbeam Children's Book Awards, 2018) and several best-selling picture books. She lives in the Land of Albion with her family, two scampering squirrels, and a regal fox.

Jeffrey Say

Jeffrey Say is an art historian specialising in Singapore and Southeast Asian art history. Jeffrey has been instrumental in the development of art history studies at LASALLE College of the Arts, supporting artists to develop a contextual and historical understanding of the evolution of visual arts. In 2009, he designed the world's first Master's programme focusing on Asian modern and contemporary art histories. Jeffrey is a public advocate of the importance of art history to Singapore. He is a frequent public speaker at museums, universities and galleries, and conducts short courses which remain hugely popular among various publics. Jeffrey is also a regular commentator on the local visual arts scene. An author of numerous essays on art, his seminal co-edited work Histories, Practices, Interventions: A Reader in Singapore Contemporary Art (2016) remains a critical anthology for researchers, curators and students on Singapore art to date.

Quek Hong Shin

Hong Shin Quek is a Singaporean freelance author and illustrator whose works include picture books like The Amazing Sarong, The Brilliant Oil Lamp and Universe of Feelings. The Incredible Basket, was the winner of Best Children's Book at the 2019 Singapore Book Awards. He is also the illustrator for other children's titles like The One and Only Inuka and the Ahoy, Navy! series that was published in celebration of the Republic of Singapore Navy's 50th Anniversary in 2017.

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