FOO HONG TATT 

Foo Hong Tatt is a renowned Malaysian artist whose work has been described as "poetry in paint" - a unique fusion of Eastern philosophy and Western techniques that transcends cultural boundaries. Born in Penang in 1940, Foo studied art at Lincoln College and the University of Illinois on a scholarship from the Institute of International Education, before returning to Southeast Asia to develop his distinctive meditative painting style.

Known as a "poet-painter," Foo's abstract landscapes emerge from what he describes as meditations on the harmonies in Nature. His works, which he considers "prayers" and "food for the soul," blend traditional Chinese painting techniques with Western abstract expressionism, often completed in single continuous sessions using his signature "wet on wet" technique. His spiritual approach to art is deeply influenced by his Bahá'í faith, which he weaves into his artistic philosophy of peace, love, joy, and contentment.

Foo's paintings are held in prestigious collections including Malaysia's National Art Gallery, and his work has been exhibited internationally from Singapore to New York. His artistic legacy has been documented in the seminal publication Penang Artists 1920-1990 and celebrated in the dedicated monograph Foo Hong Tatt—Paradise Regained, which chronicles his life's work. Art critics have praised his ability to create "a spiritual amalgamation of East and West," with one noting his paintings resemble "a Sung Dynasty landscape painted by abstractionist Paul Jenkins."

Having taught in Malaysia, Singapore, and Tanzania, Foo continues to inspire new generations of artists while maintaining his deep connection to his Penang roots, where his artistic journey first began at St. Xavier's Institution under the guidance of renowned teacher Brother Joseph McNally.

Source:

Penang Monthly (September 2023) - Foo Hong Tatt's Poetry in Pain, URL: https://tinyurl.com/fhtJuly2025