Soh Boon Kiong

Soh Boon Kiong is a Malaysian artist whose abstract paintings explore the realm of positive emotions and, at times, micro-sensations that exist at the boundary between the conscious and the subconscious. Born in 1966 in Kuantan, Malaysia, Soh studied at the Central Academy of Art in Kuala Lumpur before spending five years at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. After completing his formal education and beginning to develop his own style, Soh traveled to Japan, where he immersed himself in Eastern culture and studied the art of ukiyo-e masters such as Hokusai, as well as the works of the Gutai movement. Since then, the artist has lived and worked “between two cities,” with studios in Kuala Lumpur and Amagasaki. Soh Boon Kiong’s first exhibition took place in Singapore in 1990. Since then, his works have been displayed worldwide. The artist seamlessly blends Eastern and Western influences, transforming his appreciation for French Impressionism and traditional Japanese painting into vibrant abstractions. Fluent in five languages (Malay, English, French, Japanese, and Chinese), Soh leverages his deep cultural and linguistic knowledge to visualize the most delicate and beautiful human emotions. The impressions of a sunrise or sunset, the feeling of a gentle breeze on the skin, the joy of blooming flowers, or even the aftertaste of travel notes—these vivid abstractions, composed of colorful patches and lines, immerse viewers in a visualized sensation, creating an invisible dialogue between the artist and his audience.