Deric Ch'ng Ewe Lye

Camden Lock

Acrylic

36" x 28"

Chairman Mao Graffiti

Acrylic

36" x 28"

Waterloo East Rooftop

Acrylic

36" x 28"

China Town Series: Lion King

Acrylic

36" x 28"

China Town Series: Spring

Acrylic

36" x 28"

London Eye

Acrylic

36" x 28"

Biography

Deric Ch'ng is a new British artist. Originally from Malaysia, he exhibited his work there from the age of twenty, most notably annually at the Penang State Art Gallery and the Pesta open art exhibition, Penang, from 1991-1998. Deric moved to UK in 1998 and finds living in the U.K. an opportunity to explore British culture and the contrasting urban and rural landscapes along with the unpredictability of the English weather. He hoped to be able to translate these conditions into his work.

His earlier paintings have included architectural studies, landscapes and portraiture. Deric has sensitively documented older and more modern facets of Chinese life. Initially using watercolour as his preferred medium, he has developed from loose fluid images to photo realism. This demonstrates his technical drawing abilities, adding texture and fine detail to his finished paintings.As an immigrant, his work challenges boundaries in both the literal and figurative sense, giving the viewer a fresh take on older perspectives.

During his architecture studies (2000-2006) in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire he exhibited widely including showing work at the winter show at the Feren Art Gallery, Hull from 2000 to 2004. In 2006, after graduation, Deric moved to London. Relocating to the capital awakened in his work something of the freshness and playfulness of the tourist, enabling him to explore popular scenes in his own way and translate his perspectives onto the canvas.

He has since developed a new modified photographic style, incorporating rich medium colours and layers of cut-out pieces to form interesting and unique art works. His paintings include the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Camden Town, China Town and many other familiar sights, but reimagined from a new, Eastern perspective.It has always been Deric’s dream to have a solo exhibition. This, his first solo art show, includes eighteen of his new works.

Deric uses luxurious, earthy colours, featuring the passionate Red derived from his Chinese background. He says ‘the Chinese people are always fascinated by red because it represents luck, auspiciousness, signifying reunion, health, happiness, harmony, peace and prosperity.’ Deric’s style is challenging in combining something of the formality and rigour of Chinese culture and tradition alongside his own trademark mischievousness; the quality of the streetwise scamp, with an impish laugh, is never too far from the surface in Deric’s work, no matter how august the subject matter.

From his previous loose fluid images to his new photorealism Deric now works with a brand new photographic modified technique. He believes that art is fashion, is mutable rather than fixed, and changes from time to time to reflect life’s experience.

Exhibitions

1991

Penang Art Society Annual Exhibition
Penang State Art Gallery

1993

Penang Young Talent’s Exhibition
Penang State Art Gallery

1994

Penang Art Society Annual Exhibition
Penang State Art Gallery

1995

3rd Young Artists Art Exhibition
Rainbow Art Gallery
Penang Art Society Annual Exhibition
State Art Gallery, Penang
Pesta Young Talent’s Exhibition 1995
State Art Gallery, Penang
Penang Pesta Open Art Exhibition 1995
State Art Gallery, Penang

1996

Penang Art Society Annual Exhibition
State Art Gallery, Penang
Pesta Young Talent’s Exhibition 1996
State Art Gallery, Penang
Penang Pesta Open Art Exhibition 1996
State Art Gallery, Penang

1997

4th Young Artists Art Exhibition
Rainbow Art Gallery
Penang Pesta Open Art Exhbition 1997
State Art Gallery, Penang
Pesta Young Talent’s Exhibition 1997
State Art Gallery, Penang