Renowned art educator Prof Chung Chen Sun passes away at 89

KUALA LUMPUR: The founder of the Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA), who was a master in Chinese ink painting and Chinese calligraphy, Prof Chung Chen Sun, breathed his last at around 1pm on Monday (Feb 26), according to Chinese dailies.

Born in Melaka in 1935, Chung graduated from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore.

He founded MIA in 1967 and held the principal role for three decades while spearheading the school to become one of the region’s largest art and creative institutions.

Known as the Father of Contemporary Art Education, he was actively involved in international art education programmes and founded the International Contemporary Ink Painting Association to promote the art.

He has held positions like the Asia Pacific Art Education Association co-chairman, the International Association of Art’s Malaysia branch chairman, China National Academy of Painting committee member and Malaysian Chinese Cultural Society president, among others.

His works have been exhibited in several Asian nations, including India, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and the United States.