Ho Kah Leong, an amateur artist with professionalism
By Liu Kang, Magazine, 2000
To pursue artistic creation wholeheartedly is by no means easy for a person who is busy with political works and has to take charge of some activities of community centres, art and sports organisations.
However, he has managed it with ease. He is none other than the Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Environment) Mr Ho Kah Leong.
This brings to mind two key persons who led the allied forces during WWII; Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain, and General Eisenhower, Commander of the allied forces launching attacks against crack Nazi forces. Both were amateur art lovers, but both, despite pressing political and military commitments, managed to find time to take up their painting brushes, with which they derived not only spiritual comfort but also inspiration in dealing with important issues that came on the heels of one another. They continued with their artistic pursuit even after their gracious retirement.
It is commendable indeed that those who shoulder heavy responsibilities manage to strike a balance between work and art, thus enabling them to lead a life of supreme fulfilment.
Mr Ho has gone through formal art training under distinguished tutors. There is no doubt about his solid foundation and his commitment to artistic creations. He visits art galleries and draws inspirations from paintings by famous artists. He is most motivated by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters such as Monet, Renoir, Sisley and Van Gogh. Bright colors and smooth, flowing lines demonstrate the simplicity of his artistic style.
I have taken part in his painting trips to the southern islands several times. It has always been my habit to equip myself minimally for such trips. But Mr Ho is usually fully-equipped with his painting box, canvas and easel. As soon as he reaches the spot, he will observe and plan carefully before laying out his tools to start painting the scenery in front of him. So absorbed will he be in his work that he is oblivious of the growing crowd of people gathering around him to watch him paint.
His way of painting remains unchanged even when he is travelling overseas. In this way he seems to be able to communicate with nature, immerse himself in it, and draw on its spirit before embarking on a careful study to enable him to express his unique ideas and emotions in his paintings.So there is always a quality of elegance and a touch of vitality in his painting.
Mr Ho travels widely. He has been to various places in the world. As a result, his paintings display great variations in subjects and styles, a world of snow and ice, a beautiful autumn maple to a waterside family, with uniqueness and great charm. Although he is dedicated to secular affairs, he longs for things pure and sacred, striving to mould a noble soul for himself and for perfection in his art. That is why I consider him an amateur artist with professionalism.
