Kar-Keat Chong | Impressions of the Twin Cities in Ink & Watercolor

Kar-Keat Chong’s life experiences have always been highly informed by the rich heritage and culture of his hometown. He grew up honing his sketching and painting skills on the vibrant streets of Penang, Malaysia, where multi-racial communities co-exist and live in harmony. Over recent summers, Kar-Keat has been out and about sketching landmarks and industrial relics in the Twin Cities he has called home since 1999. Working on location with fountain pens, watercolor and rice paper, he seeks to capture the atmospheric quality of these buildings and sites at a specific moment. As a result, the art he creates is his emotional response to this phenomenon - always striving to be honest and realistic in his interpretations. Through sketching and painting, it makes Kar-Keat pause and be present, truly observe with keen eyes, and understand his subject matter at a more refined level. He hopes through his artwork, he can inspire others to slow down from our fast-paced lives to pause and truly appreciate the beauty that surrounds us each and every day. 

Gallery Hours

Monday- Saturday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m.

Presented alongside: Hopkins Center for the Arts Members' Juried Exhibition and Susan Hensel | At Play in the Fields of Color Perception. 

Related: Read our profile on Kar-Keat Chong as part of the 2020 MPLSART Sketchbook Project.