Under the Skin is Where Truth Lies

“Under the Skin” is a solo exhibition from Sin Way Chyuan, and is fully supported by The One Academy of Communication Design. This exhibition features fifty of Way Chyuan’s selected masterpieces, drawn with ink and graphite on paper, bringing his imaginations to life through his exquisite rendering skills.

Through this exhibition, Way Chyuan intends to draw his audiences into his surrealistic world, where he strips societal norms down to their true nature. Every single piece of art here is inspired by a different circumstance that has occurred from the complex regulations demanded by modern norms, and it all began when Way Chyuan set a challenge for himself: A Drawing a Day. From the challenge, he grew more attentive to his surroundings, drawing inspiration from his daily encounters, experiences, and his impressions on them. The results are, a series of drawings that are remarkably relatable, portraying the anxieties, struggles, restraints, fears, vulnerabilities, difficult choices, burdens and peace in life.

A skilled artist and an alumnus of The One Academy of Communication Design, Way Chyuan is an adept of human anatomy. Heavily influenced by the techniques and creatively wild imaginative minds of Moebius and Katsuhiro Otomo, Way Chyuan has slowly developed himself to create masterpieces as mysterious and surrealistic as they have. Currently, he is teaching in his alma mater, dutifully bringing up a new generation of young artists.

Launched in late June, the opening was attended by many including the Principal and Founder of The One Academy, Tatsun Hoi as well as lecturers, family and friends of the esteemed illustrator. As a token of appreciation, Sin Way Chyuan presented a framed art work of his to the principal. When asked about his passion in art, Way Chyuan replied that since young, he always had an attraction to it. “I would spend time doodling on various surfaces when young, and most of the time it was not good. This motivated me to practise more and improve myself”, he said.

While art holds the power to express one’s self, it also holds the power to invoke emotions and thoughts in others. Many attendees were seen to be walking around the exhibition, impressed by not only the art pieces themselves but rather the message that each piece held. Having an eye for detail, Way Chyuan also spoke on his persistence and dedication in producing a masterpiece that he is satisfied with. Commenting on one particular piece titled “Don’t Step On Them” which illustrated a pair of feet carefully treading amongst what appears to be a floor filled with faces, he said “The careful tip toeing forward of the feet had to be amended a great deal of times before I was content with it, portraying a mild and inexplicable anxiety. The result is a rather happy surprise.”

Surely this is just the first of many successful exhibitions to be held by talented illustrator Sin Way Chyuan given his knack of capturing untold emotions and unspoken feelings and translating them onto paper with fascinating imagery.

The One Academy is committed to providing the best art education programmes and continues to nurture its students passionately through its ‘Masters Train Masters’ coaching philosophy, which has been practised for the past 28 years, by providing diploma and degree courses namely Advertising & Graphic Design, Digital Animation, Digital Media Design, Film Visual Effects, Interior Architecture & Design, Illustration, Fine Arts and Paris Fashion Design & Pattern Making. For more information on The One Academy, visit www.toa.edu.my or call (+603) 7875 5510 or e-mail your enquiries to [email protected].