Gunabalan and his wife Chong Eng at his recently concluded solo exhibition 'Social Cultural Justice Art' in George Town, Penang. Photo: Bernama
After over two decades as a homemaker, Gunabalan Krishnasamy fulfilled his lifelong dream with a solo art exhibition at 77.
During this time, he played a vital role in supporting his wife, Datuk Seri Chong Eng, as her political career progressed from State Assemblywoman to Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam, Penang in 1999.
Gunabalan, an art graduate from Universiti Sains Malaysia and Arizona State University, United States, balanced his passion for painting with the demands of family life, taking on the role of primary caregiver for their two sons.
Despite a stroke in 2017 that limited his mobility, his passion for art remains undiminished.
Gunabalan has since created over 100 artworks, drawing deeply from his personal journey.
Breathing new life into discarded materials, he transforms them into sculptures rich with compelling narratives.
Last year, Chong Eng retired from politics and, with their two sons, worked towards fulfilling Gunabalan's dream of hosting a solo art exhibition in recognition of his sacrifices.
Titled Social Cultural Justice Art, the exhibition ran from Dec 7-15 at the Penang State Assembly building in George Town, showcasing 69 pieces from Gunabalan’s collection.
"When she (Chong Eng) was active in politics, I became a ‘house husband,’ but at the same time, I began building my collection of paintings, though I had no time for exhibitions. Now that she’s retired, she took the initiative to organise this exhibition for me,” said Gunabalan in a recent interview.
In his The Faces Of The Forgotten series, featuring 30 artworks, the artist pays tribute to the Indian labourers forced to build railroads during the Japanese occupation. Meanwhile, the Roots And Tracks series honors the vital contributions of rubber tappers and railway workers, whose efforts were key to Malaysia’s rise as the world’s largest rubber producer.
Gunabalan shared a personal connection to railways and rubber, revealing that his grandfather was forced to work on railroad construction in Thailand during World War II.
"Thousands of lives were lost, including my grandfather, who never returned. This story inspired me to name my debut exhibition Social Cultural Justice Art," he explained.
Gunabalan is also known for giving new life to discarded materials like driftwood and broken tiles, aligning his art with his commitment to environmental sustainability.
This was evident in the Echoes Of Renewal series, where works crafted from flood-damaged newspapers explored themes of regeneration. – Bernama
