Meditation as Artistic Expression in Chin Wan Kee Contemporary Sculpture
Kendy Mitot, Tan Siong Hui, Yeow Lai Chee, Jacqueline Sim Fei Chin
Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities July 29, 2026 DOI: 10.47405/mjssh.v11i7.4093 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Four sculptures by Malaysian contemporary sculptor Chin Wan Kee, plus the artist himself as interview participant |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Argues that meditation is articulated in Chin Wan Kee's sculptures through formalistic elements such as movement, balance, texture, and spatial relationships, and through symbolic forms conveying self-awareness, spiritual transcendence, and physical-metaphysical interconnectedness. The authors contend that the artist's lived experiences and contemplative practice significantly shape the intrinsic meanings of the works. |
Abstract
Meditation has long served as a source of artistic inspiration, enabling artists to express spiritual, philosophical, and contemplative ideas through visual forms. This study examines the articulation of meditation in selected sculptures by the Malaysian contemporary sculptor Chin Wan Kee. It explores the expression of meditation through the formalistic elements of sculpture and interprets the intrinsic meanings of the artworks from the artist's perspective using native exegesis. A qualitative research approach was employed, guided by Edmund Burke Feldman's model of art criticism, encompassing the stages of description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment. Data were collected through the visual analysis of four selected sculptures and an in-depth interview with the artist. The findings reveal that meditation is expressed through the integration of formalistic elements, including movement, balance, texture, and spatial relationships, while symbolic forms communicate themes of self-awareness, spiritual transcendence, and the interconnectedness of the physical and metaphysical. The study further demonstrates that Chin Wan Kee's lived experiences and contemplative practice significantly shape the intrinsic meanings embedded within his sculptures. By integrating formal analysis with native exegesis, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of meditation as both a creative process and a mode of artistic expression in contemporary Malaysian sculpture.