Nanyang Pho Leng Hui Kuan

Nanyang Pho Leng Hui Kuan was founded in 1940 by a group of Puning clansmen to foster friendly relations, encourage cooperation, promote the welfare of its members, and serve the society and country with loyalty.   

The club was originally set up in a rented building along Rochor Road. With the joint efforts of its members, the clan association grew rapidly. However, it had to suspend all activities due to the outbreak of the Pacific War. Club activities resumed only in 1948, after relocating to a loaned unit in the Chinatown area. In 1953, it was officially named “Nanyang Pho Leng Hui Kuan.” 

In 1968, an entourage of 10 led by the Building Committee Chairman Chen Qianming visited Malaysia to raise funds for the construction of a new clubhouse. On 15 November 1970, the Pho Leng Building was officially declared open by then Education Minister, Mr Lim Kim San.Nanyang Pho Leng Hui Kuan will be displaying two starkly different artworks: an acrylic painting by Grace Tan entitled Sincerity, Generosity, Kindheartedness, Comradeship, as well as Ma Peitong’s ink painting Sacred Dragon of Zhong Hua.

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Grace Tan Lee Keng
Sincerity, honesty, kindness and comradeship
2016
Acrylic on canvas
114 x 147cm
Signature: Tan Lee Keng, 2016


Clan organisations have historical and social importance for the memories of the Nanyang Chinese. The culture of clans has lasted till today because of their role as important bridges between the community and the larger context of country and society. To illustrate this, the painter Grace Tan Lee Keng written the following:

“The inspiration behind the painting Sincerity, honesty, kindness, and comradeship came from the new rectangular-shaped Nanyang Pho Leng Huay Kuan building, which contained “Ning Yuan Hall”, a symbol of our forefathers’ wishes. We have inherited the values of sincerity, honesty, kindness, and comradeship from our Pho Leng forefathers. The rectangle is also seen in the outer frame of the character for “country” (guo), thereby alluding to the idea of “country before home”. I used the rectangular painting frame to represent the deep emotions that carry one towards the future!”

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Ma Peitong (1956-)
Sacred Chinese dragon
2018
Ink and colour on paper
130 x 69cm
Inscription: By Peitong, Spring of 2018.
Seals: Seal of Ma Peitong (characters in white), Buddha (graphic seal), good timing for the right person at the right place (characters in white).


Ma Peitong (1956-) was born in Pei county, Jiangsu province. He is the Head of Hong Kong Painting Academy, the Director of Hong Kong Calligraphy and Painting Pictorial Agency, a National First-Class Artist, and a transmitter of China’s intangible cultural heritage. In 1990, he was influenced by Zhang Ding, President of the Central Academy of Art and Design of China (now Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University), and began studying the” dry ink” technique in painting, creating a unique style in the process.