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 Born in Canton, China, Lee Man Fong’s family moved when
he was young to Singapore, where he worked as a commercial artist until he got job as a
caricaturist for a Chinese newspaper in Batavia (Jakarta). At the same time he was
teaching himself to paint. Later he received a grant to study art in the Netherlands. Upon
returning to Indonesia his talent was quickly recognized by President Sukarno and become a
trusted member of the inner court. He was charged with editing a large book documenting
the Sukarno collection of paintings of which he was curator. The influence of this book in
the development of Indonesia painting cannot be underestimated.Fong, often, made paintings of Balinese subjects. Some of these were clearly based on Willem Hofker’s work. He also did a series of large paintings depicting various activites in Bali’s daily life which are remarkable. Fong was a versatile painter skilled in both western oil painting style. After the fall of Sukarno, Fong retreated into private life until his death in 1988.
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