An interview with Sabah based artist, Christianne Goonting about her artistic journey and style.

1. Christianne
Goonting
“An Interview”

2. By:
Nashwa Mahmoud
Ahmed Alshair
Interview date: Nov 7, 2019
At Kota Kinabalu, Sabah - Malaysia

3. Who is Christianne Goonting?
● Christianne Goonting Devaser, better known
as Tianne.
● Sabah based Artist.
● She is of Portuguese, Dutch and Anglo-Indian
descent.
● Actively involved in art since 1981
● Tianne’s art pieces are versatile in various
techniques and media.
● Her style ranging from realistic to abstract.

4. Her artworks revolve around
three major themes:
● Environmental conservation
● Cultural heritage
● Self-reflection.

5. Her Education
1978 ● O Level (Art) with Distinction
1979
● Course in Chinese Brush Painting at the Malaysia Institute of Art
(under Art Master Chung Chen Sun)
1980 ● A Level (Art) with Distinction
1981
● Apprenticed under Art Master Tang Tuck Kan until 1985.
● Certificate of Art - West Malaysian Academy of Art.
1992
● Art Workshop, Aberdeen Museum and Art Gallery, Scotland UK.
● Outdoor Summer Course, Gray’s School of Art, Scotland UK.
1993
● Diploma in Home Interior Design, Regent Academy of Fine Arts, London UK.
● Diploma in Decorative Paint Finishes for Interior Design, National Design
Academy, Nottingham UK.

6. “In-house” Gallery
Christianne Goonting’s beautiful house that contains an amazing gallery upstairs!

7. Christianne’s Early Steps
● She was engaged in art activities since early childhood.
● Supported by her mother to explore art further and to
develop her artistic skills.
● Lesley, Tianne’s twin sister is an artist also. She has
inspired her sister to become a better artist.
● Tianne about her twin sister:
“When I see some of her pieces, I can already visualise the
painting that needs to be created to complement and
enhance the whole experience.”

8. Art for people
“I just want people to feel rejuvenated and
happy after they’ve attend the exhibits”

9. Versatile CREATIVITY
Realism Abstract
Art Craft
Drawing Painting
Versatile use of
media
Modern vs old
concepts

10. Think First!
● 70% of her concepts are visualised mentally, while the
remaining 30% evolves as she paints.
● Once she sorted out the artwork in her mind, she can
do it very fast.
● She used to take photos of her paintings while she is
doing them and look to them trying to find what to
improve.
● Sometimes, painting without thinking first could be
useful to express emotions.

11. Digital Art is The Future
● Tianne thinks highly of digital art and the use of
technology to produce artworks and design.
● She considers it a media to use in producing
artworks like any other media.
● Technology helps to produce creative artworks
with endless possibilities
● She is concerned that totally depending on digital
art may affect the hand skills of traditional art.

12. Exhibitions
● Ever since her artistic start in 1981, Tianne has
held over 90 exhibitions - solo and group shows -
to date.
● Her exhibitions were around Malaysia, Sri Lanka,
Singapore, Brunei, Cyprus, United Kingdom,
Australia and Japan.
● Her most recent exhibition was the “Hotel Art
Expo 2018”, at Palace of the Golden Horses, Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia.

13. Artworks

14. Batu Seremban -
A Future With Roots in Tradition
(Mixed Media, 60x60cm)

15. Lady with the vail. (Acrylic on Canvas)

16. Reaching Out, the Spirits from Within series. (Acrylic. 90x170cm)

17. Touch,
the Spirits from Within series
(Acrylic. 65x65cm)

18. Spirits from Within series

19. What Goes Around Comes Around (Acrylic. 70x70cm)

22. Christianne Goonting’s
Advice to Visual Arts
Students

23. https://youtu.be/wEtYkBH6zKY
Video

24. Thank You