Meet Huifong, an award-winning portrait artist, poet, and author whose work has gained international recognition. As the founder of Huifong’s Art Gallery (H.A.G), a professional art consultancy with regional and global collaborations, she has played a pivotal role in elevating the Bruneian art scene.
Named one of The Bruneian News’ 50 Most Inspiring LinkedIn Icons in both 2020 and 2022, Huifong’s artistry has been sought after by many. Her famous works include The Founding Father of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew. She also presented a painting of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and His Majesty’s father, the late Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien III to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of His Majesty’s coronation.
Congratulations on your first solo exhibition in France! How did this opportunity come about, and how does it feel to hold your own exhibition?
Thank you. It was a wonderful experience. I have to date it back to 11 years ago when I had my first exhibition in Brunei, right before Singapore, both in the same year, 2014. I was invited by Alliance Française in Brunei, which is the French language center. I was a student there, and they invited me to hold a solo exhibition on their premises.
The Brunei French community attended, including a French couple who were present that night. My first exhibition left a deep impression on them. Even after they left Brunei for France, they still remembered me and my work.
Mr. and Mrs. Pingault had been trying to arrange an exhibition for me in France. Mr. Pingault is also a member of Association des Amitiés Franco-Chinoise (AAFC), which is the Franco-Chinese Friendship Association. He proposed my exhibition to them, and they gladly accepted and organised it.
Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind “The World is a Garden” and how it continues your “Garden Rhapsodies” series?
This collection actually started during COVID with “Garden Rhapsodies.” I have always been a portrait artist, and in the past, my oil portrait paintings were even presented to country leaders. During COVID, when we saw no one, everyone was depressed, myself included.
Since I couldn’t see anyone, I just painted what I saw—the garden. That’s how “Garden Rhapsodies” was created. I also published a book on it. After COVID, I was invited by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism of Brunei to hold a solo exhibition on this garden series. Fast-forward five years to the present, and now I have a continuation of that series—”The World is a Garden.”
What message or emotions do you hope viewers in France will take away from your exhibition?
That nature is absolutely essential in maintaining the harmony of our inner space. France is also a country deeply committed to environmental protection. “The World is a Garden” aligns with that, as it aims to instill a love for nature and encourage emotional connections with it.
How does nature influence your artistic style and storytelling in your paintings?
Nature instills a certain peace in you, allowing you to look beyond the surface and see deeper into the space it creates. When you are at your most peaceful state, creativity blossoms.
I feel nature has a way of connecting people because it is a universal language. Plants and flowers, much like human beings, respond to care. The more I paint, the more I see them as people. I don’t just paint—I also do gardening with my parents, and through that, I’ve come to understand plants, and the process of nurturing them.
For example, there was a time when our garden was quite deserted. I suggested to my mom that we tend to it, and surprisingly, after just one week of watering and small efforts, many plants started to flower. It made me realise that plants truly behave like human beings—the more you nurture them, the more they blossom.
Art is a vast entity, and every artist has a different style. I choose to focus on what I love most. Beyond aesthetics, art carries strong, meaningful messages. These messages connect artists to their audience.
What are some of the challenges you faced in preparing for an international exhibition?
I don’t think I am any different from other artists, but I do feel that organising an international art exhibition requires a lot of mental strength. From my experience, it’s not just about creating paintings or travelling for the event—it’s about connecting with people and adapting to a different culture.
Every culture has its own style of speaking, delivering messages, and embracing conversations. I have been to Europe many times, but staying for an extended period with a singular focus adds a lot of mental stress.
In my case, I wanted to do my best, which added pressure. Being in a foreign country with a different climate and language forces you out of your comfort zone. In terms of logistics, artists often travel with their paintings, and then the organisers arrange for frames to be made locally. It’s a teamwork effort.
Do you have any memorable interactions with art enthusiasts or collectors that left a lasting impression on you?
One recent experience from my latest exhibition stands out. I incorporate poetic storytelling into my paintings. For instance, I painted flowers with a full moon and titled it Hua Hao Yue Yuan (花好月圆).
So, Hua Hao Yue Yuan and the French phrase La Pleine Lune des Fleurs have similar meanings. In French, it literally means “the full moon of flowers,” describing flowers at their fullest bloom in May. However, Hua Hao Yue Yuan carries a deeper significance—it represents a state of harmony and perfection, even if it is fleeting. That moment, though brief, can be cherished in the heart and mind for a long time.
That night, I related this idea at the exhibition opening—how moments of perfection, even if temporary, leave a lasting emotional impact. The guest of honour and some VIPs shared that they found this approach refreshing.
As an Asian artist making waves internationally, what advice would you give to emerging artists aspiring to reach a global audience?
My advice is simple—be yourself and stay true to your passion. Art is a vast entity, and every artist has a different style. I choose to focus on what I love most. Beyond aesthetics, art carries strong, meaningful messages. These messages connect artists to their audience.
When viewers relate to a painting’s story—whether across different countries or cultures—the art and the artist are remembered. Let the art speak for itself, but the artists must also remain authentic to their vision. For me, history and nature are my passions, so I share them through my work. Every artist will find their own audience.
Looking forward, where do you see yourself and your work in the next five years?
There are a few countries I want to focus on for the next five years: Brunei, Singapore, China, France, and Italy. I am gradually fulfilling this goal, and five years from now, I hope to continue on this path. I have three permanent collections, and I don’t see that changing much.
These collections will remain with me over the next five years. My style may evolve—just as it did over the last decade—but my passion and themes will stay the same. I want to continue spreading culture and storytelling through art in these countries.
Connect with Huifong: Website, Facebook and LinkedIn.
