“An Interview”

Christianne
Goonting
By:

Nashwa Mahmoud

Ahmed Alshair

Interview date: Nov 7, 2019

At Kota Kinabalu, Sabah - Malaysia
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.
Her artworks revolve around
three major themes:

● Environmental conservation
● Cultural heritage
● Self-reflection.
Her Education
1978 ● O Level (Art) with Distinction

● Course in Chinese Brush Painting at the Malaysia Institute of Art

1979
(under Art Master Chung Chen Sun)

1980 ● A Level (Art) with Distinction

● Apprenticed under Art Master Tang Tuck Kan until 1985.

1981
● Certificate of Art - West Malaysian Academy of Art.

● Art Workshop, Aberdeen Museum and Art Gallery, Scotland UK.

1992
● Outdoor Summer Course, Gray’s School of Art, Scotland UK.

● Diploma in Home Interior Design, Regent Academy of Fine Arts, London UK.
1993 ● Diploma in Decorative Paint Finishes for Interior Design, National Design
Academy, Nottingham UK.
“In-house” Gallery

Christianne Goonting’s beautiful house that contains an amazing gallery upstairs!

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.”
Art for people

“I just want people to feel rejuvenated and

happy after they’ve attend the exhibits”
Versatile CREATIVITY
Realism Abstract Versatile use of
media
Art Craft
Modern vs old
Drawing Painting concepts
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.
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.
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.
Artworks
Batu Seremban -
A Future With Roots in Tradition
(Mixed Media, 60x60cm)
Lady with the vail. (Acrylic on Canvas)
Reaching Out, the Spirits from Within series. (Acrylic. 90x170cm)
Touch,
the Spirits from Within series

(Acrylic. 65x65cm)
Spirits from Within series
What Goes Around Comes Around (Acrylic. 70x70cm)
Christianne Goonting’s
Advice to Visual Arts
Students
 Video

https://youtu.be/wEtYkBH6zKY
Thank You