Angelina Bong is a poet and visual artist. She represented Malaysia at the 3rd Delphic Games 2009, Jeju, South Korea in Poetry. Since then, she has read and performed in ten countries with poems translated into six languages.
She held her first solo Art & Poetry exhibition abroad after completing a 7-week residency at Toji Cultural Centre, Wonju, South Korea in 2018. Her 2020 poem won the Poetry – Adult category of George Town Literary Festival’s Wake Me Up When This is Over’ contest. Fibro Takes Flight is her debut poetry collection.
Angelina seeks the sacred in the ordinary and grandeur, both at home and in her travels, while celebrating diversity beyond borders. These contemplative encounters are expressed in her contemporary creations. Her visual artworks are explorations of acrylic, mixed media, black
and white ink illustrations and haiga.
Engaging with community wherever she goes, she has conducted art and poetry workshops in Malaysia, Japan, Brunei and Australia, orang utan art for conservation workshops for rural kids with Wildlife Conservation Society, live painting performances and etc.
She is a member of Malaysia’s National Art Gallery, Malaysia Women Artist Association and currently the Secretary of Sarawak Artists Society.
Her pieces are occasionally paired with poetry and some now residing in 25 countries across the globe. Two of her physical pieces paired with NFT are collected by YB Datuk Snowdan Lawan, and Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Dato Sri Prof. Dr. Sim Kui Hian and Deputy Minister
for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (Creative Industry and Performing Arts), one of which is produced during the Sarawak International Art Camp 2022.
She has participated in many collective exhibitions both locally and abroad, art & poetry residencies in Korea, Australia, Datai Langkawi Malaysia and an international art camp in Kedah 2019 alongside 97 invited artists from 14 countries. One of her most recent ventures abroad was in Perth in January 2023, as a poet-artist-in-residence, performer and workshops’
facilitator. She is also selected to the art-writing residency at Toji Cultural Centre, Wonju, South Korea from Sept to Oct 2023.
Since Covid hit in 2020, she started teaching Arts & Crafts, Creativity and Poetry online with regular classes and virtual workshops, with students from various parts of Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, South Asia and the Middle East.
ANGELINA BONG’S STORY
Angelina Bong was an avid doodler from toddler. Although she graduated with 9A1s in the pure science stream, she pursued Fashion by obtaining full scholarships to study Fashion Design and then a BA (Hons) in Business Management.
She fell in love with painting when she discovered Van Gogh as a Foundation Design student. She also started writing poetry after going through a chaotic phase in life, which eventually
led her to represent Malaysia at the 3rd Delphic Games, Jeju in 2009. However, work got in the way of creating. She was working full-time in the Fashion industry when she fell ill with Fibromyalgia and moved back to her hometown.
As time was on her hands, she began to play with words and paint again. They gave her hope and a renewed sense of purpose as she navigated her pain through faith and making art. Eventually, her despair led her to her artistic vocation. Opportunities came knocking and she began to travel.
She sees herself as a pilgrim traveler, seeking the sacred in the ordinary and grandeur, both at home and in her travels. The more she opens her eyes and set foot on foreign lands, the more she sees that we are all not that different. She aims to celebrate diversity in humanity and explores the beauty in everything and everyone. Sometimes, she encounters the
oppressed, the broken, and the voiceless and their stories teach her the meaning of life. She hopes to express that through her creations.
As she journeys through life’s rollercoaster ride, the more she believes that each one of us is made for a purpose by our Creator, and the earth is entrusted into our care. Our experiences include happiness and pain but they are not in vain. They mold and shape us as we find treasures in ashes. She wishes to show her ruminations through her works, so that people may catch a glimpse of hope even if it is just for a moment when they meet her art. She invites You to view her creations through contemplative eyes. Be still, and maybe just maybe, you can breathe, dream a little better, be inspired, or even be disturbed and make a difference in your lives.