Klang-born watercolour artist Brian Tai is a familiar presence in Petaling Street, KL’s Chinatown. You may have spotted this 48-year-old artist on the bustling sidewalks of Jalan Sultan, alone or with friends, completely absorbed, in capturing the essence of a building, a busy street scene, or the waves of people in the vicinity. Brian has been painting since 1990 but took a hiatus for 13 years in 2000, before rediscovering his passion and picking up his brush again in 2013.

“In the early days, I was actively engaged in urban sketching. That laid the foundation for my current journey as a plein air artist,” he said. Plein air refers to painting “live” outdoors rather than relying on photographs in the comforts of a studio.

In this exhibition, titled Urban Symphony, this prolific artist who holds a degree in Physics showcases 30 pieces of work done on-site in the streets of Klang Valley and Penang. The show will be held from March 30 to April 14 at the Pro Art and Frame Gallery, Section 17, PJ.

“This collection is entirely painted in plein air. The showcase is presented in two segments. The initial segment showcases my impressionistic interpretation of buildings and the urban landscape, capturing the atmosphere of the streets’ architecture through my presentation of light and shades.

“Buildings and architecture are my life-long subjects due to their ever-changing nature. They may be here today and gone tomorrow, so I strive to capture as my artistic contribution to a historical record,” he said.

“In the subsequent segment, I zoom in to the people and their daily activities. This could be a popular hawker at the height of his busiest day, local festivals and religious celebrations unfolding before me, or even quiet gatherings of people having a conversation.

“I aim to capture the essence of people and their activities for they are the soul of the urban landscape. This soul of the place is what I seek to convey through my art.”

Painting plein air demands spontaneity, precision in details, fine craftsmanship, and mastery of the tools of the trade. Additionally, the plein air artist has to deal with the unforeseen elements of their surroundings and challenges from the weather.

Recalling a personal experience, Brian shared: “Once, upon reaching the painting site in Petaling Street, I realised I had left my main paint palette and brushes at home. All I had were a few tubes of colour in my sketch bag and two brushes – one large and one small,” he said. “I had no choice but to make do with what I had.

“Instead of attempting a detailed scene using the usual luxury of tools, I decided to focus on the archway using a big brush and bold strokes, and then incorporated impressions of figures using the small brush. There was no time to overthink; I just painted,” he recounted. “That piece became ‘Petaling Street on a Dance,’ and that experience inspired me to explore more work in bold, impressionistic styles.” Brian Tai has over 50 exhibitions under his belt, locally and abroad. His works have earned acclaim and have been sought after by art enthusiasts, both domestic and foreign.