It seems as if Jake Goh was always meant to paint. And maybe growing up in a squatter area in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur had something to do with it.
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, Goh said he and his siblings spent most of their time indoors when growing up as his father felt the neighbourhood wasn’t ideal for their upbringing.
The second youngest of 10 children, Goh found solace in art. “As a young kid with not much freedom, art became a way for me to express my feelings,” the 54-year-old said.
Back then, he sketched using only a pencil as art supplies were expensive. Even so, the activity brought him much happiness.
Once while in secondary school, his love for art was put to the test. “We were tasked to sketch Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was the prime minister then.”
Excited by the challenge, Goh said he poured his heart into his work. But to his utter dismay, his teacher failed him. He remains stumped to this day, as to why.
Yet, despite the blow, he worked at improving his skills. “I didn’t want to hold on to any negative feelings and tried to stay positive.”
But as much as he loved painting, he didn’t have the time for it as an adult. Running a business with his sister, dealing with home decoration, antiques and picture framing, kept him busy.
That changed, however, when a customer brought in an oil painting to be framed. It was of a sunflower. “I told myself, ‘Hey, I can do better.’ I was very ambitious for that age,” he recalled with a laugh.
So, he grabbed his art supplies and got down to painting three sunflowers against a dark background. Pleased with the result, he displayed his work at the shop only to have it snapped up by an interested buyer. Turns out that sale was all the motivation he needed to keep painting. Which he did with gusto.
The highlight of his career came in 2018 when two of his paintings were displayed at an exhibition called “A Forever Legacy,” featuring portraits of Mahathir by artists from 40 countries.
Apart from his painting of Mahathir, Goh also included one of the then prime minister’s wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali.
Goh was doubly honoured when the couple attended the exhibition and autographed his paintings. To Goh, this was all the validation he needed as an artist.
“It’s worth more than anything,” Goh said, recalling with some degree of fondness his initial sketch of Mahathir when in school.
Today Goh teaches art at Wesley Methodist International School in Kuala Lumpur. He paints in various mediums – acrylic, oil, watercolour and gouache. His subject matter is often sunflowers.
Touching on the joy he feels when painting sunflowers, Goh said he hoped that anyone looking at his work shares his sentiments. “It is easy to see the sad things that’s been happening around the world, so let’s spread some joy.”
To that end, he appreciates the support of Persatuan Pembangunan Artisans (PPA), an NGO that helps artisans like himself market their products via its website, physical stores and pop-up events.
Currently, Goh’s paintings are on sale at PPA’s stores in Tokyo Street, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
Asked what he wishes to share about never giving up on one’s passion, he had this to say: “Believe in yourself. And if you have a certain goal in life, hold on tightly to it.
If you wish to commission a painting, contact Jake Goh at 016-237 2118.
Read more PPA stories and get to know its artisans here.