

1931 expanded
McNally notes that on this year Mun Sen opened an additional studio in a sea-facing old mansion at 58, Northam Road. The mansion was previously owned by the last Kapitan of Penang, Chung Thye Phin, who lived here until he passed away in this very premises in 1935. This means that Mun Sen would only have occupied the mansion after the passing of the late Kapitan Chung. At some time, we know that the house was bought over by Ng Sui Cam(伍瑞 琴). Ng was trained as a mechanical engineer but was roped back to run the family business, Sun Wo Loong Oil Mill Co. Ltd(“新和隆油較廠”), manufacturer of rice bran oil and coconut oil, located at 51, Madras Lane, Penang. He became a successful businessman and was actively involved in political and community services, even serving as a member of the Federal Legislative Council of Malaya and was one of the 16 executive councillors who formed Malaysian Chinese Association. Ng Sui Cam was also recorded as being generous with his swimming pool at his mansion on 58, Northam Road, which was often used by many Penangites. It is unclear what did McNally mean that Mun Sen opened a studio on this location. Children from Mun Sen's first wife, Lam Sek Foong, recalled living at the mansiona at some point. It is unclear if they rented or purchased the property. In any case, the Yong family moved into the mansion sometime after the mid-1930s until the mansion's ownership was transferred to Ng Sui Cam sometime after the war. During his time at Northam Road, Mun Sen familiarised himself with European artists through books, specifically ones written about Gauguin and Van Gogh.
Joseph McNally, 1994. 'Yong Mun Sen' Pioneers of Malaysian Art, 70-76; http://teochiewkia2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/ng-swee-cam.html Hiranmayii Awli Mohanan. 2019. "The Life of Yong Mun Sen: The Father of Malaysian Painting". KL Lifestyle. https://www.kl-lifestyle.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Yong-Mun-Sen-Bio.pdf