Renowned portraiture artist Jia Wei Shen with  his epic masterpiece Merdeka at Bundeena Community Hall

Merdeka which translates in english to independence is a monument to the first 50 years of Malayasian independence.

Shen in collaboration with his artist wife Lan Wang and fellow artist Xu Wang worked on the painting over a two year period. The first year was dedicated to intense research on Malayasian history and during this time not a brushstroke of paint was laid. Reading from Chinese and English texts on Mayalasian history Shen collected information on the key historical figures, including Lord Mountbatten, past and present Prime Ministers along with significant sports and cultural persons who populate the painting (260 in all) .

The second year saw the painting come to life in Shen's Bundeena studio as a series of 12 panels (each 2.44 x 1.22 metres) were created which would eventually join into a single 14.6 metre piece. Lan Wang painted the backgrounds while Shen and Xu Wang concentrated on the portraitures.

The idea for the painting was the brainchild of Malaysian-born businessman Lim Sen Yap who is featured on the far right end of the painting. Yap was a key player in the renovation of Sydney's Queen Victoria Building.

After its brief display in Bundeena the painting will be on exhibit at the  University of Sydney's Seymour Centre from mid to late June. From there it travels to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where it will be showcased at the famous Petronas Twin Towers. Eventually it will make its home in Malaysia's National Gallery.

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