about | The Founder

WinSon Loh

Art Curator, Artwork Inspector, Conservation Frame-maker, Founder of the brand of PINKGUY & Malaysia Art Advisory.

1968

As a youth, WinSon Loh always felt a strong attraction towards the creative arts. He was born into an average Malaysian family, and his father owned a small furniture workshop in Salak South, Kuala Lumpur. His father’s profession in the creation of furniture clearly left a lasting impression and passed on enthusiasm for craftsmanship, innovation, and artistry in the craft.

Even though at the tender age of 1, WinSon lost his father to armed criminals on May 13. This shocking event led to a time of hardship and misery for his family and difficult childhood. As an impoverished youngster, at the age of 11, WinSon did his very best in primary school and earned a scholarship that financed his tuition at the Confucian Private Secondary School. Having no money to pay for his bus fare and school meals, at the tender age of 12 years old he had to rise as early as 3 o’clock in the morning to work at the local dim-sum restaurant to earn RM 8 every week. While this afforded him transportation to his studies it wasn’t sufficient to pay for his daily meals. He would do the homework of the well-to-do just to get a piece of bread as sustenance to survive his school life.

In spite of his misfortunate circumstances, WinSon still managed to excel in primary and secondary school. In school, WinSon found that he had an artistic bent himself and participated in charity art exhibitions. This involvement in art shows made him aware of the significant role of framing in the finishing of art pieces. While other parents framed their child’s works beautifully, WinSon was the only budding artist participating that could not afford to do so. It was at this time that he made a promise to himself. He became determined that one day he would be able to craft his “Own Unique Frames”! 

1983

At 15 years of age, WinSon quit school and started as a frame-making apprentice, beginning his journey in fulfilling his lifelong ambition to excel in his chosen profession. This period of learning and hard work gave WinSon the skills and the knowledge that allowed him to succeed and develop his own exceptional and distinctive frames that pair his own personal style and flair with methods of conservation. Charismatic, enthusiastic & dedicated are all words that can be used in describing him.

1998

WinSon Loh has been featured in television, magazine, and newspaper articles, over 30 times as his business and reputation have grown over the years. 鑲個相框，鑲住回憶 (中國報， 5 July 1998), 把最爱镶起来, 看它千遍也不厌(星洲日报, 10 Nov 1998), City Focus (RTM 2, 1998), Majalah 3 (TV3, 1998), On The Beat (RTM2, 1999), Time Out On 7 (NTV 7, 2005), Shop & Dapat (8TV, 2006), Life! Session (NTV 7, 2007), The Right Frame of Mind (Radio BFM 89.9, 2008), 框架中的艺术殿堂 Out-of-Frame Artistry (Men’s Uno, 2009), A Life of Framing (The Expat, 2010), A Trusted Name in the World of Frames (The Expat, 2011), 登上艺术殿堂 Fame by Frame (Men’s Uno, 2012) to name a few. Read more newspaper articles.

He took on a partnership and started a frame-making business in the early nineties. He has been recognized as the first 3-D frame-maker in Malaysia. When McDonalds launched its Teddy Bear collection in 1999, WinSon created his unique frame to better protect and display the stuffed toys as collectables. He would hold a sample and hand out leaflets to customers queuing at the fast-food restaurants.

2007

In 2007 his ambition and determination to expand his art and take control of his destiny led him to take the leap to forge ahead and manage a business of his own. He established his own brand PINKGUY in 2007; a moniker with a catchy tune, a friendly image, and synonymous with quality, customer service, and artistry. PINKGUY is phonetically derived from the Malay word "Bingkai", which translates to "frame" in English.

2008

In 2008, in conjunction with celebrating his 25th anniversary of frame-making, WinSon created his signature work, an innovative and stylish frame most popularly recognized by the little crystal 'diamond' featured on the side.

2010

WinSon has been appointed as Artwork Inspector for Henry Butcher Southeast Asia Art Auction since 2010. He has curated art exhibitions for International artists such as China Taiwan Master Chi Wei-Yi, Japanese contemporary artist Takuro Sugiyama, Takahiro Hirabayashi & Shoichi Mukai, United Kingdom contemporary artist Arp Raph, and Malaysian artists Cheng Thak, Lui, Yeoh Kean Thai, Tang Hong Lee, Janiz Chan, Prof. Cheng Haw Chien, Tengku Marina Ibrahim, and Prof. Chung Chen Sun. In 2013, he curated Maybank Investment Bank’s 40 Anniversary Collection.

2011

He was appointed as a judge for the UOB Painting of the Year Competition 2011, Vision PETRON National Student Art Competition 2015 & 2016, Lions Club International Malaysia, and The Peace poster final competition 2015. He has also been invited as a speaker for Public Art Programmes 2011 “Caring for Your Art Collection” organized by Galeri Petronas & Henry Butcher Art Auctioneer, “Falling in Love with that First Fine Art Piece” organized by Beverly Group in 2016, and “Collecting vs Investing Malaysia Fine Art” - Luxurious Collections & Premium Week 2018 at Penang Paragon Mall.

2013

In conjunction with his 30th anniversary in the art and frame scene, WinSon has published a coffee table book chronicling his journey, his masterpieces, and some of the artworks in the PINKGUY® collection. Launched at Kinokuniya KLCC on 15 November 2013, ‘Diamonds are Forever’ in-of-it-self is a work of art. As with his signature diamond frames, this all-white book has an elegant diamond detail on its spine.

His signature work incorporating an elegant diamond feature can be found at numerous corporate art collections, such as CIMB Investment Bank Berhad, E&O Hotel, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Maybank Berhad, Maybank Investment Bank, Museum Pahang, McKinsey & Company Inc, National Visual Arts Gallery, Petronas Management Training Sdn Bhd, Petroliam Nasional Berhad, Galeri Petronas, Prince Court Medical Centre and &samhoud Asia.

2022

On 10 October 2022, WinSon will be celebrating the 39th anniversary of his journey in frame-making. To honour the occasion, PINKGUY gallery presents an exhibition titled Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, featuring the artworks of promising Malaysian artist Chia Hoy Sai. The exhibition will display 39 small paintings to represent 39 remarkable years of WinSon’s pursuits.

The perennial value of PINKGUY since the opening of its doors is to ardently support the development of pioneering artists on home soil. Over the years, WinSon has not only paved the way for next-generation frame-making, but he has also provided a platform for next-generation artists to emerge and carve out their own respective careers. For WinSon, framing goes beyond fulfilling functionality. He believes the right frame allows the full aesthetic value of the art to be realized — this is especially true when the frame in question is a PINKGUY frame! The works of these undiscovered artists are enriched and made complete thanks to WinSon’s personal touch.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is a shared moment of joy for both artist and frame-maker cum curator. The title of the exhibition is an intimation of Chia’s ‘star’ quality. Dubbed by WinSon as a hidden gem, conscientious artist Chia possesses a flair for radiant, luminous paintings that are meditative in their subject matter. Together, Chia’s artworks and WinSon’s frames enter a dialogue to unveil an uplifting synergy of exchanges between painting and frame-making. A partnership where the beauty of the art is optimally divulged when affixed with a certain ‘twinkling’ diamond-studded frame. It is WinSon’s wish for his coterie of art lovers to find enjoyment in discovering the curious elements hidden in Chia’s work, as well as recognising the dynamism of framing in its functionality. Art needs not only to be hung on walls — art is called for at every corner of a space.

Preserving and enhancing his clients’ treasured possessions since 1983, the art of framing has been WinSon's greatest passion. Each piece is executed with expertise derived from 39 years of living, breathing, and handling many thousands of pieces of fine art.

His craft and his fairway of promoting fine art by 'unveiling' his exhibits without private preview has also led him to be established as "Malaysia's Most Revolutionary Frame-maker & Fine Art Curator”.

“Only when there’s love, you’ll accompany and protect it with devotion” always remind himself.