Artist, educator and an attentive student of the world.
Moon Yue brings fine-art practice and early-childhood understanding into the same creative space.
Moon Yue / 小月
Teacher Lai / 小月老师
Teacher Lai is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Education (Art) with Honours at Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI). She previously completed a two-year Diploma in Early Childhood Education.
Her work moves between painting, picture-book illustration, portrait drawing and creative education. Research, material exploration and new challenges remain central to both her studio practice and the way she teaches.
She has contributed to exhibitions, competitions, judging, school programmes and community beautification projects in Malaysia and abroad.
Bachelor of Education (Art) with Honours, UPSI - in progress
Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Artist, illustrator and art educator
Timeline
Recognition and community practice
2025
award
Breaking the Chains
Breaking the Chains highlights the urgent need to conserve the Malayan tiger, one of Malaysia's most iconic and critically endangered species. Illegal poaching, deforestation and habitat loss have placed it at severe risk of extinction. The tiger is shown breaking free from heavy chains, symbolising its struggle against human-made threats and its determination to survive. The broken chains represent oppression, exploitation and habitat destruction, while Malaysia's blooming national flower, the hibiscus, represents hope, resilience and the country's rich natural heritage. The work calls for shared responsibility in protecting Malaysia's biodiversity so the Malayan tiger can continue to thrive in its natural environment.
2025
community
China-UPSI Indigo Batik Cultural Exchange
A cross-cultural mobility programme connecting indigo and batik traditions from China with the UPSI community. The exchange brought together artists, lecturers and education students to share textile practices, cultural knowledge and creative learning across institutions.
2025
community
PASTI Al-Muttaqin Community Improvement Programme
Moon Yue worked alongside lecturers from UPSI's Faculty of Human Development Early Childhood Education programme and Diploma in Early Childhood Education students in the Program Khidmat Perundingan Keceriaan dan Naiktaraf Prasarana PASTI Al-Muttaqin. The collaboration used art and shared practical work to brighten and improve the children's learning environment.
2025
exhibition
Inspired by Nature: A Prayer for Peace
This work responds to conflicts around the world and their lasting effects on civilians, especially women and children. The central woman represents a mother and wife living with fear, uncertainty and hope while loved ones are away at war. Her hands move from prayer into a tight fist, expressing the struggle between hope, fear and despair. A school bag, doll, bullets and explosives symbolise stolen childhood and wartime destruction. A white dove with an olive branch represents peace, prayer and the heart's unspoken voice, while a rose changing from red to white represents sacrifice, purity and hope. An inverted-colour version reveals another emotional space between hope and reality, inviting reflection on peace, humanity and war's impact on human life.
2025
exhibition
Guardianship
A giant panda embraces the Earth, symbolising the protection of nature, life and our shared home. The Earth represents the environment on which every living being depends, while blooming flowers stand for life, hope and ecological prosperity. Green growth reflects nature's vitality. The work encourages people to cherish natural resources, care for all living things and protect the planet together for a harmonious and sustainable future.
2025
exhibition
The Unextinguished Heart
Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Steadfast Tin Soldier, this work portrays the soldier and ballerina at their final moment in the flames. The fire represents the cruelty of reality and the harshness of fate, yet the soldier continues to look towards the conviction in his heart. He protects not only the person he loves, but also the part of himself that cannot be shaken. Even when facing destruction, he chooses loyalty, resilience and courage. What remains unextinguished is not the physical body, but the continuation of inner faith.
2025
award
Design Journey International Creative Challenge
Inspired by Nature follows the four seasons and the passage of life and time between people and plants. Plants provide fruit and shelter to people and animals, while people and animals quietly protect the tree in return. The work reached the Top 20 and placed sixth in the 2025 International Creative Challenge - Design Journey, standing out among more than 2,000 international submissions.
2025
award
Andersen International Art Exhibition
Gentle Guardianship, a work on the theme of friendship, received a Gold Award from the Andersen fairy-tale painting competition and was selected for the 2025 Andersen International Art Exhibition in Odense, Denmark. The exhibition gave Moon Yue the opportunity to present her work to an international audience.
2025
exhibition
George Town Reverie 2 - Malaysia All Medium Art Exhibition
Two watercolour paintings, Penang Teow Chew Opera and Penang Baba Nyonya Culture, were showcased at Gehrig Art Gallery in George Town, Penang, in the 2025 Malaysia All Medium Art Exhibition - George Town Reverie 2, alongside works by established and emerging artists.
2025
teaching
NCDRC National Day Colouring Competition Judge
Invited by Prof. Madya Dr. Mazlina binti Che Mustafa, Director of NCDRC at UPSI, to attend and serve as a judge for the NCDRC kindergarten National Day colouring competition. Moon Yue also records her thanks to En. Megat Zarul Ekram Rusni of Yayasan Perak, Cikgu Iljat and the UPSI team for their assistance and support throughout the event.
2025
teaching
SJKC Behrang Ulu Art Workshop
Invited by the headteacher of SJKC Behrang Ulu, with support from Teacher Mak and the school team, to learn and contribute as an art instructor. Moon Yue led pupils from Year 1 to Year 6 in a joyful drawing activity themed The Spider's Home.
2025
award
Picasso Autumn Drawing Competition Champion
Won the 2025 autumn Picasso drawing competition with A Lasting Declaration of Love, a portrait-led work about enduring affection and companionship.
2025
community
SJKC Behrang Ulu Campus Beautification
Contributed to a campus beautification activity at SJKC Behrang Ulu, using collaborative painting and mural work to make the school environment more colourful and welcoming.
2025
award
Malaysia International Online Juried Art Competition
Selected among the Top 70 outstanding works in the 2025 spring Malaysia International Online Juried Art Competition, from 1,023 submissions representing 59 countries.
2024
exhibition
Shiawase no Shunkan - International Painting Competition Exhibition in Kyoto
Moon Yue received the Kyoto City-Mayor Award in the Open category of the fourth International Children's Painting Competition Autumn and Winter 2024. Her work was presented at the Shiawase no Shunkan exhibition at DOHJIDAI Gallery of Art in Kyoto, Japan. This record keeps only the seven Kyoto-specific items together: the exhibition announcement, gallery displays, award list and artist photographs.
2024
award
Picavin Summer Painting Competition Grand Award
Moon Yue received the Grand Award in Group D of the 2024 Picavin Summer Painting Competition. The two-image record keeps the official result list together with her certificate, trophy and winner photograph.
2024
community
Spring Picnic NCDRC: Love and Appreciate the Environment
Held in Tanjong Malim on 13 September 2024, this nature-learning programme involved 26 children from Tadika Bitara NCDRC at the Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah Campus. Moon Yue, then a sixth-semester Diploma in Early Childhood Education student, served as programme director. Activities used picnicking, games and natural materials to encourage environmental care, social interaction and teamwork. Prof. Dr. Santharasekaran Subramaniam joined the children and educators. The five-image record keeps the programme reports, ePena feature and group photographs together.
Moon Yue received Runner-up and a RM50 prize in the 2024 Picavin 1st Anniversary Online Painting Competition for a lively corgi painting. The three-image batch keeps the artwork, certificate, medal, result announcement and winner photograph within one competition record.
2023
award
Selected Earlier Awards and Recognition, 2020-2023
An ordered archive of Moon Yue's earlier recognition: Malaysia Top 10 Outstanding Young Artists 2020 participation, the 36th MIA Nationwide Art & Design Competition 2021 Consolation Award, Hong Kong Annual Painting Competition 2023 Silver Award, Giant Panda Celebration Party Excellence Award, Midsummer Painting Competition second runner-up, a 2023 UMT Hari Inovasi PdP PPAL Gold Medal for the Mathematician Pou learning innovation, the Potret Seni Awang Had Salleh participation certificate, and related trophy and exhibition evidence.
2023
teaching
Early Childhood Environmental Art Education Project
At UPSI's Faculty of Human Development, Moon Yue developed child-friendly environmental teaching materials and illustrated activity resources. Drawing, colour and three-dimensional props help young learners understand how to care for nature. The two images keep the finished teaching display and its drawing-development process together.
Publications
Published and collaborative picture books
绘创客 2025 成果展小书作品
Fabric Planet
Fabric Planet is a picture book about gratitude, inspired by the author's real-life childhood experiences. The story centres on a tailor mother and the fabric-made world she stitches together, symbolising the time, patience and love she pours into her child's growth. From learning to walk and exploring the world to pursuing dreams, the mother quietly accompanies and supports her child every step of the way. When she discovers her child's passion for drawing, she offers unconditional encouragement and belief.
Through visual metaphors such as fabric, clothing, hot-air balloons and rainbows, the book conveys gratitude, perseverance, respect for labour and artistic creativity. Fabric Planet nurtures appreciation, resilience and dreams while gently reminding readers of the warmth and strength of maternal love.
Huichuangke 2025
Love Reminder
Love Reminder tells the story of a child who deeply misses her grandmother. Through everyday memories of tidying the room, watering plants and washing hands before meals, the child learns that important tasks must be completed before enjoyment. Although her grandmother is no longer physically present, her love never disappears. Each gentle, loving reminder she left behind continues to guide the child, teaching responsibility, patience and love. The story offers a heartfelt reminder that true love is often expressed through gentle discipline.
Children often want to enjoy things immediately without fully understanding the importance of responsibility and patience. During the process of growing up, delayed gratification plays a vital role in developing self-discipline, responsibility and emotional control.
Huichuangke 2025
The Starfish That Could Not Shine
A hand-drawn underwater story centred on a little starfish that cannot shine, presented for the Huichuangke 2025 mini-book showcase.
Huichuangke 2025
Travel Around
A brightly illustrated mini-book that turns travel and discovery into a cheerful adventure.
Huichuangke 2025
Tomato Vampire
A playful hand-drawn mini-book whose old wooden door opens onto a mysterious tomato-vampire story.
UPSI
Si Nelayan Yang Tamak
A picture-book team project by Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), created as a university assignment and shared for interested readers.
The lantern festival is almost here. Xia Yue is excited to celebrate with her family. She invites her friends, Iman, Valli and Ah Meng, to discover how a lantern is made.
“Emping?” Sofea is puzzled because she has never heard the word before. Would you like to know what emping is? Follow Sofea as she learns to make it in Emping Lemak Manis Sofea.
