Good Morning Towels & More Have Been Morphed Into Malaysian Contemporary Art

By Nia Leah  •  in Design
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Already in its third year, Malaysian Art, A New Perspective is back in town for an exhibition that showcases the country’s latest concepts via traditional mediums like printmaking, multi-media painting, drawing, collage, and embroidery, to name a few. Introduced by Richard Koh Fine Art, this annual initiative highlights trends and art practices within the local art scene by gathering artists under 40, in which six have been shortlisted this year to display their moving yet unconventional art.

Other than traditional mediums, the art exhibition will also feature works of art that embrace newer mediums such as 2D light-sculpture installation and visual installation. The works of the six candidates chosen are currently on the walls of Richard Koh Fine Art at Jalan Maarof, Bangsar till 16 September ’17.

Swing by the gallery to feel the pieces yourself or opt for a quick browse through this collection if KL traffic is not your thing.

Evanescent Series by Chong Yi Lin

In the Evanescent Series, the artist explores bereavement and sympathy through the Good Morning towel, a common item in a Chinese household that brings out Chong’s childhood memories of her grandmother’s funeral procession. The towel is a metaphor for grief while the abstract images are a metaphor for eternity.

Great Black Divide by Dhavinder Singh

A process to digest and commemorate for the artist, this artwork is a memoir of all sorts for Singh, who cleverly utilises geometric pseudo-architectures through mixed medium and drawing on canvas. The rhythmic paintings serve as a tribute to everyday banalities – an exploration of the obscure and somewhat secluded areas in an urban setting.

Interstice I by Faizal Yunus

In this piece, Yunus explores alternative print languages outside what you’d normally find in a printmaking studio. Repetition, variation, and chances are some of the artwork’s core principles, drawing inspiration from nature, especially the lush greenery of the artist’s rural hometown. The vibrancy of the tones is created by experimenting with baking powder, glue, and food colouring.

Bulatkan Rumah Ali Dengan Warna Merah (10 Markah) by Ho Mei Kei

Note: Zoom in close to see the little houses. Playful, spontaneous, and thoughtful can be used to describe Ho’s work, which derived from her technology-free childhood. The end result are rows of doodles in a grid-like format, resembling the emoticon menu of the Messenger app. Working with children as an art teacher helped the artist merge their creativity into her visual language.

Rahasia Menjadi Seniman Yang Menyakinkan di-Malaysia by Izat Arif

There’s something so niche about Arif’s work, but the satirical narration of his work makes his humour and perspective extremely local. The main focus of the installation is the handmade self-help book that comes along with a promotional video and merchandise. Arif’s personal experience is embedded in his art, and so is the subtle message that most artists can relate to.

Jitter by Jun Ong

In Jitter, Ong explores the virtual and ethereal shape sphere through the the fragility of tension and motion in his neon structures. Constantly intrigued with white lights, the artist’s fundamental lies in form and structure, hence the neon lights that shatter order yet stay within the invisible metal grids. Ong is one of the few light artists in Malaysia who aspires to break the assumption of light art as merely decorative fittings.

Richard Koh Fine Art is open on Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 10am to 7pm at 229 Jalan Maarof, Kuala Lumpur.

Follow RKFA here and mark your attendance for Malaysian Art, A New Perspective here.