CONFIGURATION: PARALLEL UNIVERSE

Artist Statement

(Metaphorical) A bird startled by a mere twang of a bowstring.
(Literal) Having once suffered a bad fright, to startle at something small

Public social issues that are currently happening in Malaysia today inform the narrative of the series
City Tales. The main inspiration to develop this body of work comes after viewing the Chronicles of Crime (2006) series by Malaysian artist Wong Hoy Cheong, but I attempt to focus on the everyday public concerns such as the bothersome traffic jam issue, the recurring haze problem and public protests such as the Bersih rally.
I am constantly trying to enrich my social realist painting practice and there is no exception when I
was developing these works. I have studied and absorbed the formality of Chinese wood engraving and Japanese ukiyo-­‐e and applied them when constructing the formal structure of these paintings. I have always admired how those Eastern traditional painters and print-­‐makers used humor to not only record social observations, but simultaneously made sarcastic comments through the visuals of the depictions of the everyday. In this body of work, I attempt to combine formal and visual elements of Chinese wood engraving and ukiyo-­‐e together with western influenced genre of art that I have been accustomed to.
I believe this combination would accentuate the uniqueness of the visuals and allude to the hybridity
of my identity as I have been actively absorbing multiple cultural sources growing up. Furthermore, have titled pieces in this series with Chinese idioms, Malay peribahasa and English phrases, to echo our complex daily experience living in a multilingual nation.

Artist Statement

(Metaphorical) To be without spiritual sustenance.
(Literal) Bored to death.

Public social issues that are currently happening in Malaysia today inform the narrative of the series
City Tales. The main inspiration to develop this body of work comes after viewing the Chronicles of Crime (2006) series by Malaysian artist Wong Hoy Cheong, but I attempt to focus on the everyday public concerns such as the bothersome traffic jam issue, the recurring haze problem and public protests such as the Bersih rally.
I am constantly trying to enrich my social realist painting practice and there is no exception when I
was developing these works. I have studied and absorbed the formality of Chinese wood engraving and Japanese ukiyo-­‐e and applied them when constructing the formal structure of these paintings. I have always admired how those Eastern traditional painters and print-­‐makers used humor to not only record social observations, but simultaneously made sarcastic comments through the visuals of the depictions of the everyday. In this body of work, I attempt to combine formal and visual elements of Chinese wood engraving and ukiyo-­‐e together with western influenced genre of art that I have been accustomed to.
I believe this combination would accentuate the uniqueness of the visuals and allude to the hybridity
of my identity as I have been actively absorbing multiple cultural sources growing up. Furthermore, have titled pieces in this series with Chinese idioms, Malay peribahasa and English phrases, to echo our complex daily experience living in a multilingual nation.

Artist Statement

(Metaphorical) One’s heart trembles and one’s flesh quakes
(Literal) Extremely frightened and upset.

Public social issues that are currently happening in Malaysia today inform the narrative of the series
City Tales. The main inspiration to develop this body of work comes after viewing the Chronicles of Crime (2006) series by Malaysian artist Wong Hoy Cheong, but I attempt to focus on the everyday public concerns such as the bothersome traffic jam issue, the recurring haze problem and public protests such as the Bersih rally.
I am constantly trying to enrich my social realist painting practice and there is no exception when I
was developing these works. I have studied and absorbed the formality of Chinese wood engraving and Japanese ukiyo-­‐e and applied them when constructing the formal structure of these paintings. I have always admired how those Eastern traditional painters and print-­‐makers used humor to not only record social observations, but simultaneously made sarcastic comments through the visuals of the depictions of the everyday. In this body of work, I attempt to combine formal and visual elements of Chinese wood engraving and ukiyo-­‐e together with western influenced genre of art that I have been accustomed to.
I believe this combination would accentuate the uniqueness of the visuals and allude to the hybridity
of my identity as I have been actively absorbing multiple cultural sources growing up. Furthermore, have titled pieces in this series with Chinese idioms, Malay peribahasa and English phrases, to echo our complex daily experience living in a multilingual nation.

Artist Statement

“Love is universal. No matter what your gender or sexual orientation is, we all need love from someone and that same love should be returned to others too. Even if we fall in love with someone of the same gender, the truth is that love has nothing to do with gender. “Love is for everyone.”

Artist Statement

“Love is universal. No matter what your gender or sexual orientation is, we all need love from someone and that same love should be returned to others too. Even if we fall in love with someone of the same gender, the truth is that love has nothing to do with gender. “Love is for everyone.”

Artist Statement

In this series of work, I look at the world from a different dimension. I compare humanity and nature by using symbolism such as flowers to refer to the complexity in the layers of our society. The advancement in technology and materials continue to offer convenience to mankind, but in reverse, we are deteriorating spiritually. We tend to lose the equilibrium which can be easily clouded with fear and loneliness. In some way, people are lost and in much need for a new hope to gain back their inner balance. Yet, we don’t know what that ‘hope’ is.

Artist Statement

In this series of work, I look at the world from a different dimension. I compare humanity and nature by using symbolism such as flowers to refer to the complexity in the layers of our society. The advancement in technology and materials continue to offer convenience to mankind, but in reverse, we are deteriorating spiritually. We tend to lose the equilibrium which can be easily clouded with fear and loneliness. In some way, people are lost and in much need for a new hope to gain back their inner balance. Yet, we don’t know what that ‘hope’ is.

Artist Statement

“Hugh Everrett III proposed a controversial interpretation of quantum mechanics in which every possible forking of every possible path is realized in its own separate universe. Today it’s known as the many worlds interpretation. The multiverse theory inspired me that a house in my imagination is flipping like a coin. I am trying to reveal both sides of consciousness. One portrays a proper healthy body and the other reflects a poor death skeleton.”

Artist Statement

“Hugh Everrett III proposed a controversial interpretation of quantum mechanics in which every possible forking of every possible path is realized in its own separate universe. Today it’s known as the many worlds interpretation. The multiverse theory inspired me that a house in my imagination is flipping like a coin. I am trying to reveal both sides of consciousness. One portrays a proper healthy body and the other reflects a poor death skeleton.”

Artist Statement

The human soul is like pure crystal that is not only beautiful but also fragile; yet such beauty can sometime be mistaken for fake illusion and it is difficult to tell which is real and which is not.

Artist Statement

The human soul is like pure crystal that is not only beautiful but also fragile; yet such beauty can sometime be mistaken for fake illusion and it is difficult to tell which is real and which is not.

Artist Statement

“Bridging my background in history and decorative illustration, I replicate the process of gathering information from pre-existing historical archive while simultaneously retaining my practice of romanticizing assigned images. I attempt to visually articulate humanity’s inclination to embellish, romanticize or falsify missing information. I also attempt to question human nature’s ironic tendency to find beauty in circumstances of war, tragedy and destruction.”

Artist Statement

“Bridging my background in history and decorative illustration, I replicate the process of gathering information from pre-existing historical archive while simultaneously retaining my practice of romanticizing assigned images. I attempt to visually articulate humanity’s inclination to embellish, romanticize or falsify missing information. I also attempt to question human nature’s ironic tendency to find beauty in circumstances of war, tragedy and destruction.”

Artist Statement

“I intend to express a brief private moment and memorable memories through my work by creating a close connection between abstract and concrete narrative notes and pure views of the past and present, shaping the silence of time and space. More often than not, there is a gap between memory and reality, which we may fill with our fantasy. We might miss certain part of our memories, and begin filling these missing areas imaginatively”

Artist Statement

“I intend to express a brief private moment and memorable memories through my work by creating a close connection between abstract and concrete narrative notes and pure views of the past and present, shaping the silence of time and space. More often than not, there is a gap between memory and reality, which we may fill with our fantasy. We might miss certain part of our memories, and begin filling these missing areas imaginatively”

Artist Statement

When we observe numerous artworks with the theme of holy person or saints (like St. Michael and St. George), somehow we are always presented with figures that are not only virtuous, but also vigorous and dashing. Many believe that God himself gives mandate to the saint of his choice to fight evil, thus bolstering the striking imagery of his envoy.
I believe that every age has their own problems that demands presence of figures sent by the Lord as a response; the ones who devotedly give hopes and spread kindness to others. However, often we forget that these figures do not always possess that valorous and hero-like appearance. Sometimes, God send us a female figure that is gentle and affectionate to do extraordinary things. Based on the prior explanation, in this themed works of saints I intend to recreate their appearance. Taken from various scenes by renowned artists of their time, now the saints are being brought back in the figure of women today.

Artist Statement

When we observe numerous artworks with the theme of holy person or saints (like St. Michael and St. George), somehow we are always presented with figures that are not only virtuous, but also vigorous and dashing. Many believe that God himself gives mandate to the saint of his choice to fight evil, thus bolstering the striking imagery of his envoy.
I believe that every age has their own problems that demands presence of figures sent by the Lord as a response; the ones who devotedly give hopes and spread kindness to others. However, often we forget that these figures do not always possess that valorous and hero-like appearance. Sometimes, God send us a female figure that is gentle and affectionate to do extraordinary things. Based on the prior explanation, in this themed works of saints I intend to recreate their appearance. Taken from various scenes by renowned artists of their time, now the saints are being brought back in the figure of women today.

Artist Statement

“The catchphrase ‘YB turun padang’ is synonymous especially when party campaign kicks in right before the Election Day whereby most politicians are often seen in public, shaking hands, seemingly interested with everything while spreading their sugarcoated manifestos, promising a better change for the people. ‘Young Boy Turun Padang’ is my satirical view responding to the local political scenario.” –Hisyamuddin Abdullah

Artist Statement

“The catchphrase ‘YB turun padang’ is synonymous especially when party campaign kicks in right before the Election Day whereby most politicians are often seen in public, shaking hands, seemingly interested with everything while spreading their sugarcoated manifestos, promising a better change for the people. ‘Young Boy Turun Padang’ is my satirical view responding to the local political scenario.” –Hisyamuddin Abdullah

Artist Statement

“The Perch “Love” highlights the dynamic of human-nature relationship. As we all know, we, (human being) inhabit the nature, we are constantly surrounded by nature and we interact with them. Earth is home to millions of species and we cannot simply neglect or dismiss nature. If we do lose sight of it, we might lose it all. In an ecosystem, each organism has its role and purpose. As human being, we are not just consumers but we are also able to transform it. To disturb the balance of an ecosystem can be disastrous for all of the living things which are relying on it. The Perch questions the issue. Love it or lose it?”

Artist Statement

“The Perch “Love” highlights the dynamic of human-nature relationship. As we all know, we, (human being) inhabit the nature, we are constantly surrounded by nature and we interact with them. Earth is home to millions of species and we cannot simply neglect or dismiss nature. If we do lose sight of it, we might lose it all. In an ecosystem, each organism has its role and purpose. As human being, we are not just consumers but we are also able to transform it. To disturb the balance of an ecosystem can be disastrous for all of the living things which are relying on it. The Perch questions the issue. Love it or lose it?”