Kampong: APAD’s Contemporary 2007

May 25th, 2007 APAD’s 33rd Contemporary Art Exhibition held at

Malay Heritage Centre (Taman Warisan Melayu).
Showing from 25th May 2007 - 8th June 2007.
Refer to official exhibition website for details.

Goli-goli (oil painting) 6″ x 6″ (each)

I wasn’t brought up in a Kampong hence I can’t say I understand the true meaning of ‘kampong’ (Malay word for village). However, when the word ‘kampong’ is mentioned, it always remind me of a part of my childhood memories where I went to stay in a relative’s house in Segamat, Malaysia. The smell of stools of farm animals, the taste of delicious steam white kampong chicken, the mosquito net in my cousin’s bedroom… and most of all, the games that we play. Games like zero point, five stones, goli… they are simple yet fun and impressionable. My works are inspired by the colour fragments inside the goli (glass marbles). When I was a child, I was amazed by the little colourful “strips” which has made me wondered how it was put inside the round glass balls. I have of course grown up now, married and with kids. However, the colourful apppearance have lured me into producing an oil-painting titled: ‘Goli-goli’. In ‘Goli-goli’, we could all find the special colour in our life. Especially in the world today which is not as innocent as what we have used to know.

reAction (Sangkar) - group exhibition by APAD

The word ‘Sangkar’ is a Malay word for cage. This was the title of APAD’s Action series group exhibition showcasing the works of 14 selected artists. It explores the various theme and concepts of entrapment. Exhibiting at The Substation Gallery from 7th - 11th December 2006.

The work presented by me is my first installation art which is a departure from my usual paintings. Synopsis below:

Lightness of Being

“Death can be light as a feather or heavy as a mountain”
Chinese proverb

This installation is a funeral wreath of twigs and feathers encircling my flower series painting. The overall whitewash appearance conveys a solemn symbol for death. Death of painting; killed by popular misconception and trends. This work relates to the feeling of entrapment often felt by artists (i.e painters) struggling to lead a meaningful life.

 

Mr. Kwok Kian Chow, Director of the Singapore Art Museum officiated the exhibition (2nd row, left & middle pictures) seen here with Mr. Suhaimi Sukiyar, president of APAD and Mr. Rosman Mohd Shahid, chairman of this exhibition’s organising committee.

On Being A Mom - Group exhibition at SGH (For Mothers’ Day 2006)

An exhibition organised by Singapore General Hospital (SGH) in celebration of Mothers’ Day. The artists involved are Odile Moulin, Susie Wong, Han Zi Rui and myself. Miss Tan Hwee Ping is the person-in-charge of the arts events called “ArtsExpression” at SGH. The venue is along the corridor of Block 5 in which the long wall flanking both sides provide the ample wall space for the display of art works. The human traffic here is very high, which gives good opportunity for reaching out to the general public to appreciate art.
I selected 3 bigger paintings from the Motherhood series to exhibit in this show. It’s been a great pleasure working with Hwee Ping as she is very dedicated in organising the show, making sure that our works are properly taken care of. A few people have expressed their interests in purchasing. Although nothing has been confirmed but I am still happy with the attention get for my works. It motivates me to work towards producing better works in the future.
It has been a great pleasure knowing Odile, Susie and Zi Rui too as all three of them are talented artists. Looking forward to working with them again in the near future.

Explaining my works to the Guest-of-Honour.

Group snapshot with the 4 women artists.

Ning holding a carnation for his mama.

Utterly Magic - Group Show March 2006

A group show organised by Utterly Art LLP (they are the gallery who represent my works). It is to celebrate their 5th year in business at Chinatown and also to mark the shifting of their gallery across South Bridge Road, opposite Sri Mariamann temple, above Teck Soon Medical Hall. Artists involved in this show are some of their best sellers like Martin Loh, Justin Lee, Trina Poon, Tay Bee Aye, P. Gnana, Susie Wong, Tania de Rozario, Michael Cacnio and myself. Also introducing some new faces of UA like Kamal Dollah, Phua San San, Raman Siva and Clovis Tan.
It was an exciting showcase of works in which each is unique in style. For this show, I come up with newer works which is still inspired by flowers but more segmented in forms surreal in appearance.

The Actress, 1.5 x 1.5 feet, oil on canvas

This painting exudes mystery and charm. Inspired by an orchid which is formed to capture the exubetant movement of an opera actress gesturing her flowy long water sleeves with swirls that dances away in the night. Strong contrasting colours of white, fuschia and golden yellow set against the pitch black backdrop, it is electrifying yet, appears to be soft, feminine and sensuous, much like my usual style. The actress is out to lure her audiences into her mysteries…

Fantasy Landscape, 6″ x 6″ each (x 4 pieces), oil on canvas

Fantasy Landscape invites you to a fun world in which I explored the possibilities of transforming structures of the orchid into an architectural formation. It is a fantasy world with lots of wit and humour yet oozing with sensual appeal to the viewer. The vibrant and contrasting main colour scheme of white and purple accentuates a dream like effect in the painting.