eBook Liu Cheng Hua

Liu Cheng Hua

Progetto grafico Liberementi www.liberementi.it Editore Biancoscuro www.biancoscuro.it

Liu Cheng Hua

or Liu was born on 28 July 1985 in Taiping, which is a heritage and historical town in state of Perak, Malaysia. His parents is a professional tailor. Liu is the youngest among 6 siblings. Liu obtained Master Degree in Art Education in Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), Tanjong Malim, Perak. Liu has start his art journey since undergraduate and gain a lot of awards either in local and international.

Besides, he actively participate in various art exhibition and competition in order to make his name fame. Until now, Liu had gained 8 awards in national level and 4 special achievements in international level.

LaRoot Liu Cheng Hua’s La Root solo exhibition features his latest artworks which was inspired by a place called “Larut”, the original name for Taiping. This exhibition is significant because it allows Liu Cheng Hua, a winner of Varsity Icon 2012, to delve into the root of multiculturalism. La Root exhibition which gathers a series of mini-installations, 2 and 3-dimensional artwork of Liu revisits the historical heritage of Taiping that reflects the essence of multicultural society existed in Larut.

Based on the etymology of Larut (Spelled “Laroot” in the old map of Perak), the theme La Root itself signifies the importance of this exhibition. The name of Larut originally comes from Long Jaafar’s elephant called Larut, which signifies the discovery of tin mines. With the unearthing of tin mines, Larut became glorious and developed tremendously. Hence, we could see the relationship between Liu’s La Root and Larut, which is very meaningful intrinsically and extrinsically.

The first impression of me when Liu mentioned that his art exhibition theme was La Root, it immediately takes me to Montreal, a French speaking place where I used to live for a couple of years. La Root in French means “the root”. Thus, I could see the close relationships between the theme and the artworks itselves.

This exhibition and the artworks of Liu highlighting Larut mark a history of its own. Liu as a young prolific contemporary artist integrates his research skills that he obtained while doing his master’s degree, which is not quite obvious in Malaysian art scene.

He explores every signs and symbols that he could find in his attempt to highlight the issue of multiculturalism and the importance of Larut as the first Visited by Malaysian top young celebrity Anzalna Nasir to “LaRoot exhibition” during the opening ceremony

of many things that occurred in Malaysia. For example, the railway track, police station, fire brigade, and prison in Larut were among the first infrastructure and building being established in Malaysia.

La Root focuses on the contributions of Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee, Ngah Ibrahim, the Indians, and the British community in developing Taiping as a modern town in the 1860s. The idea of many races living together harmoniously, especially after the Pangkor Treaty in 1874, has similarity to the 1 Malaysia concept. It means that the 1Malaysia concept has already being ascertained in the 1860’s.

Hence, Liu’s artworks bring new lights to the negative perspective of war and crime during that era. The icons that Liu used symbolise the continuity that has been happening in Malaysia today.

His artworks do not attempt to highlight on historical study or indulge into politics of government but to emphasise on the importance of living harmoniously in this multicultural country. The works attempt to make us realize the real success and progress that we have accomplished through clear sense of understanding.

This exhibition is imperative because it begs us a question on what is cultural regeneration without mindfulness, diversity and, of course, freedom of expression. Liu’s role is to challenge us and even sometimes to offend us. Liu aims to increase access to culture for everyone not only in Malaysia but outside Malaysia. Liu has successfully brings together many elements through various treatments of subject matter, media and medium. Liu has created new opportunities for cultural expressions and qualities. It is therefore pleasing that Liu provides us the opportunity to take a boundary-crossing look at art. To me, art and culture should be a dynamic, challenging and independent force based on the freedom of expression. Everyone should be able to participate in cultural life.

To conclude, I would like to see Liu continue working on multicultural issues. This is because by highlighting a particular context of multiculturalism, an understanding of a larger context may be attained. Multicultural concerns cover a broad range of issues such as race, religion, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, and/or disability. Throughout history, multicultural concerns have been prevalent in regard to the cultures of the Malays, Chineses, Indians, and other cultural groups. With the gathering of various cultures, there will inevitably be cultural differences. Refraining from negative stereotyping and discrimination may be difficult but necessary in an ever-changing society.

Professor Dr. Md. Nasir Ibrahim

La Root Installation acryic on canvas, resin, pine wood e electronic device year 2012, valiable dimension

Healthy Taiping digital printed on polycarbonate year 2012

Mata-mata and Jemada (Police Force) digital printed on polycarbonate year 2012

Museum digital printed on polycarbonate year 2012

Post and Telegtaph digital printed on polycarbonate year 2012

Visit Zoo digital printed on polycarbonate year 2012

Sekolah Inggeris (English School) digital printed on polycarbonate year 2012

Teacher’s College digital printed on polycarbonate year 2012

Tekah Airfield digital printed on polycarbonate year 2012

Shooting and interview for Liu Cheng Hua “LaRoot Solo Exhibition” Short Documentary for RTM

1st Malaysian to Exhibited at ”MOYA Annuale 2013 –Young Art Global” MOYA – Museum of Young Art, Vienna, Austria

Gold Shaft

series After concentration in a series of “La Root” is more synonymous with the mining of tin, I’ve started a new series of “Raub” which widely known in gold mining activities. Raub is a district and town in the state of Pahang, Malaysia. Gold mining started in 1889 by William Bibby under the Raub Australian Gold Mine (RAGM). Malay word “raub” means “scoop” which according to J.A. Richardson in his book, The Geology and Mineral Resourses of the Neighbourhood of Raub, Pahang, page 36, “People found that for every “dulang” (tray) of sand there was a handful (raub) of gold”. As a result, Raub became very famous in early of 20th century for its mining resource (gold). In the piece “Gold Shaft Series” show the abstraction visual form of gold mining techniques in Raub “shaft mining” and studies of composition and colours. There is a few shafts in every piece of work which is sculpture that I used bamboo origin from Raub. Besides, plate of Pahang Royal to represent the high rank of the company and the person who ran the mining for contributing the wealthy of the town as the national capital of gold.

The major piece of this series will come in an installation art.

Gold Shaft 1 bamboo, wood, acrylic, bitumen year 2013, 80x60 cm.

Gold Shaft 2 bamboo, wood, acrylic, bitumen year 2013, 80x60 cm.

Gold Shaft 3 bamboo, wood, acrylic, bitumen year 2014, 60x100 cm.

Gold Shaft 4 bamboo, wood, acrylic, bitumen year 2014, 60x110 cm.

Gold Shaft 5 bamboo, wood, acrylic, bitumen year 2014, 60x120 cm.

Liu Cheng Hua whit Mona Youssef, art gallerist Art Monaco 2014

Liu Cheng Hua - 1st Malaysian participated “Art Monaco’14”, Monte-Carlo

Gold Shaft Series I acrylic on canvas year 2014, 76,5x76,5 cm.

Gold Shaft Series II acrylic on canvas year 2014, 76,5x76,5 cm.

Gold Shaft Series III acrylic on canvas year 2014, 76,5x76,5 cm.

Gold Shaft Series IV acrylic on canvas year 2014, 76,5x76,5 cm.

Gold Shaft Series V acrylic on canvas year 2014, 76,5x76,5 cm.

Shooting and interview for Liu Cheng Hua Documentary for JTV

Liu Cheng Hua: a malaysian artist Malaysia born multi-dicipline visual artist raise eight awards in national level which is 1st Runner-up for “The One Sculpture Competition” (2008), Consolation for “MRCB Art Award” (2008), Winner for “Hot Art- Inter-higher Institution Competition” (2009), Incentive Award for the Shah Alam Gallery Open Show (2009), Consolation for Johor Art Open Show (2009), Top 10 for “Fighting AIDS with Arts- Online Visual Arts Competition” (2010), Jury Award for “Piala Seri Endon- Malaysian Batik Competition (2012) and Winner for the Varsity Icon, Berita Harian (2012). Liu acquire four (4) international achievement such as “Excellent Young Artist, Malaysia, Penang State Art Gallery”, Malaysia (2010), “4th East Java Biennale (JATIM)”, Surabaya, Indonesia, Finalist “10th Oita Asian Sculpture Competition”, Oita, Japan (2012 ) and “Young Global Art”, Museum of Young Art MOYA, Vienna, Austria (2013). Liu is the 1st Malaysian to be invited to participate in “MOYA Annuale 2013 –Young Art Global”, MOYA – Museum of Young Art in Vienna, Austria (2013) and 1st Malaysian to participate in the “4th East Java (JATIM) Biennale” in Surabaya, Indonesia (2011).

Besides actively participating in art exhibitions, Liu had been selected by the National Visual Arts Gallery NVAG to became Malaysian deligate to participate in “ASEAN Youth Camp 2013” in Singapore and “ASEAN Art Management Workshop, Series in the Creative Industry 2010” in Manila, Philippines.

Known for his experimental and exploration on UV lights and electronic materials, he has created multi-diciplines form of visual art. Meanwhile, the research-based on cultural context and comparison issues has been contributing towards the contemporary art scene in Malaysia. Liu believes, through art can conscience and interpret social comment and critique further to create awareness and benefits for the society and country.

Liu’s first solo exhibition LaRoot at G13 Gallery, explores and highlights the contribution made by Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee as well as Ngah Ibrahim and prominent figures from the Indian community of Taiping, resulting in many landmarks achieved since 1860s and the continuity until present. Liu obtained his Bachelor of Art Education and Master of Education (Arts) from Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI). Before Liu came into full time artist, he was taught in National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (ASWARA) as part time lecturer in Faculty of Fine Art.

Liu Cheng Hua www.liuchenghua.wordpress.com

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