The International Art Exhibition - NEW HORIZON

Kuala Lumpur | 11th February to 28th February 2022 Main Venue : KL City Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur Organizers : KL City Art Gallery (Malaysia) & Arth Art International (India) in collaboration with MOTAC ( Ministry of Tourism, Art & Culture, Malaysia). Supporting Partner : Mr. Brajesh Kumar Verman Gold Partner : AM Enterprises Proprietary Firm • “There is nothing to fear in life, you just have to understand it. Now is the time to understand more, so we can fear less” Marie Curie. • “The Kuala Lumpur International Art Exhibition invites you to immerse and unreservedly experience the art and takes you to a New Horizon.” KL City Art Gallery Emerging from the hiatus in the art community brought about by the global covid 19 pandemic, our artists are gearing up , boosted by the creative forces and the accumulated energy for an International Art Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. The hibernation for others - is for our artists, on the contrary, a period of intense creativity, bursting with energy and restless with new ideas. For our artists, the lockdown produces a new body of works which we will proudly present at the KL International Art Exhibition entitled New Horizon, February 11th to 28th , 2022. The Exhibition will showcase the works of artists from Malaysia, India, Philippines, USA and other countries.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION:

The covid 19 pandemic has fractured every aspect of our lives. Think! “Cogito ergo sum” " I think, therefore I am " (Descartes). The thought of this pandemic sharpens our awareness – we exist now, alive and fragile, with the fearful realization that life and death are part of our existence. Our defences are reduced to isolation and separation. Fractured; but not broken. We are at the edge of possibilities. While our science is still cracking for the elixir, Art can give us some solace, Art can help us re- imagine. Art can reveal a NEW HORIZON.

This exhibition is in many ways exceptional. Happening in the midst of the global health crisis, economic crisis, climate crisis and existential crisis. As the covid 19 pandemic is challenging many aspects of our lives and revealing the weaknesses of the foundations of our current civilization, it also forces us to think of ways to mend the fractures and create a renewal. This pandemic forces us to re- examine our hierarchy of values. It forces us to re-look at the conditions of our existence. It forces us to decide how we shall live as individuals and how we shall relate to our societies and the larger systems.

New Horizon is an International Art Exhibition which signifies a revitalization of new ideas after the pandemic which will give way to a new whole meaning of life. In this Art Exhibition our artists show us how they are seeing the world. Through the artists’ insights on different subject matters, we are viewing and considering our being in the world. In this time of uncertainties and disruptions, art provides some comfort and consolidates our existence. This International Art Exhibition also present an environment for refection and thinking of ideas for humanity to survive the sea of changes brought on by the Covid 19 pandemic. This Art Exhibition is about creative renewal; after all, creativity is always seeing things from new perspectives without allowing the past to overly influence how we envision our future path. New Horizon signifies widening of vistas, re-vitalization, re-new, re -create and re- growth. The KL International Art Exhibition - New Horizon showcases arts emanating from different cultures. Artists from India, Malaysia, USA, Philippines and other countries will come on a common platform. The International Art Exhibition aims to catalyse greater cultural interactions through the arts which arise from the intermingling of our histories. It is occasion to embrace our art, to appreciate and to celebrate art as a way of deepening awareness our life as part of being in this world and the hope for a better future.

The Exhibition will also present Conversations and stimulating forums on various topics such NFT, Sustainability, digitalization and other developments in art etc. which will be of immense interests to the public, artists, gallerists, curators, collectors and many other “stakeholders” of the art. There will be several fringe events such as poetry readings, dance and music shows, throughout the duration of this Exhibition. These events are programmed to ensure a high level of interaction among participants to fully immerse in and to experience the arts. Most notably this International Art Exhibition is especially beckoning and welcoming globe-trotting art lovers to converge in the cosmopolitan city of Kuala Lumpur to experience the excitement of art , exchange ideas, to reflect, to interact and to bravely imagine a NEW HORIZON. OBJECTIVES of this International Art Exhibition: • Connect the artists, art lovers and people from different cultures to celebrate the art, to immerse in the creative environment and share experiences and appreciate art not just as a way seeing the world but way of connecting and sharing the common human experience. • Creating an environment in which an artistic imagination flourishes beyond boundaries. • In the midst of uncertainties and crisis and to re-imagine the world of tomorrow, to look ahead to - NEW HORIZONS • Develop cultural competences through the arts to enhance of international understanding.

The future and the potentials of Art Tourism in Asia cannot be ignored. The Art tourism sector is underdeveloped in Asia and we see its vast potentials for our artists. The organisers plan to actively promote art though staging international exhibitions at international venues, with special focus on promoting Asian artists and discovering new talents. Crossing of borders and going international present tremendous challenges for most of our artists and the barriers are real. Arth Art International and KL City Art Gallery are establishing the strategic linkages to make this happen. We intend to serve the needs of collectors by offering them more opportunities to extend their collections to include the works of Asian artists. The organizers also strongly believe that art has an important role to rebuild the tourism sector which has been severely affected by the pandemic. Art, we believe, has a role to trigger a creative renewal in the post covid era and beyond.

Venue : KL City Art Gallery Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Some Artworks of the Participating Artists

Title : Palms Nation in Yellow Medium : Acrylic on canvas Size : 60cm x 60cm Artist : Abu Jalal Sarimon Country : Singapore

Title : Message to Barbara Kruger : It is no circus in my blue blue world Size : 12 x 12 inches Medium : Screenprint, Acrylic on paper Artist : Stephen Menon

Title : Dialects of Garden Bloom Size : 60 x 120 inches Artist : Tapan Dash

Title : eYe mean It Size : 42 x 30 inches Artist : Dharmendra Rathore

Title : Perpetual Flux 2 Medium : Arylic on Canvas Size : 24in x 24in Year : 2021 Title : Pancho Piano Pilipinas kong mahal Medium : Oil on canvas Size : 72x48 inches

Title : "Laban" Size : 29 x 21 inches Year : 2020

Title : Vande Matram Medium : Acrylic on Canvas Size : 60 x 36 inches Artist : Brajesh Verman Title : Man of Great Enlightenment Size : 70 x 60 inches Artist : Kalicharan Gupta

Title : Silent Night Medium : Mixed media Size : 36 x 48in Year : 2021 Artist : Ma. Luinette Belen Country : Philippines

Title : Odissi Medium : Oil on Canvas Size : 60 x 60 inches Artist : Syed Thajudeen

Title : Eternal Reminiscence Size : 78x 96 inches Artist : Hemraj

Title : ABUNDANT LIFE Medium : Acrylic on canvas Size : 18 x 24in Year : 2019 Artist : Avic Zamora Country : Philippines

COVER STORY SUZLEE SUZLEE IBRAHIM IBRAHIM

Suzlee Ibrahim: Selected Series 2005 - 2017

With their vibrant colours and dynamic brush marks, the paintings of Suzlee Ibrahim are the manifestations of his innermost feelings about his travels throughout his career as an artist. The sights, sounds, and scents of new as well as familiar places offer boundless inspiration to Suzlee Ibrahim in creating spontaneous and elegant compositions. A prolific abstract expressionist artist since 1987, Suzlee Ibrahim has produced an extensive oeuvre in 20 series and various dimensions. In 2015, his painting, titled “ The Poem ” from the “ Meditation Series ”, was recognised as the “Longest Abstract Painting in Art Gallery” by the Malaysia Book of Records. The acrylic and oil on canvas painting measures 1.5m by 18m and was produced between 2010 and 2015. The gargantuan painting was displayed at Galeri Serdang, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia in conjunction with Suzlee Ibrahim’s 29th solo exhibition, “Meditation”. His artworks have been displayed in international exhibitions in more than 40 countries, including the UK, US, Denmark, Finland, Macedonia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Tunisia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

Suzlee Ibrahim is also an academician. He started his teaching career as a part-time lecturer at the School of Art and Design, Mara Institute of Technology (ITM now UiTM) in 1993. He held a permanent position there from 1997 until 2009.

In October 2009, he became a lecturer at the Faculty of Fine Art at the National Academy of Arts, Culture, and Heritage (ASWARA). Suzlee Ibrahim became the dean of the Faculty of Visual Communication Design in 2015 and since last year has served as the dean of the Faculty of Fine Art.

Ocean Park . 166x214cm . Acrylic & Oil on Canvas . 2005 . Suzlee Ibrahim

Selected series Suzlee Ibrahim: Selected Series 2005 – 2017 is the 42nd solo exhibition in his 34-year career as an artist. Showcasing at G13 Gallery, the exhibition celebrates the best of Suzlee Ibrahim’s oeuvre, featuring 14 large-scale paintings. “The chosen works are from various series. Priority has been given to my choices from each selected series,” says Suzlee Ibrahim.

“The ‘Sakura Series’, for example, is based on my experiences attending the Sakura Festival at Ueno Park, Tokyo, in 2008. The ‘Batik Series’ recalls my return to my hometown in Terengganu and my observation of the development of the 'small industry' of batik making in Terengganu. Similarly, the ‘Waterfall’ and ‘Ombak Merah’ series depict experiences in Terengganu as well.” The artwork titled “Sakura Series: Ueno Park” dated 2008 and measuring 1.8m by 2.4m, the acrylic, and oil on canvas work illustrates the magnificence of the sea of cherry blossoms during spring in Japan. Executed in a minimal palette of white, red and black, the impression of the pink blossoms is derived from the artist’s gestural splatters in red and liberal black line marks against the white background. The painting titled “Batik Series: Red Batik”, which was created between 2007 and 2008 measures 1.5m by 1.8m, has a “denser” aesthetic, emulating the busy patterning of batik motifs. Layers of vivid colour from his signature red to white, black, and a hint of blue placed in juxtaposition to each other form an abstract rendition of a batik fabric pattern from Terengganu.

Suzlee Ibrahim says: “ I get a lot of ideas and inspiration while travelling, both domestically and abroad. The human activities, the culture, the landscape of a place I visit give me new experiences that I express on canvas. “For example, during my visits to Pangkor Island and Langkawi, the sea, the waves, the scenery of the seabed, such as the coral, inspired me to arrange compositions and colour to produce series like ‘Ocean Park’ and ‘Sea Festival’. The inspiration for ‘Middle of the Night’ was different. I had a nightmare, and finding it hard to sleep, I drew some sketches before going to the studio the next day and transferring them to canvas.” The artworks in this exhibition include “Red Heliconia” (2014); “Waterfall” (2011–2013); “Dark Fire” (2009); “Waterfall Series: Rhythm” (2009); “Moon Cake Festival No 8” (2017); “Ombak Merah No 1” (2008–2009); “Ombak Merah No 2” (2008–2009); “Forest” (2010–2013); and “Lion Dance No 9” (2008). “The works selected for this exhibition are based on my personal preference for each work. Since 1987, I have produced 20 series with various sizes of works. It was difficult to select just 14 for this exhibition, and these are in my view the best to be shared with the public,” says Suzlee Ibrahim.

Waterfall Series : Sunday Morning . 183x213cm . Acrylic & Oil on Canvas . 2011- 12 . Suzlee Ibrahim . Global pandemic As an artist who articulates his sentiments through the visual elements of line, shape, colour, form, motion, texture, pattern, direction, orientation, scale, angle, space and proportion, Suzlee Ibrahim continues to produce paintings even in a time of crisis.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has had no external impact on me, the process of making art goes on as usual. Yet, more spiritual experiences, ‘inner feelings’ emerge and give more inspiration to create. My work is a form of expression - abstract expressionism. “Looking at the surrounding Covid-19 conditions, the environment, and the whole world, it gives a certain colour, texture, and composition to process and expresses feelings onto the ‘chest’ of the canvas. Feelings of sadness, fear, anger, and so on are the lifeblood of the ‘movement in the canvas space’ that has shaped my visual language throughout Covid-19”, says Suzlee Ibrahim. However, his role as dean is more challenging. Suzlee Ibrahim explains, “The process of teaching and learning has changed drastically around the world since Covid-19 hit. It has become completely virtual learning. It is difficult for practical learning to be delivered online. In the field of visual arts, teaching is more face-to-face, one-on-one. “The teaching satisfaction for lecturers is lacking and the ability of the students to comprehend and absorb 100 percent of what is being delivered is extremely difficult. The lecturers have to try their best to find a way to share their teaching as best as possible through online applications. As the dean, I also have to monitor the lecturers and their virtual classes by following their timetables. All meetings, whether at the university, faculty, or with students are conducted online. There are definitely more challenges.” International recognition Suzlee Ibrahim is the recipient of numerous awards in his capacity as both an artist and academician. The accolades include the Gold Medal of Zervas Art (The 5th Paris Art Symposium), Paris, France (2020); Second Prize at the Monastir International Festival of Visual Arts, Tunisia (2019); “Pakar Pengajar (Teaching Experts)” by the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur (2016); “Anugerah Pengilmuan Seni/Art Experts” by Aswara, Kuala Lumpur (2014); “Excellent Masters Award” by Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam (2013); “Tokoh Seni/Art Experts: Anugerah Citra Kencana” by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi (2011); “Special Envoy for World Peace”, representing Ministry of

Tourism Malaysia and World Arts and Culture Exchange Malaysia, at the Tokyo Trade Centre, Japan (2008); JapanMalaysia Art Friendship Ambassador (Ministry of Culture Arts and Heritage Malaysia and World Arts and Culture Exchange Malaysia), Malaysia Tourism Centre, Kuala Lumpur (2007); and “In Recognition of Outstanding Creative Excellence” at the Emaar International Art Symposium Dubai, UAE (2005). Suzlee Ibrahim’s paintings are often available on the secondary art market both locally and abroad, indicating a strong demand for his work.

Sarah Abu Bakar | 23 May 2021

Ombak Merah No. 2 . 153x183cm . Acrylic on Canvas . 2008-2009 . Suzlee Ibrahim

Sea Festival 1 . 166x213cm . Acrylic & Oil on Canvas . 2006-2007 . Suzlee Ibrahim