Peninsula & Islands — 14 artists

budi

dodit

fa w w a z

gerardo

hafidz

khairul

khairul

mohsin

najib

norberto

si

agung

a rtaw a n

sukri

ta n

shabri

azmir

izham

aminuddin

ahmad

roldan

jo

kuswara

shoib

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

bamadhaj

hi

exhibition Peninsula and Island first started in 2006 as a collaboration between artists from Malaysia and Singapore. For this particular showing, the exhibition has broadened its scope to include works

by Indonesian, Australian, Chinese and Filipino artists.

rardo

n

Fourteen artists have come together for this year’s Peninsula and Islands group exhibition to feature their new works and current explorations.

Through their diverse cultural background, this show is set to present a melange of contemporary works. This exhibition encompasses works by both budding and renowned artists to convey a fresh experience to the audience.

hafidz

khairul

khairul

mohsin

najib

norberto

sia

shen

sabri

tony

shabri

azmir

izham

aminuddin

ahmad

roldan

joo

xin

idrus

twigg

shoib

bamadhaj

PENINSULAR & ISLANDS ISBN 9 7 8 - 9 8 1 - 0 7 - 1 3 1 6 - 4

hiang

TA K S U Š 2 0 1 2

E - BOOK

budi agung kuswara

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

Budi Agung Kuswara (b. 1982, Sanur, Bali) nicknamed Kabul, left his hometown Denpasar in 1999 to pursue Fine Art studies in Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta. Drawing inspiration from the diverse sociopolitical issues he has seen and experienced during his stay in Yogyakarta, and employing the Balinese tradition of storytelling, Kabul composes imageries that speak of a wide range of issues, all told with a hint of satire, a handful of puns, and fully loaded with symbolic references.

Since 2003 to date, Budi Agung Kuswara (Kabul) has participated in numerous group exhibitions in various galleries and art spaces in Indonesia, Manila, Italy, and United Kingdom. Kabul presented his first solo exhibition entitled i.Self in 2008, and his second solo exhibition will be presented by TAKSU Singapore in October 2012. Budi Agung Kuswara (Kabul) lives and works in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

budi agung kuswara

above & previous page; detail; Summertime Memories PENINSULA & ISLANDS

acrylic on canvas / 150 x 150 cm / 2011

TA K S U Š 2 0 1 2

dodit a rtaw a n

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

Dodit Artawan (b. 1978, Batubulan) lives and works in Bali. Upon graduation from Bachelor of Fine Art at Indonesian Art Institute Denpasar Bali in 1997, Dodit Artawan started his practice as a part of TAXU Art Clinic, an artist collective that made quite an upheaval in Balinese art scene for breaking the established hegemony of dominant value in form of local identity by using traditional elements. From 1997 to date, Dodit had presented 3 solo exhibitions, and participated in numerous group exhibitions in various galleries and art spaces in Indonesia, Singapore, and Italy.

dodit a rtaw a n

above & previous page; detail; After Party #4 TA K S U Š 2 0 1 2

oil on canvas / 150 x 200 cm / 2012

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

fa w w a z sukri

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

Fawwaz Sukri (b. 1987, Selangor) His interest in comics prevails into art as this pop methodology deeply inspires him to visualize it in into his works. Most of his subjects come from comic love stories from the 1960’s such as “Heartthrobs”, having him examine the use of the literary genre tragicomedy that blends aspect of tragic affairs in comical forms. The element of collages represented in his work depicts chain of events pertinent to the main event occurring in the “big picture” and the connection between collages and the main subject is highlighted as the key to delivering a dramatic touch to the art.

fa w w a z sukri

above & previous page; detail; Tidak.... Jangan Biarkan Ianya Berlaku acrylic and collages on canvas PENINSULA & ISLANDS

183 x 91 cm / 2012

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

gerardo ta n

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

Gerardo Tan (b. 1960, Philippines) took his BFA degree in Painting at the University of the Philippines and his MFA degree in Painting at the State University of New York at Buffalo on a Fulbright grant. A multi-media artist, Tan works with object and photo-based installations, artists’ books, collages and mixed media paintings. His recent collage-based paintings fuse digital prints and paint, probing postmodern concepts of originality and individual style. Tan has participated in many local and international exhibitions among which are the 1st Melbourne Biennale (1999), the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ 13 Artists Award Exhibition (1988) and the 2nd Asian Art Show in Fukuoka Museum (1982).

gerardo ta n

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

above & previous page; detail; After Patchwork 14 oil on canvas / 198.5 x 198.3 cm / 2011

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

hafidz shabri

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

Hafidz Shabri (b. 1987, Selangor) constructs his ideas based on the modernisation of Malaysian traditions, which signifies changes in the way of life, culturally and economically. In order to move forward, lifestyle differences alters human thinking and perception with the present life setting. In his pieces, depth plays a major part in perspective to give the illusion that movement has been made through that course of time. Hafidz proposes that depth brings warmth to the community but only to be overwhelmed and lost by urbanizations, leaving the viewer dazed, numb and most imperatively, alone.

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

hafidz shabri

above & previous page; detail; One Step at a Time 2 mixed media on canvas 152 x 183 cm / 2012

TA K S U Š 2 0 1 2

khairul azmir shoib

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

Khairul Azmir Shoib / Meme (b. 1975, Taiping, Perak, Malaysia) As a “writer of pictures”, Meme constantly strives to create series of visual poetry that record silent conversations between the self and the others. His oeuvre threading along with the macabre often deny or betray any categorization, simply outlandish in its own myth. Apart from lecturing in universities in Malaysia, Meme had participated in various group exhibitions in institutions and galleries in Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia. Among his past solo exhibitions are: Fairieality (2006), and Post Gothic Dreams (2009). Meme received his BA of Fine Arts from UiTM, Shah Alam, Malaysia in 2000, and MA (Fine Art and Technology) in 2004. He was the recipient of Juror’s Award from Young Contemporary, National Art Gallery KL in 2000; and 1st Prize in Life Drawing Competition from National Art Gallery KL in 2005. Meme currently lives and works in Kuala Lumpur.

khairul azmir shoib

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

above & previous page; detail; A Series Of Grimm Fairytales Drawings mixed media on paper / 92 x 43 cm / 2012

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

khairul izham

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

Khairul Izham (b. 1985, Maran, Pahang, Malaysia) approaches broad subject of past and memories with complex layering and conscious masking, leaving the audience with residue from the process of recollection. Khairul Izham graduated with B.A. of Fine Arts (Painting) from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Some of his recent shows include: Malaysian Emerging Artist Award (2011), Deceitful Truths (2011), Dis-chromatic (2010). Khairul Izham lives and works in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

khairul izham

above & previous page; detail; Behind a Journey acrylic and ink on canvas 142 x 92 cm / 2012

TA K S U Š 2 0 1 2

mohsin aminuddin

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

Mohsin Aminuddin (b. 1987, Kuala Lumpur) uses a minimalist approach in his work, which he attempts to portray the existence of wind. Rationally, we are aware that wind can’t be seen but can be felt. However the nature of wind can be seen through his artwork.

Setting his piece with geometrical pieces of aluminum plates, wind movement is comprehended with the waving of the plates. With each movement it creates, the artist strives to evoke a sense of logic for the mind to acknowledge the presence of the wind. Mohsin explores the different possibilities, random, irregular and unparalleled thinking in his artworks.

mohsin aminuddin

TA K S U Š 2 0 1 2

above & previous page; detail; Untitled 1 aluminum plate and wood frame 187 x 92 cm / 2012

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

najib ahmad bamadhaj

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

Najib Ahmad Bamadhaj (b. 1987, Johor, Malaysia) Painting, to Najib Ahmad Bamadhaj, describes the concept of a wall, translated with paint on canvas. The wall is the main image, whereas the subject on the surface is the secondary image.

Najib Ahmad Bamadhaj completed his Diploma in Fine Art from UiTM Melaka in 2008, followed by B.A. (Hons) in Fine Art (Sculpture) from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia in 2010. To date, Najib had participated in numerous group exhibitions, among which are: Endangered, a two-man show with Hirzaq Harris at TAKSU KL (2011), Visual Art Award (2011), LiFest at MAPKL (2011), HIMPUN at National Art Gallery KL (2010), and many others. Najib was the Finalist of MRCB Art Awards at National Art Gallery KL (2008), 1st Prize Winner in Tanjong Heritage Art Competition in Kuala Lumpur (2010), and Finalist of VAA in Kuala Lumpur (2011).

Najib Ahmad Bamadhaj currently lives and works in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

najib ahmad bamadhaj

above & previous page; detail; The Predator mixed media on canvas 168 x 137.5 cm / 2012

TA K S U Š 2 0 1 2

norberto roldan

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

Norberto Roldan (b. 1953, Philippines) studied fine arts major in visual communications at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila. He took up a masters degree in Art Studies at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. He is a co-founder and artistic director of Green Papaya Art Projects, one of the last remaining alternative art spaces in the Philippines.

Roldan has participated in solo exhibitions in Malaysia, Singapore, Manila and Australia. He has also participated in several group shows including the Ateneo Art Gallery, Manila, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA, National Museum, Manila, Worth Ryder Gallery, Berkeley, CA, Gorilla Artspace, Brooklyn New York, John Batten Gallery, Hong Kong, Hanoi Opera House, Vietnam, Yonago City Museum of Art Japan, Tate Modern, London, Singapore Art Museum, and the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Tokyo to name a few. Roldan lives and works in Manila.

norberto roldan

TA K S U Š 2 0 1 2

above & previous page; detail; Fatal Strategies 2 assemblage found objects 45.7 x 91.4 cm / 2011

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

sia joo hiang

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

Sia Joo Hiang (b. 1973, Singapore) was awarded Master of Fine Arts degree from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia in 2005. She was the recipient of the 17th JCCI Singapore Foundation Arts Award in 2006, and her painting won the highly-commended title in the 14th UOB Painting of the Year in 1995. She has exhibited in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and London. Her works can be found in private and public collections in Singapore and London.

She loves to draw and paint.

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

sia joo hiang

above & previous page; detail; Young Lucien Freud with Bird of Prey gouche, watercolor and ink on paper 30 x 35.5 cm / 2010

TA K S U Š 2 0 1 2

shen xin

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

Shen Xin (b. 1990, Chengdu, China) The focus of her practice often discuss the statuses of gestures in association with making a statement, expressing affections, or just purely in its state of actions to create tension through these subversions, and to reveal the transparency of these gestures. She has participated in Affordable Art fair, the Winston Oh Travel Award in Singapore, and the 2nd International Painting Exhibition at Academy of Fine Arts Vladivostok in Russia in 2011. She also initiated a video/live performance show Deploying Passage at Institute of Contemporary Art Singapore.

Shen’s works and articles have been featured in the magazine China Artists and Praxis Press. She was also awarded the LASALLE Award For Academic Excellence in 2011 and received the LASALLE Scholarship for the BA program.

shen xin

TA K S U Š 2 0 1 2

above & previous page; detail; Parting oil, acrylic and sand on linen 150 x 130 cm / 2012

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

sabri idrus

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

Sabri Idrus (b. 1971, Kedah, Malaysia), is a constant researcher in the process of art making, specifically in his endless search in the production of prints, marks and traces as the notion of visual representation. Working with his previous methods and techniques in combining lines, marks, colors, materials, and sometimes mechanical constructions, his works can almost be appreciated as non-referential indices. His paintings possess the quality to be freed from any semantico-referential and signals some value of the process itself, through which it objectifies the art of communicating ideas into simplified visual products.

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

sabri idrus

above & previous page; detail; Shoal mixed media on canvas 183 x 128 cm / 2012

TA K S U Š 2 0 1 2

tony twigg

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

Tony Twigg (b. 1953, Australia) studied painting in Australia and holds a Master of Arts Degree in Visual Art from the College of Fine Art, Sydney. Often referring to his artworks that are created with enamel paint on timber as “constructions”, his lattice-like works show his attentiveness to the space that surrounds structure.

As his works develop, he incorporates elements of film, video and performance into his installations. “Learning to Swim” presented at The Art Gallery of New South Wales and “A Shadow in our Tree” at the Queensland Art Gallery both developed historical narratives that he also told in his short films, notably “A Passion Play” that represented Australia at the Cannes Film Festival. When Tony began exhibiting in Manila in 1996, his works were abstracted.

In 2005, he began exhibiting with TAKSU. Since then his works has been seen in group and solo shows in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

tony twigg

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

above & previous page; detail; Elegy to the Spanish Colony enamel paint on timber construction 115 x 185 cm / 2012

PENINSULA & ISLANDS

rardo

n

KUALA LUMPUR

SINGAPORE

BALI

17 Jalan Pawang 54000 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia T +603 4251 4396 F +603 4251 4331 kl@taksu.com

43 Jalan Merah Saga #01-72 Workloft @ Chip Bee Singapore 278115 T +65 6476 4788 F +65 6476 4787 sing@taksu.com

W Retreat & Spa Bali Jalan Petitenget Seminyak Bali, Indonesia T +62 361 4738106 F +62 361 4738104 bali@taksu.com

hafidz

khairul

khairul

mohsin

najib

norberto

sia

shen

sabri

tony

shabri

azmir

izham

aminuddin

ahmad

roldan

joo

xin

idrus

twigg

shoib

bamadhaj

TAKSU is a leading contemporary art gallery and specialist in Southeast Asia. Representing selections of fine art with distinctive urban edge, we are at the forefront of contemporary art in this region. TAKSU works to forge a platform for established and emerging artists to share their pool of creativity and knowledge through its residency programs and exhibitions.

Encapsulating the true meaning of the word TAKSU; divine inspiration, energy, and spirit.

TA K S U © 2 0 1 2

Suherwan Abu Director, TAKSU Galleries

ISBN 978-981-07-1316-4

E-BOOK

Graphic Design Jeffrey Lim / studio 25 Digital Catalog © 2012 TAKSU Artworks & Images © 2012 Participating Artists

hiang

All rights reserved. No part of this catalog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior consent from the artists and gallery.

PENINSULA & ISLANDS