C U LT U R E VU LT U R E
C U LT URE JUSTIN LIM
Justin Lim (b. 1983 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) completed his postgraduate studies in 2006 with the Master of Art (Fine Art) programme by The Open University UK conducted at Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts, Singapore after obtaining a BA(Hons) Fine Art majoring in painting. He has exhibited widely in Southeast Asia in various solo and group exhibitions and his works have been acquired for public and private collections. He was awarded the 2008 Malaysia-Australia Visual Artist Residency at Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia and represented Malaysia at the 2009 Asian Art Biennial held at the Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. He was also the recipient of the 2011 Asian artist fellowship at the Vermont Studio Center, USA. Education 2006 Master of Art (Fine Art) Lasalle College of the Arts Singapore / Open University UK 2005 Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Painting Lasalle College of the Arts Singapore 2003 Diploma in Visual & Digital Art Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology Solo Exhibitions 2011 Asian Artist Fellowship Resident show Red Mill Gallery, Vermont Studio Center, Vermont, USA 2010 Secret Identities TAKSU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2009 Gods, Heroes & Myths Rimbun Dahan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2007 Agents, Actions & Consequences TAKSU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2006 Momentum TAKSU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Selected Group Exhibitions 2011 Culture Vulture TAKSU, Singapore Garden of Hidden Desires Wei Ling Contemporary, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ROGUE WAVE! TAKSU, Singapore 2010 BOLEH! TAKSU, Singapore 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Festival (MCAT) Galeri Seri Perdana, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia SURVIVAL Rimbun Dahan, Selangor, Malaysia Tiger Show Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Locals Only! TAKSU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2009 Viewpoints & Viewing Points Asian Art Biennial, Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Tai Chung, Taiwan Iskandar Malaysian Contemporary Art Show (IMCAS) Johor Bahru, Malaysia Tanah Air Rimbun Dahan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia The Fab Four TAKSU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Peninsula & Island TAKSU, Singapore Home CHAI House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2008 Shifting Boundaries Rimbun Dahan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Exhibition X TAKSU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Locals Only! TAKSU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Peninsula & Island TAKSU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2007 Singapore ART Show Singapore Art Museum, Singapore Nasi Campur TAKSU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ARTSingapore Suntec Convention Center, Singapore 2006 The New Messengers TAKSU, Singapore Rage Against the Dying of the Light La Libreria, Singapore MFA Degree Show Earl Lu Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore 2005 Urban on Urban Earl Lu Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore Balthus Bemused by Colour Earl Lu Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore 2003 Germany in Mind National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia The Circle Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia VDA LICT Atrium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2 Arts on a Jade Stone LICT Atrium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2002 Breathe in, Breathe Out LICT Atrium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Palestine Day Islamic Arts Museum, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Vertical Horizontal LICT Atrium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Eyes Wide Open LICT Atrium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Selected Art Activities & Performances 2009 Tai Chung International Jazz Festival Tai Chung, Taiwan 2008 Penang Island Jazz Festival Penang, Malaysia ZhuJiaJiao Water Village World Music Festival Shanghai, China 2007 Rainforest World Music Festival Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia 2006 Jarasum International Jazz Festival Seoul, Korea 1st Korean Peace Festival Seoul, Korea 2005 Malaysian Drum Festival (Pesta Gendang Malaysia) Kelantan, Malaysia Malaysian Traditional Music Festival Pahang, Malaysia 2004 Sunrise Jazz Festival Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Johor Arts Festival Johor, Malaysia 2002 Penang Arts Festival Penang, Malaysia Scholarships, Awards & Residencies 2011 Asian Artist Fellowship Vermont Studio Center, USA 2008 MalaysiaAustralia Visual Artist Residency Rimbun Dahan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2007 Taksu Artist Residency Programme (TARP) TAKSU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2006 Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts Scholarship 2003 President’s Scholar Award Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Honorable mention Goethe & Daimler Chrysler Art competition, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
above; bad girls / acrylic on canvas, fabric & mixed media on perspex / 156 x 133 cm / 2011 opposite; bad boys / acrylic on canvas, fabric & mixed media on perspex / 156 x 133 cm / 2011 previous page; culture vulture / acrylic on canvas, fabric & mixed media on perspex / 218 x 142 cm / 2011
king for a day acrylic on canvas, wooden frames, plastic toys, fabric & photograph 183 x 153cm / 2011
above; the butcher / acrylic and graphite on paper & screen print on perspex / 183 x 152.4 cm / 2011 opposite; the everlasting gaze / acrylic & graphite on paper & screen print on perspex / 183 x 152.4 cm / 2011 next page; death and all his friends / acrylic & graphite on paper & screen print on perspex / 183 x 152.4 cm / 2011
Framing Culture Vulture Noor Mahnun Mohamed
There is a lot of raw meat in ‘Culture Vulture’, a two-man show by Malaysian artists, Justin Lim and Samsudin Wahab at TAKSU Singapore. As peers, in their late-twenties, both have established themselves as front-runners of their generation locally with artworks that are sought after by collectors, regionally and abroad, through their genuine interest and active involvement in the world of creativity, artistically (and musically). Having just returned from a residency in Vermont followed by a tour of the States; Justin Lim is brimming with stories of encounters with cultural icons/heroes and the travelling experience, visiting arts institutions and museums. In ‘Culture Vulture’ his artworks were done prior to and during the sojourn overseas. Samsudin Wahab recently moved to a larger space atop a restaurant and in close proximity to a morning (wet) market, located on the other side of town from the previous one. The pieces exhibited by him are the latest series of work executed in the new studio. Both Samsudin Wahab and I have been ‘framed’ by Justin Lim in his previous solo outing at TAKSU Kuala Lumpur. Samsudin Wahab branded as a tattooed angry young man in ‘Repent’ and I posed for the role and found myself tagged as ‘Guilty’ for a sinful act. Readings, connotations and labelling aside, how easy this manipulation of text and image, a visual construct blurring what is real and what is fictional. Reiterating John Berger’s ‘Ways of Seeing’ of “how what we see is always influenced by a whole host of assumptions concerning the nature of beauty, truth, civilization, form, taste, class and gender.” This continues in ‘Culture Vulture’, the boys and girls pairings in Justin Lim’s ‘Bad Boys’ and ‘Bad Girls’ mischievously return the gaze. ‘Culture Vulture’ is also a self-portrait of the artist wearing the classic moustachioed disguise. With a vulture perched on his right shoulder, is ‘Culture Vulture’ a fake or a poser? Is it a charade masquerading a cynic? V for ‘victory’ or is that a ‘peace’ sign? One could only speculate. Encased within a clear Plexiglas box framings, Justin Lim’s drawings and canvas pieces were added another layer and dimension of veiled reading albeit the transparency.
Samsudin Abdul Wahab (b. 1984)
2008 The 70th Mokwoohoe Members Exhibition and combined with the Education 2007 Bachelor (Hons.) Fine Malaysian Figurative Artist Korea SPACE, Arts, Majoring in Print Making, UiTM Emerging Young Artist TAKSU Gallery, Shah Alam 2005 Diploma in Fine Arts, Keramat, Kuala Lumpur Peninsula & UiTM Seri Iskandar, Perak Island TAKSU Gallery, Singapore Young and New House Of Matahati Gallery, Solo Exhibition 2008 Enough! TAKSU HOM, Kuala Lumpur Di Dinding PTL, Gallery, Keramat, Kuala Lumpur Pelita Hati Gallery, Kuala Lumpur Not Enough! Chandan Gallery, Bukit Shifting BOUNDRIES Art for Nature, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur WWF Malaysia, Rimbun Dahan Gallery, Selangor Peninsula & Island TAKSU Selected Group Exhibition 2011 New Gallery, Keramat, Kuala Lumpur ART Work TAKSU Gallery, Keramat, Kuala Singapore, The Contemporary Asian Art Lumpur Art for Nature WWF Rimbun Show Suntec City, Singapore Exhibition X Dahan, Kuang, Selangor Bapak Moma TAKSU Gallery, Keramat, Kuala Lumpur Gallery, Desa Hartamas,Kuala Lumpur 2007 Print-Print Kebun Mimpi Gallery, Menifestasi Merdeka National Art Kuala Lumpur Mana Batik Annexe Gallery ,Kuala Lumpur 2010 Energy Gallery, Central Market, Kuala Lumpur Trap Valentine W.F.A, Annex ,Kuala Flora Fest Art Exhibition Putrajaya Lumpur Self Parody 15th Rimbun Dahan Conference Hall, Putrajaya, Kuala Malaysia-Australia Residency Program, Lumpur Mekar Citra Shah Alam Gallery, Kuala Lumpur Tribute to Rauschenberg Selangor Global Logistic Art Exhibition TAKSU Gallery, Keramat, Kuala Lumpur Gothe Institute, KL City Library, Kuala Art for Nature WWF Rimbun Dahan Lumpur Pack Max Art Award Exhibition Malaysia-Survival ,Kuala Lumpur Gurney Plaza, Penang Salon Meet Art Young Contemporary Artist ShowGothe Institute, Elle Six Gallery Kuala New Object(tion) Petronas Gallery, Lumpur Weird Art Exhibition Rantai Kuala Lumpur 2009 Locals Only! Art Evnt. Kuala Lumpur Chinese Hall, TAKSU Gallery, Keramat, Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Degree Show Segitiga, MEA Art Award 2009 Sokagakai Tunku Nur Zahirah Gallery, Shah Alam, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpu Peace, Selangor The Tanjong Heritage ’05 Art AnInternational Art Exhibition Niko Competition organized by Tanjong Public Hotel, Kuala Lumpur Imcas, Malaysian Ltd. Co., Maxis Tower, Kuala Lumpur Contemporary Art Exhibition Danga Mall, My Wildest Dream Logistic Competition, Johor Bahru Tanah Air Art for Nature, Gothe Inst. Kl City Libry, Kuala Lumpur Rimbun Dahan, Kuang, Selangor Fab 4 World AIDS Day (Pepaktaklumat Art TAKSU Gallery, Keramat, Kuala Lumpur Group), S.U.K Shah Alam, Selangor B.A.C.A RA Fine Art Gallery, Ampang, Kuala Lumpur ART Singapore, The Contemporary Asian Art Show 2009 Suntec City, Singapore Un-Cut, Malaysia Art Festival Copenhagen, Denmark
Activities 2008 Art Performance SOsound “Boneka” Friction Show, Kebun Mimpi Gallery, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur Art Performance SOsound “Aku Adalah CCTV” Prologue, Threesixty Art Development Studio, Desa Park City Art Performance SOsound “CCTV : Episode 1” Telu Tau, Lookiss Gallery, Manjalara, Kuala Lumpur 2007 Art Performance Pepaktaklumat “Mirror Mirror” Bukak Mata, Ruang Kala Gallery, Shah Alam Selangor Art Performance SOsound,“Destroy” Pati Satu Gallery, Puncak Alam Selangor Awards and Achievements 2010 Khazanah Nasional Art Residency Mumbai India 2009 Winner, Malaysian Emerging Artist (MEA) Art Award Rimbun Dahan 15th Residency Programs 2007 2nd prize, Saloon Meet Art Gothe Institute, Elle Six Gallery, Kuala Lumpur 2007 Finalist Pack ax Art Award Gurney Plaza, Penang Consolation Prize The Tanjong Heritage ‘05 Art competition organized by Tanjong Public Ltd. Co. Mixed Media 2nd and 3rd prize, My Wildest Dream Global Transportation Global Logistic Art Exhibition, Gothe Institute, KL City Library, Kuala Lumpur
above; on air / acrylic and bitumen on canvas / 142 x 218 cm / 2011 previous page; the last supper / acrylic and bitumen on canvas / 123 x 96 cm / 2011
floating cheese burger acrylic and bitumen on canvas 172 x 200 cm / 2011
left; nightmare in red / acrylic and bitumen on canvas / 120 x 94 cm / 2011 next page; 10 th anniversary in red / acrylic and bitumen on canvas / 201 x 138 cm / 2011
In a similar vein, Samsudin Wahab makes analogies and paints metaphors. A few paintings are obvious takes on current issues. Referencing a teaser/public airing a dirty sort-of laundry in the form of a video, ‘On Air’ takes the piss, a privy subjected into public viewing. Exposure and circulation, a lot of mincing words and grinding teeth goes behind these production and making-of. A larger-than-life ‘Floating Cheese Burger’ on the other hand is a personal nightmare. Recounting a near-death experience at sea and lucky-to-be alive to tell (and paint) a red figure lays sandwiched between green curlicues of lettuce leaf, cheese, tomato slices, ketchup and mayonnaise. Ensconced or perhaps apprehensively awaiting his fate, one becomes fodder. A menacing red of a raging sea below and a looming darker red sky above, a perfect storm? It is apocalypse now. ‘The Last Supper’ is equally ominous. But it is not all gloom and doom. The ‘10th Anniversary in Red’ ventriloquist commemorates in scarlet with his puppet, a twin dressed in a clown suit, about to cut the steak (cake?). The pristine white background, a vacuum, emphasizes the pair’s celebratory isolation further. Samsudin Wahab’s ornate framing around all his paintings stresses this false sense of security, its pretty faux ornamental décor a marked contrast to the subjects they are protecting.
Noor Mahnun Mohamed is a practising artist and arts manager at Rimbun Dahan. Both artists, Samsudin Wahab and Justin Lim, were recipients of the MalaysiaAustralia Visual Artist Residency at Rimbun Dahan.
Visually, there is a lot to consume and digest at ‘Culture Vulture’. Vegetarians, approach with caution.
43 Jalan Merah Saga #01-72 Workloft @ Chip Bee Singapore 278115 T +65 6476 4788 F +65 6476 4787 sing@taksu.com www.taksu.com
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Brochure © 2011 TAKSU Singapore Artworks and Images © 2011 Samsudin Wahab & Justin Lim Essay Noor Mahnun Mohamed Photography AbZahri Photography Catalog Design Jeffrey Lim / Studio 25 Printer Unico Services
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