Lookk this way Loo
Look this way Loo k this way Faizal Suhif Anniketyni Madian Khairudin Zainudin Ain Rahman
Vallette Gallery 7th October - 14th November 2017
LOOK THIS WAY Hope is a strange invention A Patent of the heart In unremitting action Of this electric Adjunct Not anything is known But its unique momentum Yet never wearing out Embellish all we own Hope is a strange invention, Emily Dickinson
In this striking and introspective show, Look This Way brings together four artists of contrasting temperaments: Faizal Suhif the ‘Constant Gardener’, Khairudin Zainudin the ‘Plagued Soul’, Anniketyni Madian the ‘Wonder Woman with a Saw’ and newly-annointed ‘Shaded Princess’ Ain Rahman. Art of course, necessitates us to take a very lengthy look, it is corporeal, with its own balance and solidity and must be reflected upon, revisited, and inspected in the light of its own unique stories. The work of art is encrusted and meshed with allusions to both inner and outer realms that are not just seminal - everything possesses a transcendent effect. The representation of plants in art is certainly well and thriving. Located at the corner of the gallery, Faizal Suhif ’s monoprint/oil on canvas Sebenih and installation The Roots of Me creates a brilliant sense of drama. The painting on the rust-hued wall, of a solitary seed fractured and fragmented and waiting impatiently to burst into life mirrors the life of the artist to perfection.
In his own words, “This piece is a road of self-discovery inspired by my father’s own life experiences; working on his land, planting vegetables and palm trees. Our land begins fertile, opulent and full of hope. It is very much like our own existence. My father always says that ‘life is short like vegetables’ but we must never wallow in its ephemeralness, we must instead do as much as we can to be joyful, to be true to ourselves.” At the base of Sebenih’s grainy haze is Faizal’s environmental installation The Roots of Me. Here is where his earth’s heart beats. Sprouting marvellously-wild, the shapes of his plants are eddying, surging and redolent of a warm breeze and the swelling seas. He alternates and coils the materials, distending it within the precincts allocated. The result? His work becomes just as much a progression and a real-time happening. His distinctive aptitude of perceiving plants gives The Roots of Me an electrifying, modern form. And after seeing too many works imbedded in dispiritedness, it is refreshing to see an artist embracing consciences, and the humble seed is now a collective reminder of everything that’s virtuous.
Khairudin Zainudin’s Tribute to Uncertainty of Mind hangs desolate in solitary confinement; done on purpose to further play up the work’s heavy subject. It is political distress. It is a foggy milieu of glum observers and imprisons the racial divisions entangling the nation, a crepuscular revelation of the country at its most tempestuous political and social instances. Each of the persons staring dolefully at us is a manifestation of the artist. The painting’s nocturnal hissings depicts deep confusion and perhaps, simmering rage, their strangely contradictingsilent-blaring expressions seems a vain effort at communication. Khairudin observes, “We live in such uncertain times, no one really knows what is happening. No one really knows what to do. It is chaos. It is terrifying.” Tribute to Uncertainty of Mind is a shrewd and visceral portrayal of our times, the powerful image carrying an eternal sense of people in limbo, exiled and abject. Anniketyni Madian’s offerings are always amazing and just wonderful to look at. The Sarawakian artist continues to excite the local art scene with her wood sculpture works. Inimitable, spirited and optically-striking; her figures are epithets of her fierce loyalty to her inherent culture.
The Pua Kumbu motifs play a large role in most of her works, but for Look This Way, the artist surprises us with an installation completely out of her comfort zone. She says, “This installation is about my journey in the art industry. I see so many opportunities which I must continue to explore. The art industry is unforgiving but I still survive doing it my own way. People I hope, will see that I can do other things besides wood sculptures. Intuition is an indicator of my inner melees; it is incredibly difficult being in a ‘world’ dominated by men.” Intuition is a potpourri of polyester and potted mini plants held up by a wood stand. Utilising white polyester to represent solid clouds, the artists curls and pleats the materials all the way to the ceiling, fashioning the perfect storm which is emblematic of her own distresses. There is a kind of discomforting intimacy in this work, as although her clouds imply a sense of burgeoning freedom, they also lean towards a sickening awareness that everything is transitory. This is an artist who understands what it means to feel perennially oppressed, and is not afraid to show it.
Ain Rahman’s True Colours I and II is a cavernous exposé of the artist’s soul. Rendered in compressed soft charcoal on canvas, the paintings are a vaporous white/black miasma violated by darkness. The twenty-three year old ponders, “True colours is who you are, everyone has their own ‘true colours’. So here I am, crafting stories in compressed soft charcoal and several types of erasers on selective surfaces of canvas to create both positive and negative spaces through rubbing via additive and subtractive techniques. I love everything unicoloured, it is how I view the world. Just like black, which is always depicted in negative light, we think of charcoal as dull material. In these paintings, I want to show that charcoal is actually valuable because the fact is, it has a liberating effect. Also, in these two works, I want to inspire young people to be courageous and let your true hues shine even when you are in the darkest stages of life.” Come closer, even closer and notice that True Colours I and II are actually self-portraits. The artist focuses on her own eyes as her subject matter, each use of the wateriest values of black to grey to ashen whitedenotes the cleaved eyes which is simultaneously commanding and subtle.
Her downcast eyes framed by lush ebony lashes, she tells the age old stories of nightmares and dreamscapes, the glittering orbs permeating her canvas signifies her hopes of a better tomorrow. There is some very clever splicing here; and Ain, whether deliberately or otherwise, has somehow pulled off a glamorously-melancholic androgynous work which disturbs and arouses. This newcomer is naturally-gifted, and given a few more years, we dare say Ain Rahman may very well be a force to be reckoned with. Look This Way is a mélange of methodological complexities and sentimental brazenness, it implores audiences to react, to look at both beauty and entropy in ‘ravenous’ ways. These four superb artists articulate their spirits and moods in clashing yet oddly-harmonious styles; and the idea here is to strip us of our own securities. LOOK THIS WAY. How does it hurt?
Sarah NH Vogeler October 2017
faizal suhif “This piece is a road of self-discovery inspired by my father’s own life experiences; working on his land, planting vegetables and palm trees. Our land begins fertile, opulent and full of hope. It is very much like our own existence. My father always says that ‘life is short like vegetables’ but we must never wallow in its ephemeralness, we must instead do as much as we can to be joyful, to be true to ourselves.”
Sebenih... Monoprint, oil on canvas 122x210 cm 2017
The Roots of Me Variable dimension Installation with soil and plants 2017
Mountain Study Monoprint, oil on canvas 30x30 cm 2017
Seeds Study Monoprint, oil on canvas 30x30 cm 2017
Anniket yni madian “This installation is about my journey in the art industry. I see so many opportunities which I must continue to explore. The art industry is unforgiving but I still survive doing it my own way. People I hope, will see that I can do other things besides wood sculptures. Intuition is an indicator of my inner melees; it is incredibly difficult being in a ‘world’ dominated by men.”
Intuition Variable dimension, installation Polyester, wood, plants 2017
Khairudin zainudin “In this painting I want to express the ambiguity of thought or feeling about the political situation nowadays. We live in such uncertain times, no one really knows what is happening. No one really knows what to do. It is chaos. It is terrifying. I’m still ambiguous about this situation as a citizen of this country. I don’t want to be ambiguous about my future.“
Tribute to Uncertainty of Mind Charcoal and acrylic on canvas 122x244 cm 2017
ain rahman “True colours is who you are, everyone has their own ‘true colours’. So here I am, crafting stories in compressed soft charcoal and several types of erasers on selective surfaces of canvas. I love everything unicoloured, it is how I view the world. Just like black, which is always depicted in negative light, we think of charcoal as dull material. I want to inspire young people to be courageous and let your true hues shine even when you are in the darkest stages of life.”
True Colors I Charcoal on canvas 99x152 cm 2017
True Colors II Charcoal on canvas 99x152 cm 2017
curriculum vitae
Faizal Suhif
b. 1984, Johor Bahru, Malaysia Education 2011-2013 2006-2008 2002-2006
MA Fine Art and Technology, UiTM Shah Alam Degree Hons in fine Art, UiTM, Shah Alam, Selangor Diploma in Fine Art, UiTM. Malacca
Solo Exhibitions 2016
“Hidden : Treasures of a natural worl“, solo exhibition, Vallette Gallery, KL 2014 “Stories From the Soil“, G13 Gallery, Kelana Jaya, Selangor 2013 Fossil, Beranda Art Gallery, Langkawi Master Show, UiTM Jalan Othman, Petaling Jaya, Selangor 2012 Silent Diary G13 Gallery, Kelana Jaya, Selangor 2011 A Piece Of Land... Shah Alam Gallery, Selangor 2002 First Solo, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Air Hitam Bt 15 Muar Selected Exhibitions 2017
« Bakat Muda Sezaman 2017 », National Visual Arts Gallery (BSVN), Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 7th anniversary show, G13 Gallery, Selangor Malaysia KL Locals only, group exhibition of hometown talents, Taksu Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ‘Art @ The Row’, Vallette Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
2016
The Practitioners, Segaris Art Centre, KL Young Contemporary Artist, Petronas Gallery, KL Grande III, Core Design Gallery, Subang Jaya De’corum Chandan Gallery Publika, KL
2015
“Meru“, Segaris Art Centre, KL Suarasa 4, Segaris Art Centre, KL Abstraction, Core Design Gallery, Subang Jaya X Canvas Core Design Gallery, Subang Jaya Test Print II, HOM, Ampang KL Anniversary Show, G13 Gallery, Petalling Jaya
2014
“Temu, Two-man show“, 69 Gallery, KL Read Drawing, Petronas Gallery, KL Open Show, National Visual Art Gallery, KL Art Expo Malaysia, Matrade Hall, KL Suarasa 3, Segaris Art Centre
Young Contemporary Group Exhibition, G13 Gallery, Kelana Jaya Spice, Group Exhibition, Pace Gallery, Petaling Jaya, Selangor “Destiny” Young Contemporary Group Exhibition, National Visual Art Gallery, KL
2013
Art Residency
Artist in residence House of Art, Skopje, Macedonia 2013 Artist in residence Beranda Art Residency, Langkawi 2012 Artist in residence G13 Programme, Kenyem Art Studio, Bali, Indonesia 2010-2011 Artist in residence Shah Alam Gallery, Selangor 2008 Artist in residence Art Village Gallery, Kelana Jaya, Selangor 2014
Awards 2015 2014 2013 2011 2009
2008 2007
Bronze Award, UOB painting of the year, UOB Bank Jurors Awards, National Visual Art Gallery Master Excellent Award UiTm Shah Alam Jurors Awards, UKM, Bangi Consolation prize, Open Show Johor Finalist MRCB Art Awards Consolation prize, Nando’s Art Competition Honorable Mention, NBC 1st screen print biennale Japan DENTSU Toyota, ‘Blank Canvas Project’ – 3rd Prize Consolation prize IMU International Art Competition 5th Prize Saloon Meets Art Competition
Anniketyni Madian
2011
Figurativismo Exhibition @ Core Design Gallery, KL This is it-Black & White Exhibition @ Core Design Gallery, Subang Jaya Reconstruction Trio exhibition @ MAP, solaris dutamas,KL
2010
Residences July 2014 – March 2015 June – November 2011
Arttriangle Exhibition @ National Art gallery, KL Dis-Closure open exhibition @ArtVillage gallery, Bangsar, KL Open Show @ Map (Publika) gallery, KL Earth Hour Exhibition @ zinc gallery, bangsar, KL Eight 4 One Group sculpture show @ R.A Fine Art gallery, KL Local Touch Group sculpture exhibition @Art Space The Gallery, Bangsar
Awards 2017 Young Guns Art Award, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2009
Open Exhibition @ Dakha, Bangladesh Young Artist Exhibition @ R.AFine Art gallery, KL V2 Young Women exhibition @ 360 Gallery, Damansara, KL Belief Exhibition @ Threesixty (360) Gallery, Desa Park City, KL Raw & Cooked Degree show. Fine Art Department @ Fine Art Department, UITM
b. 1986, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Education 2007 - 2009
B.A in Fine Arts (Major in Sculpture). (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Residency Program at Rimbun Dahan Residency Program at HOM, Taman Cempaka
Selected Exhibitions 2017 Young Guns Art Award Exhibition @ White Box Publika, KL 2016
Narrative exhibition @ Mall Of Medini, JB Transit A2 exhibition @ Hom Art Trans, Taman Cempaka Bold Art exhibition @ South East Asia Country (Tour Exhibition with Kohler ) Making exhibition @ Shalini Ganendra Fine Art Gallery, PJ Young Malaysian Artists , New Object( ion )III @ Galeri Petronas, KLCC, KL Monochrome @ Nadine Fine Art Gallery, PJ, KL Grande III @ Core Design Gallery, SS15, Selangor
2015
Bricolage exhibition @ Rimbun Dahan Gallery, Kuang, Selangor Inter/national Exhibition...here and abroad @ Box Heart Gallery, Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA International Tokyo Art Fair @ Harajuku Building Tokyo, Japan Intima’ Ramadhan @ University Malaya Art Museum, KL Abstrak , Kini Dan Dulu @ Core Design Gallery, Subang Jaya Grande II @ Core Design Gallery, Subang Jaya Art Expo Malaysia Plus 2015 @ Matrade KL Cutting-It “ Duo Show” @ Artcube Gallery, Intermark, KL Art of Asean : Our Exhibition @ Museum & Art Gallery Bank Negara Malaysia
2014 Grande @ Core Design Gallery, Subang Jaya Remark @ArtCube Gallery, Intermark KL Local Onlyn @Taksu Gallery, KL Open Exhibition @ Segaris Art Center,Publika, KL Ilham Sculpture Exhibition @Pelita Hati Gallery, Bangsar, KL ‘Aggressive‘–Group Sculpture Exhibition @ R.A Fine Art Gallery, Publika ‘Pulpa’–Paper Exhibition @Chandan Gallery, Publika, KL 2013
Sekaki Exhibition @ Segaris Art Center,Publika, KL Destiny-Young Artist Group Exhibition @ National Art Gallery,KL
Khairudin Zainudin b. 1987, Kelantan, Malaysia Education 2011 2013
Graduate with BA (HONS) Fine Art in Faculty of Art and design, Universiti Teknologi MARA MA in Fine Art, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor
Solo Exhibitions 2016 2015 2014
Oriental Express : Beyond Identity, G13 Gallery, Malaysia Art Stage Singapore 2015 with G13 Gallery, Singapore Young Artist Discovery, Art Taipei with G13 Gallery, Taiwan Senyap Dalam Gege with G13 Gallery, Malaysia
Selected Group Exhibitions 2016
Art Taipei Taiwan 2016 with G13 Gallery, Malaysia Art Expo Malaysia Plus 2016 with G13 Gallery, Malaysia Transit A2, HOM Art Trans, Malaysia The Practitioners, Segaris Art Centre Gallery, Malaysia Young Malaysian Artists III, Galeri Petronas, Malaysia Art Stage Singapore with G13 Gallery, Singapore
2015
Art Kaohsiung, with G13 Gallery, Taiwan Art Taipei, with G13 Gallery, Taiwan Art Expo Malaysia Plus 2015 with G13 Gallery, Malaysia Tales From The City with G13 Gallery, Malaysia Bazaar Art Jakarta, with G13 Gallery, Indonesia Ke - Yuan New Stars 2015 with Ke- Yuan Gallery, Taiwan
2014
Suarasa 3 with Segaris Art Centre, Malaysia ‘AQAL’ Graduate show, with Segaris Art Centre, Malaysia Art Expo 2014 with G13 Gallery, Malaysia Prudential Malaysian Eye, Publika, Malaysia Read Drawing with Petronas Gallery, Malaysia ConFiguraTion with G13 Gallery, Malaysia
2013
Young and New Exhibition with House of Matahati, Malaysia KL Jazz Festival with University of Malaya, Malaysia M50 Merdeka Exhibition with Morne Art Gallery, Malaysia Art Expo 2013 with G13 Gallery, Malaysia AQAL with Segaris Art Centre, Malaysia Citra Terengganu 2012 with Muzium Terengganu, Malaysia Earth with Puncak Art Gallery, Malaysia Rasa Alam with University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia 1MCAT, Raub Pahang, Malaysia
2011
Nando’s Peri-fy Your Art, Malaysia
2010
Open Show with Gallery Tunku Zahirah UiTM, Malaysia UiTM Group Show with SACC Shah Alam, Malaysia UiTM All Department Group Show, Foyer Faculty of Art and Design UiTM, Malaysia Out of Number, Solaris Dutamas, Malaysia
2009
1st Festival Mail Art Exhibition, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
2012
Awards 2013 Consolation Prize, Citra Terengganu Competition, Muzium
Terengganu, Malaysia
2012
2nd Prize, Citra Terengganu Competition, Muzium Terengganu 3rd Prize, Ritma Johor Competition, Malaysia
2011
1st Prize, Tanjong Heritage Competition, Malaysia
2010
1st Prize, Tanjong Heritage Competition, Malaysia Dean List Award, Faculty of Art & Design, UiTM Shah Alam
2009
Dean List Award, Faculty of Art & Design, UiTM Shah Alam JPA Scholarship 3rd Prize, Tanjong Heritage Competition, Malaysia
Publication 2014 Prudential Malaysian Eye Public Collections
Balai Seni Visual Negara, Malaysia Private Collection Taiwan, France, Malaysia and Singapore Private Collection, Gallery G Exhibition, Korea Morne Art Gallery, Mara Tower, Malaysia Muzium Terengganu, Malaysia Gallery 12, Setapak KL, Malaysia G13 Gallery, Malaysia Muzium Terengganu, Malaysia Galeri Seni Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia Tanjong Public Limited Company, Malaysia
Ain Rahman b. 1994, Malaysia
Education 2015 Bachelor (Hons) in Fine Art
2012
Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Diploma in Fine Art Universiti Teknologi Mara, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Art Exhibition 2017 ‘Art @ The Row’, Vallette Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
‘School Of Thought’, Segaris Art Center, at White Box, Publika.
2016
‘COMA’ Degree Show, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
2014
Diploma Show, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Kelantan, Malaysia. ‘Dari Tampak Ke Mujarad’, Gallery FSSR, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Awards and Achievements 2017 Dean’s Award for semester 6 in Bachelor (Hons) of Fine Art.
Committee Member in Fine Art Department, Faculty of Art & Design,Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam, Selangor
2016
Dean’s Award for semester 5 in Bachelor (Hons) of Fine Art.
2015
Participant of 13th Oita Asia Sculpture Competition. Participant of ANDES Project, Eco ART, Gallery Alam Impian.
2014
Dean’s Award for semester 5 in Diploma of Fine Art.
2013
Dean’s Award for semester 4 in Diploma of Fine Art. Finalist – Invention, Innovation & Design Expo 2013, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Dean’s Award for semester 3 in Diploma of Fine Art. Active Member in Art Culture Club 2013, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Kelantan, Malaysia.
2012
Dean’s Award for semester 2 in Diploma of Fine Art.
Workshop 2016 Member of Remi Boinot Art Workshop, Gesturz, Universiti
Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Member of Gesturz Edu & Art Tourism Event, Gesturz, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Organizer of ‘Stoke of Genius’ Program Kecemerlangan Seni Visual Pra Universiti Daerah Kuala Krai, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Kelantan, Malaysia.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Director & Curator Patrice Vallette
Curator & Guest Writer Sarah NH Vogeler
Artists
Faizal Suhif Anniketyni Madian Khairudin Zainudin Ain Rahman
Designer & Assistant coordinator Aisyah Zainal Camille Caillet
52 Jalan Doraisamy - 51-01 1st floor - 50300 Chow Kit - Kuala Lumpur www.vallettegallery.com