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RAJA’AH:ART, IDEAS AND CREATIVITY<br />

OF SULAIMAN ESA<br />

YOKOHAMA TRIENNALE 2011<br />

SENI VISUAL DAN HAK CIPTA 4<br />

ORDINARY PEOPLE,<br />

EXTRA-ORDINARY ARTISTRY<br />

KEMBARA YUSOF GHANI<br />

MALAYSIA’S LEON LIM<br />

SELECTED FOR AMERICA’S<br />

REALITY TELEVISION SHOW<br />

# 14


nota<br />

Selamat kembali bersama<br />

Bagi meneruskan momentum, Balai Seni Visual Negara (BSVN)<br />

dalam tempoh dua bulan yang lalu telah mempamerkan<br />

beberapa buah pameran yang menarik dan penting bagi<br />

perkembangan seni visual tanah air. Pameran solo Dr.<br />

Sulaiman Esa yang lama dinantikan, dengan karya-karya<br />

menarik beliau telah dimanifestasikan dengan mantapnya<br />

melalui pameran “RAJA’AH: Seni, Idea dan Kreativiti Sulaiman<br />

Esa (1950an-2011)” yang diolah oleh kurator jemputan, Nur<br />

Hanim Khairuddin. Pameran “Joy <strong>of</strong> Living” oleh Pr<strong>of</strong>. Li Chi<br />

Mao, seorang pelukis terkenal dari negara Taiwan yang juga<br />

pakar lukisan kaligrafi Cina, mempamerkan koleksi-koleksi<br />

dan karya beliau yang memukau, sebahagiannya bercirikan<br />

Malaysia. Manakala kurator Faizal Sidek bersama dengan<br />

kurator jemputan Nasir Baharuddin pula menampilkan<br />

pameran bertajuk ‘Seni Konseptual’ yang memperlihatkan<br />

karya-karya terpilih dari koleksi Himpunan Tetap BSVN. Dan<br />

bersempena perayaan Deepavali,<br />

pameran bertajuk “Cahaya” telah<br />

dijayakan oleh Kannan Thanapal<br />

dan Mohd Azman Salleh, juga<br />

menampilkan koleksi yang jarangjarang<br />

dipamerkan dari koleksi<br />

Himpunan Tetap BSVN.<br />

Pameran solo oleh Ali Mabuha<br />

(Ali Rahamad), <strong>art</strong>is dari kumpulan<br />

terkenal Anak Alam yang berjudul<br />

“Kembara di Sarang Seni” akan<br />

menyusul tidak lama lagi. Untuk<br />

tahun 2012, pelbagai pameran<br />

b<strong>esa</strong>r telah pun dirancang dan akan didahului dengan<br />

sebuah pameran yang kami janjikan hebat dan menarik, iaitu<br />

pameran solo Amron Omar bertajuk “Pertarungan”.<br />

Saya amat berb<strong>esa</strong>r hati mengumumkan bahawa pada<br />

tahun 2012, BSVN akan mengadakan pameran biografi<br />

solo pelukis abstrak tersohor tanah air, Abdul Latiff Mohidin.<br />

Saya dan beberapa orang kurator telah pun mengadakan<br />

perbincangan lancar bersama Pak Latiff dan amat teruja<br />

dengan projek pameran ini.<br />

Dalam usaha untuk meningkatkan lagi kepakaran kami,<br />

BSVN telah menghantar Amerrudin Ahmad, Kurator Kanan<br />

BSVN, ke Northumbria University di Engl<strong>and</strong> untuk melanjutkan<br />

pengajian peringkat Sarjana selama 18 bulan dalam bidang<br />

konservasi. Ini merupakan pengorbanan yang b<strong>esa</strong>r kerana<br />

kami akan kehilangan khidmat beliau untuk sementara waktu.<br />

Namun ianya juga merupakan pelaburan untuk jangka masa<br />

panjang kami. Saya juga telah menghantar kurator Rohana<br />

Yus<strong>of</strong> dan Faridah Hanim ke “Frankfurt International Book Fair”<br />

sebagai persediaan kami menganjurkan “Malaysia Art Book<br />

Fair” pada bulan Disember ini. Mereka juga telah melawat<br />

Muzium Seni Berlin dan lain-lain tempat berkaitan untuk<br />

membuat kajian awalan mengenai Pak Latiff Mohidin.<br />

Di ruang ini saya ingin merakamkan penghargaan saya<br />

dan BSVN kepada Mohamad Izani Abd. Ghaffar, Timbalan<br />

Ketua Pengarah (Pengurusan) yang begitu berdedikasi dan<br />

cekap dalam menjalankan tugas beliau sepanjang 2 tahun<br />

berkhidmat di BSVN. Beliau akan bertukar ke Kementerian<br />

Dalam Negeri dan kami mengucapkan beliau<br />

selamat maju jaya.<br />

Saya juga ingin berkongsi kenangan peribadi ketika bercuti<br />

sempena perayaan Deepavali di New Delhi, India dimana<br />

saya telah bertemu dengan pelukis Shamshad Husain anak<br />

kepada pelukis terkenal M.F Husain di studio dan rumah beliau.<br />

M.F Husain telah meninggal dunia di London pada bulan<br />

Jun tahun ini dan beberapa pameran karya-karya beliau kini<br />

didalam perancangan untuk dipamerkan di India dan juga<br />

luar negara. BSVN juga telah baru-baru ini memulihkan 4 karya<br />

beliau yang dimiliki oleh sebuah institusi swasta di<br />

Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Saya juga berpeluang melawat<br />

National Gallery <strong>of</strong> Modern Art<br />

(NGMA) dan bertemu dengan<br />

pengarah muzium iaitu Pr<strong>of</strong>. Rajeev<br />

Lochan. Perbincangan yang<br />

diadakan ini amat bermakna dan<br />

beliau juga menyarankan untuk<br />

mempamerkan lukisan Rabindranath<br />

Tagore kepada BSVN sempena<br />

ulang tahun Tagore ke-150, dan bagi<br />

koleksi BSVN dipamerkan di NGMA. Semoga<br />

perbincangan ini akan mewujudkan hasil<br />

yang positif..<br />

Selamat Membaca...<br />

Editor's<br />

notes<br />

Welcome again to<br />

Keeping up with our momentum, the National Visual Art<br />

Gallery (NVAG) has in the last two months put up a number<br />

<strong>of</strong> exciting <strong>and</strong> important exhibitions. The long-awaited<br />

exhibition <strong>of</strong> Dr. Sulaiman Esa's works were beautifully<br />

manifested in “RAJA’AH: Seni, Idea <strong>and</strong> Kreativiti Sulaiman<br />

Esa (1950an-2011)” curated by guest curator Nur Hanim<br />

Khairuddin. Taiwan’s gr<strong>and</strong>master <strong>of</strong> calligraphy <strong>and</strong><br />

inkwork, Pr<strong>of</strong>. Li Chi Mao’s “Joy <strong>of</strong> Living” exhibition is a<br />

delightful collection <strong>of</strong> mesmerising works, many with<br />

Malaysian themes. A showcase <strong>of</strong> selected conceptual<br />

<strong>art</strong>works from the our national collection were<br />

put together by Faizal Sidik in “Seni Konseptual”<br />

with guest curator Nasir Baharuddin. And in<br />

conjunction with Deepavali, an exhibition <strong>of</strong><br />

selected <strong>and</strong> hitherto seldom seen works from<br />

our collection were put up by Kannan Thanapal<br />

<strong>and</strong> Mohd Azman Salleh in an exhibition entitled<br />

“Cahaya”.<br />

Coming soon will be a solo exhibition by Ali<br />

Mabuha (Ali Rahamad) <strong>of</strong> the famed Anak<br />

Alam, entitled “Kembara di Sarang Seni”. And<br />

for next year a number <strong>of</strong> major exhibitions are<br />

being planned. First in line will be Amron Omar’s<br />

“Pertarungan” which promised to be most exciting.<br />

I am very pleased to announce that BSVN will also in 2012 be<br />

hosting a biographical solo exhibition <strong>of</strong> Malaysia’s foremost<br />

veteran abstract-painter Abdul Latiff Mohidin. My team <strong>and</strong><br />

I have had a number <strong>of</strong> good discussions with Pak Latiff <strong>and</strong><br />

we are indeed excited by the project.<br />

In our effort to upgrade our expertise we have sent our senior<br />

curator Amerrudin Ahmad for an 18 months master’s degree<br />

programme in conservation at the Northumbria University in<br />

the United Kingdom. It is a big sacrifice to temporarily be<br />

without his service, but it is a worthy long-term investment<br />

for BSVN. I had also despatched curators Rohana Yus<strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong> Faridah Hanim to the Frankfurt International Book Fair in<br />

preparation <strong>of</strong> our own “National Art Book Fair” in December,<br />

as well as to the Berlin Art Museum to do preliminary research<br />

on Latiff Mohidin.<br />

I take this opportunity to record BSVN’s <strong>and</strong> my personal<br />

tribute <strong>and</strong> thanks to our outgoing Deputy Director-General<br />

(Management <strong>and</strong> Finance), Encik Mohamad Izani Abd.<br />

Ghaffar for his very efficient <strong>and</strong> dedicated service to BSVN<br />

from the last two years. Encik Izani is transferred to the Home<br />

Affairs Ministry <strong>and</strong> we wish him all the very best there.<br />

On the personal front, I spent the Deepavali holiday season<br />

in New Delhi <strong>and</strong> met up with <strong>art</strong>ist Shamshad Husain, son <strong>of</strong><br />

famed dep<strong>art</strong>ed <strong>art</strong>ist M.F Husain, at his home <strong>and</strong> studio.<br />

M.F Husain passed away in London in June this year <strong>and</strong> a<br />

number <strong>of</strong> exhibitions <strong>of</strong> his works are now in the pipeline in<br />

India <strong>and</strong> abroad. BSVN had recently restored four <strong>of</strong> his<br />

paintings owned by a private institution in Kuala Lumpur.<br />

I also visited the National Gallery <strong>of</strong> Modern Art (NGMA) <strong>and</strong><br />

meet its director Pr<strong>of</strong>. Rajeev Lochan. We had a cordial <strong>and</strong><br />

useful discussion on their proposal to showcase Rabindranath<br />

Tagore’s paintings at BSVN on the occasion Tagore's 150th<br />

anniversary, <strong>and</strong> BSVN’s collection being shown at the<br />

NGMA. Let us hope some fruition will emerge from this.<br />

Ambassador Dato’ Mohd Yus<strong>of</strong> Ahmad<br />

Editor-In-Chief<br />

Happy Reading...


C O N T E N T S<br />

SENI KONSEPTUAL: KOLEKSI BALAI SENI VISUAL NEGARA | Faizal Sidek 10<br />

Raja'ah: Art, Ideas <strong>and</strong> Creativity <strong>of</strong> Sulaiman Esa (1950-2011) 18-<br />

19<br />

Kembara Yus<strong>of</strong> Ghani | Zuriyadi Sarpin 27-<br />

YOKOHAMA TRIENNALE 2011 | Baktiar Naim 16-<br />

17<br />

PUBLISHER<br />

Balai Seni Visual Negara (BSVN)<br />

National Visual Arts Gallery Malaysia(NVAG)<br />

Ministry <strong>of</strong> Information,<br />

Communications <strong>and</strong> Culture Malaysia<br />

No 2. Jalan Temerloh<br />

Off Jalan Tun Razak<br />

53200 Kuala Lumpur<br />

MALAYSIA<br />

P : 603 4026 7000<br />

F : 603 4025 4987<br />

A Boost To The Spirit Through 'Art For All' | Tan See Ling<br />

www.<strong>art</strong>gallery.gov.my<br />

www.facebook.com\<strong>art</strong>gallery.gov.my<br />

l EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ambassador Dato’ Mohd Yus<strong>of</strong> Ahmad l EDITOR<br />

Tan Seihon l ASSISTANT EDITORS Anis Amizan Hussein Lim, Osmi<br />

Hamidi | HEAD DESIGNER Shamizar Rahim | DESIGNER Norhaslina<br />

Ahmad Kamsin l PHOTOGRAPHY Mohd Khazrul Sharuddin, Mohd<br />

Yuzaini Ahmed, Mohd Adzim Abd Wahab, Intan Idarina Mohammad<br />

Kusaiirry & Mohammad Hisyamuddin Ramli.<br />

senikini is designed by Nuzaihan Mustapa<br />

WASPADA PADA KARYA| Jazmi Mohamed Sharif 10<br />

ANNIKETYNI MADIAN | Intan Rafiza 12<br />

SEAH ZE LIN | Tan Hui Koon 12<br />

SENI VISUAL DAN HAKCIPTA 4 | Bed Samat 13<br />

Ordinary People, Extra-Ordinary Artistry| Tan<br />

Sei Hon<br />

14-<br />

15<br />

KL Sketchers at UM's Museum <strong>of</strong> Art | SH Lee 08-<br />

09<br />

A.B.Ibrahim | Rahimidin Zahari 20<br />

Wong Siew Inn | Ooi Kok Chuen 21<br />

Psychotherapy: from Couch to Clay | Hazel Mc Clure 22<br />

can be accessed at<br />

www.<strong>art</strong>gallery.gov.my/web/guest/senikini_bsln<br />

www.facebook.com/senikini.bsln<br />

senikinibsln.blogspot.com<br />

Any feedbacks <strong>and</strong> comments please email to us at :<br />

anis@<strong>art</strong>gallery.gov.my <strong>and</strong> tanseihon@gmail.com<br />

The publisher, National Visual Arts Gallery Malaysia,<br />

holds the copyright to all editorial content.<br />

SENIKINI (ISSN : 1985-7233) is published six times<br />

a year by the National Visual Arts Gallery Malaysia.<br />

All Rights Reserved.<br />

Copyright © 2011 SENIKINI Malaysian Art Now<br />

Printed in Malaysia.<br />

SONG OF SOUL | Juwita Abdullah<br />

SHAHRIL NIZAM | Jerome Kugen<br />

Deeper Than Words | Rina Shukor<br />

07<br />

28<br />

MALAYSIA'S LEON LIM<br />

Selected for America's Reality Television Show<br />

Malaysian Artist Abroad : Tan Ru Yi<br />

35<br />

06<br />

24-<br />

25<br />

34<br />

28<br />

www.<strong>art</strong>malaysia.com.my<br />

‘RAJA’AH : Art, Idea <strong>and</strong> Creativity <strong>of</strong> Sulaiman<br />

Esa [from 1950’s – 2011]’ is a solo showcase <strong>of</strong><br />

works by Sulaiman Esa, one <strong>of</strong> Malaysia’s most<br />

distinguished <strong>art</strong>ists. This exhibition is meant to give<br />

the contemporary public an opportunity to review<br />

the shifts not only in forms but more importantly in<br />

processes, <strong>ideas</strong> <strong>and</strong> contexts that underscores each<br />

<strong>and</strong> every series <strong>of</strong> works created by Sulaiman Esa<br />

over a period <strong>of</strong> 50 years.<br />

RAJA’AH: Seni, Idea dan Kreativiti Sulaiman Esa [dari<br />

1950-an-2011] dirancang sebagai sebuah pameran<br />

persis retrospektif yang menghimpun sejumlah karya<br />

yang pernah dihasilkan oleh Sulaiman Esa, salah<br />

seorang seniman tersohor tanah air. Ia bertujuan<br />

memberi peluang kepada khalayak masa kini<br />

menyelami bukan cuma perubahan bentuk tetapi<br />

yang lebih pentingnya peralihan proses, idea dan<br />

konteks yang melatari setiap siri pengkaryaan beliau<br />

sepanjang tempoh 50 tahun.


AND


The Malaysian <strong>art</strong>ist Zul Idris will be having his solo exhibition<br />

<strong>of</strong> sculptures <strong>and</strong> paintings at the Balai Berita, News Straits<br />

Times in Kuala Lumpur in November 2011. I managed to catch<br />

up with him <strong>and</strong> saw his works while he was busy making<br />

preparations for the exhibition at his home in Langkawi. So<br />

here is my interview with him.<br />

Well, your exhibiton is entitled ‘Song <strong>of</strong> Soul’, Why ?<br />

“You see, there is a tribe in Africa. When a woman in that<br />

tribe is pregnant, she gathers some friends around her to<br />

pray <strong>and</strong> meditate, until they ‘hear’ the 'song' <strong>of</strong> her unborn<br />

child. In their belief, it is the soul <strong>of</strong> the child transmitting<br />

the song to them. The women will try to be attune tothe<br />

song, to catch, memorize <strong>and</strong> sing it out loud so that they<br />

can later teach it to their tribe.Eventually, this song will be<br />

sung by their community when the baby is born <strong>and</strong> during<br />

the initiation <strong>of</strong> the child into adulthood. This song will also<br />

be sung during difficult times faced by the child <strong>and</strong> finally<br />

when the soul <strong>of</strong> the child is dep<strong>art</strong>ing this world. I was<br />

deeply impressed when I learnt <strong>of</strong> this.<br />

You see, as an <strong>art</strong>ist, something resonates with my soul. It<br />

can be something really small, but if the call from within is<br />

strong, it sometimes leads to the point where I may even<br />

forget where I put my keys, money <strong>and</strong> everything around<br />

me. I become obsessed with creating works based on this<br />

feeling, to purge it so that I can be at peace again. If you<br />

relate this to the story about the pregnant women in that<br />

tribe, I guess you could say that I have heard THE song <strong>and</strong><br />

I am busy searching for the soul that sang it. Since I am a<br />

visual person, I would naturally transfer what I’ve ‘heard’<br />

into a sculpture or a painting.”<br />

Ok, too fast for me. I asked the <strong>art</strong>ist to give me an example.<br />

“You look at the fisherman with their faces rugged by the<br />

wheather. Their life is hard <strong>and</strong> it is a daily fight for survival to<br />

win the battle against the sea while maintaining the boats<br />

<strong>and</strong> their fishing nets. They are the heroes <strong>of</strong> my childhood<br />

<strong>and</strong> remain so till this day. When I look at their boats, into the<br />

faces <strong>of</strong> the fishermen, I am moved <strong>and</strong> overwhelmend to<br />

the point where I might even forget things..(like where I’ve<br />

left my keys) It is because when that ‘song’ comes to me<br />

so strongly, there is nothing more important than to create<br />

the ‘baby’, the ‘soul’ <strong>of</strong> this feeling. So it is times like this that<br />

I st<strong>art</strong> investigating, sketching, painting or create sculptural<br />

works. If I am lucky <strong>and</strong> I did my meditation well, my ‘baby’<br />

will be born, the form which materialiszes the ‘spirit’, the<br />

‘soul’ <strong>of</strong> all the fishermen in this world, who with their little<br />

boats are trying to make an honest living catching fish.<br />

If I relate this to the story about the pregnant African<br />

women again, it is I who is now pregnant with a ‘song’ <strong>and</strong> I<br />

have to get to the ‘soul’ <strong>and</strong> to bring the ‘baby’ out so that<br />

people around me can join me in singing the ‘song’.<br />

I like the idea <strong>of</strong> this African tribe. In our life, while growing<br />

up <strong>and</strong> growing old, our soul must battle many challenges<br />

but we are also blessed with many good things as well. I<br />

think, before I were to leave this world I would like to hear<br />

<strong>and</strong> sing a song, which bears the scars, celebrates the<br />

achievments <strong>and</strong> that gives thanks to the happy moments<br />

in life. I would want that ‘song’ to grow during my life <strong>and</strong> to<br />

tell the story <strong>of</strong> my soul on e<strong>art</strong>h.”<br />

| JuWITA ABDuLLAH<br />

06/page<br />

Well, what does that mean for your <strong>art</strong>?<br />

“My <strong>art</strong> is my ‘baby’, with its own ‘soul’. People who look at<br />

my <strong>art</strong> relate to it in different ways. But if it touches them,<br />

they will find their own ‘song’. It might be a French song, a<br />

Japanese song, a song <strong>of</strong> a streetworker or a pr<strong>of</strong>essor or a<br />

kid’s song but if the work catches them then there is a song.<br />

All these songs will merge into a choir, which in our example,<br />

will sing the song <strong>of</strong> the fisherman's soul, each in their own<br />

tune.”<br />

If I don’t see a fisherman in your work?<br />

“I don’t create a replica <strong>of</strong> a fisherman. I create a work<br />

which expresses my feelings about the fisherman. How<br />

could anybody with different experiences have the same<br />

feelings as me? If my <strong>art</strong> catches your eyes <strong>and</strong> touched<br />

something inside <strong>of</strong> you, then it would mean that you have<br />

caught its vibes, you too can sing the song which I’ve heard<br />

from my ‘baby’ just like the story about the African woman.<br />

If I ask you to sing a song about your own ‘soul’ <strong>and</strong> at<br />

the same time ask your friends to sing a song about your<br />

‘soul’, I am sure there would be differences though it is<br />

about the same soul. It is the same principle with works <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>art</strong>. If my sculptures <strong>of</strong> the fisherman can make a man in<br />

Timbuktu sing a song <strong>of</strong> a crocodile then I have moved this<br />

man trough my vision <strong>of</strong> a fisherman <strong>and</strong> even though he<br />

sings a different melody, my work is then re-presented with<br />

another song.<br />

In this country, we talked a lot about the concept <strong>of</strong><br />

‘1Malaysia’. I think our <strong>art</strong>ists have gone far beyond that.<br />

They have heard the songs <strong>of</strong> the universe <strong>and</strong> they have<br />

created <strong>and</strong> continue to create in the spirit <strong>of</strong> these songs<br />

for the present age as well as the coming future.”<br />

I thanked the <strong>art</strong>ist <strong>and</strong> imagine the choir who will sing for<br />

Zul's “babies”. ‘Babies’ that began their lives in Malaysia<br />

but have touched people around the world, regardless <strong>of</strong><br />

their nationality, their age or pr<strong>of</strong>ession. Each song will have<br />

its own tune, character, rhythm <strong>and</strong> melody <strong>and</strong> when<br />

joined together they form a circle around a piece <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong><br />

being created here on the Malaysian soil. Closing my eyes,<br />

I picture millions <strong>of</strong> circles surrounding the <strong>art</strong>works <strong>of</strong> many<br />

<strong>art</strong>ists, connecting the world today <strong>and</strong> tomorrow.<br />

Zul Idris exhibits his work from 7th till<br />

30th November from 10.00 am to 6.00<br />

pm at Lobby Utama, Balai Berita, The<br />

New Straits Times Malaysia BHD, 31<br />

Jalan Riong, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur<br />

*Juwita Abdullah is German residing in<br />

the isl<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> Langkawi, Malaysia for<br />

about 20 years. She studied law <strong>and</strong><br />

economy, but has since retired from<br />

her pr<strong>of</strong>ession.


07/page<br />

| JEROME KuGAN<br />

Thirty two year old Malaysian <strong>art</strong>ist <strong>and</strong> fine <strong>art</strong> graduate<br />

from the Victorian College <strong>of</strong> the Arts (University <strong>of</strong><br />

Melbourne) Shahril Nizam has for the past three years<br />

been exhibiting his drawings <strong>and</strong> paintings in some <strong>of</strong><br />

KL’s more youthful galleries to <strong>of</strong>ten gushing approval<br />

from the <strong>art</strong> clique. Little wonder. Anyone who has<br />

managed to glimpse Shahril’s dense, intricate creations<br />

can attest to their hypnotic visual power. His subject<br />

matter ranges from the fantastic to the grotesque to the<br />

abstract. They’re sometimes comical, with figures that<br />

reference children’s picture books. But his most stunning<br />

pieces are his vortices in charcoal, filling the canvas<br />

like deep space <strong>and</strong> textured like weathered granite.<br />

His deliberately overworked lines are both sensuous<br />

<strong>and</strong> oppressive, disturbing <strong>and</strong> poetic. They haunt <strong>and</strong><br />

delight the imagination equally, as though HR Giger <strong>and</strong><br />

Aubrey Beardsley met for a picnic in a dream.<br />

To find out more about what made Shahril tick, I emailed<br />

him some questions about his approach to <strong>art</strong>, his<br />

inspirations <strong>and</strong> thoughts about the <strong>art</strong> world in general.<br />

JK: When seen as a whole, your work as an <strong>art</strong>ist <strong>and</strong><br />

poet seems to exist in a dreamworld <strong>of</strong> symbols <strong>and</strong><br />

metaphors. How <strong>and</strong> where did this come from?<br />

SN: I think it comes from a primal need to communicate:<br />

a thought, an emotion or something that needs to be<br />

expressed outwardly, without being too literal <strong>and</strong> in your<br />

face. I believe that unobtrusiveness <strong>and</strong> ambiguity––in<br />

terms <strong>of</strong> expression––would best describe how I normally<br />

choose to interact (through my work). This, in a way,<br />

leaves things open to personal interpretation, thus<br />

allowing the viewer to become an active p<strong>art</strong>icipant,<br />

not just in discovering the meaning behind a piece <strong>of</strong><br />

painting or the written word, but something about his or<br />

her self through introspection <strong>and</strong> self-analysis.<br />

JK: Some people may say that "introspection <strong>and</strong><br />

self-analysis" are asking a lot from the viewer,<br />

especially in a society that's increasingly giving<br />

itself over to a culture <strong>of</strong> instant answers <strong>and</strong> instant<br />

pleasures. Would you say your work is anathema to<br />

that?<br />

SN: That's true, <strong>and</strong> I won't kid myself into believing<br />

that my work speaks to everybody, especially in terms<br />

<strong>of</strong> content <strong>and</strong> outreach. Having said that, I make<br />

these so-called obscure pieces <strong>of</strong> work with the<br />

added mindfulness that they serve to communicate<br />

a very limited, private 'vocabulary' to an equally<br />

limited number <strong>of</strong> (analytically inclined) observers.<br />

I'm pretty much aware <strong>of</strong> the fact that the general<br />

masses won't see the point <strong>of</strong> fleshing out an idea or<br />

an image in such a cumbersome, archaic manner,<br />

when one could just as easily receive instant<br />

gratification via electronic media.<br />

However, I am more or less driven by an instinctive<br />

(though somewhat selfish) compulsion which seeks<br />

expression through apparent or latent symbols <strong>and</strong><br />

metaphors that are not uncommon to the general masses,<br />

as they generally allude to emotions, circumstances <strong>and</strong><br />

issues that affect us all––be it trauma, death or disease;<br />

love, desire, absurdity <strong>and</strong> excitement... Whether I am<br />

able to successfully communicate to a wider, media<br />

savvy audience through my work, is <strong>of</strong> course, an entirely<br />

different matter altogether (something which i have very<br />

little say or control over). This knowledge, in a way, frees<br />

me from having to worry about cultural, communal or<br />

social responsibility; i simply create, <strong>and</strong> if it communicates<br />

something to someone, even at a subconscious level,<br />

that's good enough for me.<br />

JK: You've done illustration work for commercial projects,<br />

including book covers <strong>and</strong> flyers. How different is that to<br />

the more gallery-oriented "<strong>art</strong>" that you do?<br />

SN: I'm not sure if there is a big difference between<br />

commercial <strong>art</strong> <strong>and</strong> fine <strong>art</strong> or gallery-oriented <strong>art</strong> as<br />

you've described it; <strong>art</strong> is <strong>art</strong>, good or bad. The validity<br />

<strong>and</strong> material value <strong>of</strong> a piece <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong> is pretty much<br />

subjective. The only difference I can think <strong>of</strong> is that the<br />

former is usually created with maximum mass appeal<br />

so that it can be commercialized <strong>and</strong> disseminated to<br />

a wider audience while the latter speaks to whomever<br />

it speaks to, though inevitably, they too become<br />

commodities that are sold to a different subset <strong>of</strong> society.<br />

A simpler answer would be that the first type <strong>of</strong> work pays<br />

the bills, while the other, not as much (for me, at least).<br />

JK: Sorry I think I didn't phrase the previous question<br />

properly. I meant to ask you about the differences in the<br />

approach? Do the commercial aspects <strong>of</strong> having to deal<br />

with clients' dem<strong>and</strong>s or think about a mass audience<br />

change the way you produce the work? Does it become<br />

less introspective? Do you work less with traditional<br />

medium <strong>and</strong> more with designing s<strong>of</strong>tware?<br />

SN: Does it change the way I produce the work? Yes, <strong>of</strong><br />

course. Does it become less introspective? Yes to that as<br />

well. And for the sake <strong>of</strong> convenience, the use <strong>of</strong> graphics<br />

s<strong>of</strong>tware greatly eases editing <strong>and</strong> output, although I will<br />

sometimes include h<strong>and</strong> drawn illustrations whenever<br />

possible, for added warmth, substance <strong>and</strong> appeal.<br />

JK: "[F]or added warmth, substance <strong>and</strong> appeal."<br />

I find that quite revealing about our attitudes to <strong>art</strong><br />

as we how appreciate <strong>and</strong> value it. Somehow the<br />

work becomes more precious <strong>and</strong> valuable <strong>and</strong><br />

human when it reveals evidence <strong>of</strong> the deliberate<br />

h<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> the <strong>art</strong>ist. Your work in traditional media<br />

certainly reveals this, with their intense <strong>and</strong> intricate<br />

attention to detail. I'm curious as to your thoughts<br />

on this.<br />

SN: While I can't speak for other visual <strong>art</strong>ists who<br />

work with traditional media, I feel that it is only<br />

human to want to leave personal markings <strong>and</strong><br />

flourishes that are distinct, thus appreciated for<br />

their uniqueness––like little tokens or keepsakes<br />

for posterity. Personally, I tend to appreciate<br />

<strong>and</strong> gravitate towards works by <strong>art</strong>isans <strong>and</strong><br />

craftspeople who create objects <strong>of</strong> great value in<br />

terms <strong>of</strong> quality <strong>and</strong> <strong>art</strong>istry. These works, produced<br />

with such constancy <strong>and</strong> care by those who<br />

receive little or no recognition for their labour,<br />

exude a kind <strong>of</strong> vibrancy that I find lacking in most<br />

contemporary, mass produced objects. In a way, I<br />

am trying to emulate that old, h<strong>and</strong>s-on approach<br />

to <strong>art</strong>-making, in the hopes it this will add a bit <strong>of</strong><br />

weight to my paintings <strong>and</strong> drawings.<br />

JK: Who are some <strong>of</strong> your favourite <strong>art</strong>ists, those<br />

who have inspired you in your search for your own<br />

<strong>art</strong>istic vision?<br />

SN: I have great respect for <strong>art</strong>ists like Ahmad Zakii<br />

Anwar, Jalaini Abu Hassan, Ron Mueck, Tamara<br />

de Lempicka <strong>and</strong> Tsuguharu Foujita. Nevertheless,<br />

during my childhood <strong>and</strong> formative years, I was<br />

completely in love with the works <strong>of</strong> illustrators <strong>and</strong><br />

c<strong>art</strong>oonists such as Lat, Rejabhad, Dzulkifli Buyong,<br />

Richard Scarry <strong>and</strong> Quentin Blake. I think a lot <strong>of</strong><br />

what I do now in terms <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong>-making can be traced<br />

back to to the times when I used to imitate their<br />

style <strong>of</strong> drawing, which is usually the case when<br />

you're st<strong>art</strong>ing out <strong>and</strong> trying to discover your own<br />

technique or <strong>art</strong>istic voice; your own pen lines <strong>and</strong><br />

brushstrokes, so to speak.v<br />

JK: What are you working on at the moment?<br />

SN: Not much aside from a commercial assignment<br />

which I'd recently completed. However, I am<br />

currently doing a bit <strong>of</strong> groundwork for what I hope<br />

to be a series <strong>of</strong> figurative paintings based loosely<br />

on the notions <strong>of</strong> boundaries, restrictions <strong>and</strong> bodily<br />

constraints, that is, if all goes according to plan.<br />

Exhibitions :<br />

22 Sept-10 Oct 2010<br />

Deadlines, Group Exhibition, Annexe Gallery, Kuala Lumpur.<br />

20 Jan-20 Feb 2010<br />

Contemporary Rhetoric, Group Exhibition,<br />

Valentine Willie, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur.<br />

4 Aug-29 Aug 2009<br />

New Malaysian Artists: Our Own Orbit, Group Exhibition, Tembi Contemporary,<br />

Yogyak<strong>art</strong>a<br />

23 Jul-2 Aug 2009<br />

Between The Lines, Group Exhibition, Annexe Gallery, Kuala Lumpur<br />

10 Dec-23 Dec 2008<br />

Cabinet, Group Exhibition, Valentine Willie, Bangsar Baru, Kuala<br />

Lumpur<br />

3 June 2008-18 June 2008<br />

Contemporary Picturebook Illustrations in Germany <strong>and</strong> Malaysia,<br />

Group Exhibition, Kuching State Library, Sarawak<br />

29 May 2008-15 June 2008<br />

Out <strong>of</strong> Line, Group Exhibition, The Annexe Gallery,<br />

Kuala Lumpur<br />

Projects :<br />

2009<br />

Cerita Rakyat dan Kisah Dongeng Malaysia & Jerman, illustrations<br />

ISBN 978-983-068-388-1, ITNM-Goethe Institute, Malaysia<br />

2007<br />

If Only, written <strong>and</strong> illustrated by Shahril Nizam<br />

ISBN 978-983-43488-0-9, Gores Press, Kuala Lumpur<br />

2007<br />

Malaysian Politicians Say The Darndest Things,<br />

compiled by Amir Muhammad, illustrations by Shahril Nizam<br />

ISBN 978-983-43596-0-7, Matahari Books, Kuala Lumpur<br />

To see more works by Sharil, Please visit<br />

shahrilnizam.blogspot.com


The University Malaya Museum <strong>of</strong> Fine Art recently<br />

organised its first-ever <strong>art</strong>istic event with the public.<br />

Hosted in cooperation with Kuala Lumpur’s first<br />

sketching group, Facebook-based KL Sketchers, the<br />

five-hour event was held in the campus <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

oldest institutions <strong>of</strong> higher learning in the country.<br />

The event began at the vicinity <strong>of</strong> the museum at<br />

9am <strong>and</strong> lasted till almost noon. The sketchcrawl was<br />

divided into three legs, covering from the compound<br />

<strong>of</strong> the museum <strong>and</strong> the Economics Faculty to<br />

the Science Faculty <strong>and</strong> ending at Dewan Tunku<br />

Canselor.<br />

According to the museum curator, Abd Aziz Abdul<br />

Rashid, the event was the first-ever <strong>art</strong>istic event<br />

organised by the museum after 33 years.<br />

“We hope to spur an interest among undergraduates<br />

in <strong>art</strong> through sketching,” he said. “The programme<br />

was also p<strong>art</strong> <strong>of</strong> the <strong>art</strong>ists-in-residence programme<br />

with veteran watercolourist Maamor Jantan, <strong>and</strong><br />

naïve <strong>art</strong>ist Yus<strong>of</strong> Gajah.<br />

08/page<br />

“It is p<strong>art</strong> <strong>of</strong> our intention as well as to promote<br />

the Museum <strong>of</strong> Asian Art to the public. Not many<br />

people know that the museum is an authority in<br />

ceramics <strong>and</strong> that we are a reference museum<br />

for it. Hopefully, through this activity with KL<br />

Sketchers, the public will come to know about our<br />

museum <strong>and</strong> visit it.”<br />

After a short breakfast reception, the sketchers<br />

totalling about 20 made their way to the various<br />

spots around the campus, st<strong>art</strong>ing with the<br />

area around the museum. The sunny but breezy<br />

weather was a bonus to sketchers as they worked<br />

in the shade <strong>of</strong> the well-forested varsity grounds,<br />

putting their work on paper, using pen, pencil <strong>and</strong><br />

watercolours.<br />

For KL Sketcher EW Lok, the limited time spent<br />

at each spot did not permit him to do larger<br />

paintings, which he loved.<br />

“I had to resort to only using sketchbooks but I will<br />

definitely return to do big paintings when I am<br />

free,” said the southpaw from Petaling Jaya who is<br />

in his mid-50s.<br />

KL Sketcher Hisham Salmin, who also came<br />

prepared to do a large painting, said: “I was<br />

hoping to do one or two paintings. But never<br />

mind, even small sketches are just as good.”<br />

However, for member Pang M.Y. from Kluang, who<br />

arrived in KL the previous evening for the event,<br />

the short time frame was no hindrance. “I use a<br />

moleskine booklet, so I can sketch a scenery quite<br />

fast,” said Pang who is fond <strong>of</strong> buildings.<br />

KL Sketcher founder ES Tung said that although<br />

the time frame was prohibitive to doing large<br />

works, the trip provided sufficient materials for<br />

sketchers to translate their experience into large<br />

paintings later.<br />

| SH LEE<br />

“Sketching allows us to capture the mood <strong>of</strong> the<br />

place <strong>and</strong> with reference pictures, we can use the<br />

sketching trip to translate our experience into larger<br />

works within the comforts <strong>of</strong> our studios,” he said.<br />

For first-timer to outdoor sketching, Yu Wui Wui,<br />

it was inspiring.<br />

“This is first trip <strong>and</strong> I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learnt<br />

much from the resident <strong>art</strong>ists <strong>and</strong> fellow<br />

sketchers,” said Yu.<br />

Watercolourist Maamor Jantan, who is known for his<br />

Cakcibor (dragonflies) series, thrilled the sketchers<br />

with his one-the-spot works.<br />

“You have to be daring when it comes to outdoor<br />

sketching,” Maamor said. “Don’t be afraid. Just do<br />

it. With practice, you will become better each time.<br />

What is important is to put your feelings onto paper, in<br />

ink, pencil, watercolour, or any medium.”<br />

Sketchers also had the opportunity to see the other<br />

side <strong>of</strong> Yus<strong>of</strong> Gajah, whose famous elephant naïve<br />

paintings have graced various media. Yus<strong>of</strong> showed<br />

his impressionistic approaches to sketching using ink<br />

at the st<strong>art</strong> <strong>of</strong> the crawl.


The University Malaya Museum <strong>of</strong> Asian<br />

Art is open from Monday to Thursday,<br />

9am to 12.45pm <strong>and</strong> from 2pm to 5pm,<br />

<strong>and</strong> from 9am to 12.45pm <strong>and</strong> 2.45pm to<br />

5pm. It is closed on Saturday, Sunday <strong>and</strong><br />

public holidays.<br />

Admission is free. For details, call the<br />

varsity at 03-03-7967-3805<br />

A surprise for sketchers was the attendance <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>art</strong>ist Khalil Ibrahim, who is very well known for<br />

his figurative tribute to women <strong>and</strong> fisherfolk.<br />

Kelantan-born Khalil also took time to do a quick<br />

l<strong>and</strong>scape <strong>of</strong> the in the vicinity <strong>of</strong> the museum.<br />

For Indonesian student Rizky Astriningtias, 19,<br />

who is pursuing her second-year degree in<br />

estate management, the interaction between<br />

sketchers was marvellous.<br />

“It allows me to enhance my skills <strong>and</strong> make<br />

friends through sketching,” she said. “I do only<br />

portraits at home but now I think I will try more<br />

outdoor sketching.”<br />

For Alia Khalid, 20, a third-year chemical<br />

engineering student, who is also a KL Sketcher<br />

member, it was also her first outing with the<br />

group.<br />

“This experience was great,” she said. “I waited<br />

for over a month for it since I barely draw or<br />

paint in the outdoors. I will definitely want to go<br />

on future outings if there are no examination<br />

<strong>and</strong> important assignments.”<br />

The campus sketchcrawl ended with a<br />

presentation <strong>of</strong> letters <strong>of</strong> appreciation to<br />

p<strong>art</strong>icipants <strong>and</strong> culminating in a group<br />

photography <strong>of</strong> the sketchers with their works.<br />

UM Library chief Dr Nor Edzan Che Nasir, who<br />

gave away the letters <strong>of</strong> appreciation, said<br />

initially she was not aware <strong>of</strong> what sketchcrawl<br />

was all about.<br />

“It was our first hosting <strong>of</strong> such an event <strong>and</strong><br />

I am glad it turned out very well,” she said.<br />

“We hope to have more similar activities in the<br />

future.”<br />

Yahong Art Gallery is a short<br />

walk from most <strong>of</strong> the major beach<br />

hotels; approximately 20 minutes<br />

from the Rasa Sayang Hotel, less for<br />

those further down the beach. The<br />

gallery is fully air-conditioned for a<br />

refreshing respite from the heat <strong>and</strong><br />

to ensure a pleasurable visit. Hours<br />

are from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm <strong>and</strong><br />

admission is free. For further<br />

information, Please simply call<br />

or email us.<br />

58-D Batu Ferringhi, 11100 Penang, Malaysia.<br />

email enquiries@yahong<strong>art</strong>.com.my or sl_chuah@time.net.my<br />

Tel (604) 881 1251<br />

Fax (604) 881 1093<br />

www.yahong<strong>art</strong>.com<br />

5 NOV 2011- 5 JAN 2012<br />

x2


1<br />

Mengenalpasti laluan dan kaedah<br />

pemindahan karya dengan berbincang<br />

dengan rakan kumpulan sebelum memulakan<br />

kerja supaya proses pemindahan karya<br />

berjalan lebih lancar.<br />

Memastikan laluan selamat dan tiada<br />

halangan daripada sebarang gangguan<br />

sebelum pemindahan dilakukan.<br />

| FAIZAL SIDEK<br />

Objek atau lapisan permukaan karya sama ada<br />

dua dimensi atau tiga dimensi mudah terdedah<br />

pada kerosakan apabila berubah kedudukan<br />

lokasi. Ia boleh berlaku secara sengaja atau tidak<br />

disengajakan seperti kecuaian manusia mahupun<br />

akibat k<strong>esa</strong>n persekitaran. Pengendalian karya secara<br />

cekap adalah penting dilatih dari segi sikap dan<br />

dimantapkan dengan kemahiran.<br />

Sebelum melaksanakan sesuatu perubahan<br />

lokasi adalah penting untuk MERANCANG<br />

dari segi jenis karya, lokasi dan perjalanan<br />

karya. Tugasan sebegini boleh dilakukan<br />

dengan mengenalpasti :<br />

Senarai tambahan jika memerlukan<br />

sebarang bantuan; contoh-seorang atau<br />

dua untuk membawa karya atau mem<strong>and</strong>u<br />

arah troli, dan seorang untuk membuka<br />

pintu, kenalpasti halangan serta memastikan<br />

laluan bebas daripada orang ramai.<br />

02<br />

Balai Seni Visual Negara telah mengumpul<br />

karya pelukis tempatan dan antarabangsa<br />

sejak 1958 lagi. Adalah menjadi hasrat BSVN<br />

untuk mempamerkan semula koleksi-koleksi<br />

yang penting dalam himpunannya sebagai<br />

rujukan dan tatapan umum. Pameran ‘Seni<br />

Konseptual: Koleksi Balai Seni Visual Negara’<br />

adalah sebuah pameran koleksi terpilih<br />

yang dibina untuk membawa penonton<br />

kepada satu bentuk seni yang dinamakan<br />

seni konseptual, iaitu persembahan bentuk<br />

seni yang menekankan pada persoalan<br />

konsep dan idea dalam pengkaryaan.<br />

Pameran yang dikuratorkan oleh Faizal Sidik<br />

dan Nasir Baharuddin ini akan berlangsung<br />

hampir 6 bulan iaitu daripada 9 Oktober<br />

2011 hingga 26 Mac 2012 di Galeri 1A,<br />

Balai Seni Visual Negara. Sehubungan itu<br />

sebuah penerbitan buku akan dihasilkan<br />

memuatkan tulisan kedua-dua kurator<br />

dan juga penulis jemputan Fuad Arif bagi<br />

menggali dan menyelidiki mengapa seni<br />

itu dikatakan sebagai seni konseptual,<br />

persoalan-persoalan dasar mengenainya<br />

dan impaknya dalan seni lukis di Malaysia<br />

pada hari ini.<br />

Sentiasa peka dan berinteraksi dengan<br />

rakan sepasukan ketika proses pemindahan<br />

berlangsung; Jangan tergopoh–gapah,<br />

kendalikan dengan tenang dan penuh<br />

berhati-hati.<br />

Pengkaryaan seni konseptual dalam seni lukis moden dan<br />

kontemporari Malaysia boleh dikatakan bermula daripada<br />

pengaruh pengkaryaan daripada <strong>art</strong>is yang pernah belajar<br />

di luar negara terutamanya di sekitar tahun 60-an dan 70-an<br />

di mana pada masa itu di sana pergerakan aliran seni moden<br />

berkembang dengan cepat dengan aliran-aliran pemikiran<br />

yang dibawa dalam seni yang daripada penggunaan bahan<br />

konvensional cat minyak yang bertujuan sedaya upaya<br />

untuk mendekatkan karya <strong>art</strong>is dengan audien, maka lahirlah<br />

pergerakan seperti Seni Pop, Dada, Konsep dan lain-lain.<br />

Bagi menyelusuri aliran ini di sini perlulah sekiranya kita melihat<br />

pergerakan seni konseptual di<br />

Barat itu sendiri. Pergerakan<br />

seni konseptual ini muncul pada<br />

tahun 1960-an. Kemunculannya<br />

adalah sebahagian daripada<br />

reaksi penentangan terhadap<br />

formalisme iaitu yang<br />

menitiberatkan elemen-elemen<br />

komposisi perletakan seperti<br />

warna, garis, bentuk dan tekstur<br />

daripada kewujudan objek,<br />

konteks, dan isi yang disebut<br />

oleh pengkritik seni di New<br />

York yang berpengaruh iaitu<br />

Clement Greenberg.<br />

10/page<br />

Memastikan tersedia ruang yang sesuai dan<br />

selamat apabila sampai ke lokasi, dengan<br />

tersedia pelapik yang sesuai untuk meletakkan<br />

karya.<br />

Elakkan lokasi pemindahan yang ada cahaya<br />

matahari secara langsung, berdekatan pintu<br />

untuk keluar masuk, berdekatan unit pemanas,<br />

kawasan berisiko tinggi trafik, dan di kawasan<br />

yang tidak selamat dan tidak berjaga.


| JAZMI MOHAMED SHARIF<br />

Bagi karya yang dibalut, adalah penting dibawa<br />

dengan lebih berhati-hati, kerana kita tidak tahu apa<br />

yang kita sentuh. Jika sebarang kerosakan berlaku<br />

ketika proses pemindahan, kumpulkan dengan<br />

berhati–hati dan simpan mana-mana kepingan yang<br />

tanggal walaupun rekahan lapisan cat yang kecil,<br />

dan dokumenkan kerosakan itu. Jika karya itu akan<br />

digantung, kenalpasti alatan untuk gantungan, jenis<br />

dinding dan lokasi ia akan digantung adalah selamat.<br />

KENDALI CATAN DAN KARYA BERBINGKAI<br />

Sebelum mengalihkan sebarang karya:<br />

Periksa dan pastikan tiada bahagian yang hilang<br />

daripada bingkai atau karya-rujuk konservator<br />

jika ragu- ragu.<br />

Periksa dan pastikan karya selamat dalam bingkai;<br />

rujuk konservator jika ragu- ragu.<br />

Jika karya tiada alas belakang, periksa kekuatan<br />

penegang kanvas ( stretcher atau strainer).<br />

Jika karya tiada alas belakang, pastikan dawai untuk<br />

menggantung tidak menyentuh belakang kanvas.<br />

Menurut Greenberg seni moden melalui proses<br />

pengurangan yang progresif dan penghalusan<br />

ke arah yang bertujuan untuk mentakrif dengan<br />

sebenar-benarnya sifat bahantara. Elemanelemen<br />

ini yang akan bertindakbalas terhadap<br />

sifat pengurangan ini. Peranan catan, misalnya<br />

adalah untuk menjelaskan apakah objek catan<br />

itu: apa yang membuatkan ia sebuah catan<br />

dan tiada yang lain. Sifat semulajadi catan iaitu<br />

objek yang rata pada permukaan kanvas yang<br />

diwarnakan dengan pigmen, seperti catan<br />

figura, perspektif ilusi tiga dimensi dan rujukan<br />

terhadap subjek luaran yang kesemuanya<br />

intipati yang mengatakan ia sebuah catan<br />

dibuang. 1<br />

Di Malaysia ia dimainkan oleh generasi kedua<br />

seniman tempatan yang berkelulusan barat<br />

dimana situasi yang sama juga berlaku namun<br />

agak lewat sedikit iaitu pada tahun awal<br />

70-an. Kebanyakan mereka ini pernah mengikuti<br />

pengajian di Maktab Seni Lukis di mana<br />

terdedah kepada suasana baru atau “New<br />

Scene” di mana adalah sebuah gerakan seni<br />

baru yang muncul implikasi daripada sukatan<br />

pelajaran yang diatur berdasarkan aliran<br />

“Bauhaus” iaitu sebuah sekolah seni rekaan<br />

yang terkenal di Jerman yang mengabungkan<br />

pembelajaran antara kraf dan seni halus.<br />

Waspada kendali karya sebegini dengan :<br />

Bawa karya dengan kedudukan orientasi yang betul;<br />

seboleh-bolehnya dengan melintang dan elakkan<br />

kanvas menyentuh tulang belakang penegang.<br />

Jika TERPAKSA memindahkan karya yang mengalami<br />

repih lapisan cat, bawa ia mengadap atas supaya<br />

lapisan itu tidak jatuh.<br />

karya yang b<strong>esa</strong>r perlu dibawa oleh dua orang<br />

disebabkan oleh saiz dan beratnya, atau dibawa<br />

dengan troli yang sesuai.<br />

03<br />

Bauhaus membawa idea penciptaan secara<br />

total dalam karya seni di mana semua cabang<br />

seni termasuklah seni bina di ajar. Stail Bauhaus ini<br />

telah membawa pengaruh yang b<strong>esa</strong>r terhadap<br />

perkembangan dalam seni, seni bina, seni grafik,<br />

seni reka dalaman, seni reka industri dan typografi<br />

yang membina satu p<strong>and</strong>angan yang lebih analisis<br />

dan konstruktif. Ciri-ciri bagaimana melihat atau<br />

pengamatan lebih ditekankan. Pendekatan Bauhaus<br />

ini telah memberi impak serta dipraktikkan oleh<br />

maktab-maktab seni yang terkenal di Engl<strong>and</strong><br />

serta dikembangkan dan diajar sehingga ke hari<br />

ini apabila mereka mengugurkan diploma lama<br />

dengan mengantikan Diploma in Art <strong>and</strong> Design<br />

sebagaimana kursus-kursus yang terdapat di sekolah<br />

seni di Malaysia pada hari ini.<br />

Rombakan b<strong>esa</strong>r yang berlaku dalam sistem<br />

pendidikan di sana terutamanya seni telah<br />

membawa angin perubahan baru kepada<br />

<strong>art</strong>is tempatan yang menerima didikan diluar.<br />

Piyadasa mengatakan “Mata pelajaran seperti<br />

sejarah sosial, falsafah, kesusasteraan dan<br />

sejarah pemikiran mulai diajar buat pertama<br />

kalinya di maktab-maktab ini. Kesemua<br />

perubahan–perubahan ini meninggalkan<br />

k<strong>esa</strong>n yang mendalam ke atas pelukis-pelukis<br />

kita yang menerima pendidikan disana”. 2<br />

Stail Ekspressionisme Abstrak yang<br />

mementingkan aspek dari segi emosi,<br />

perasaan dan sifat individu <strong>art</strong>is mula<br />

ditentang oleh <strong>art</strong>is-<strong>art</strong>is muda ini. Stail seni<br />

antarabangsa atau International Stail mula<br />

Bawa HANYA satu karya pada satu- satu masa.<br />

Bawa dengan keadaan permukaan karya<br />

mengadap orang yang membawanya untuk<br />

perlindungan.<br />

Permukaan yang telah disentuh dengan jemari<br />

walaupun jemari itu bersih, k<strong>esa</strong>nnya tetap akan<br />

kelihatan. K<strong>esa</strong>n akan kelihatan untuk jangkamasa<br />

panjang disebabkan oleh asid, garam dan minyak<br />

daripada jemari. Waspada ia dengan memakai<br />

sarung tangan putih daripada kapas yang bersih;<br />

gunakan sarung tangan getah jika permukaan licin;<br />

peringatan bahawa sarung tangan yang kotor sama<br />

seperti tangan yang kotor.<br />

Jika dikenalpasti bahawa objek atau karya terlalu<br />

berat untuk diangkat tidak selamat dengan memakai<br />

sarung tangan, maka tangan yang bersih mungkin<br />

sesuai sebagai solusi.<br />

MENGENDALIKAN KARYA DENGAN LAPISAN<br />

PELINDUNG (GLAZING)<br />

‘Glazing” di sini merujuk pada kaca atau Perspex<br />

(kepingan akrilik lutsinar, juga disebut Plexiglass)<br />

digunakan dalam sistem pembingkaian untuk catan/<br />

lukisan.<br />

Lapisan pelindung ini perlu dikendali dengan baik<br />

kerana Perspex atau kepingan akrilik mudah calar dan<br />

kaca pula mudah pecah.<br />

Untuk pengangkutan karya yang ada lapisan<br />

pelindung kaca, letakkan pita pelekat hanya pada<br />

permukaan kaca dengan ‘masking tape’ dengan<br />

jarak grid 20cm.<br />

Diingatkan jangan letakkan pita pelekat pada perspek<br />

kerana ia agak susah untuk dtanggalkan.<br />

muncul menolak aliran sebelumnya.<br />

Peralihan inilah yang membawa<br />

kecenderungan yang baru kepada <strong>art</strong>is<br />

untuk mendekatkan diri mereka dengan<br />

pengolahan seni yang lebih idealis seperti<br />

yang dibawa oleh seni Konseptual dan<br />

Minimalis.<br />

Artis-<strong>art</strong>is yang menggelarkan diri mereka<br />

sebagai “New Scene” ini tadi membawa<br />

aliran Seni Konstruktif seperti Redza Piyadasa,<br />

Tan Tuck Kan, Sulaiman Esa, Chong Kam<br />

Kow dan Tan Teong Eng di mana mereka<br />

juga bereaksi terhadap Ekspressionisme<br />

dan Ekspressionisme Abstrak yang bawa<br />

pada awal dan pertengahan tahun 60-an<br />

oleh Syed Ahmad Jamal, Latiff Mohidin,<br />

Yeoh Jin Leng, Ibrahim Hussein, Lee Joo<br />

For dan Cheong Laitong di samping<br />

gerakan Formalisme pengaruh daripada<br />

Lyrical Colourist oleh Ismail Zain dan Jolly<br />

Koh pada akhir 60-an. Pada tahun 1974<br />

koloborasi Redza Piyadasa dan Sulaiman<br />

Esa sekali lagi dalam sebuah pameran<br />

penting dalam pergerkan seni moden<br />

Malaysia iaitu “Toward A Mystical Reality”<br />

yang membangunkan Seni Konseptual<br />

Mistik membuka lorongan baru dalam<br />

pengkaryaannya itu disini.<br />

1 Sol Lewitt, “Paragraphs on Conceptual Art , dalam<br />

Artforum (1967)<br />

2 Redza Piyadasa, Pengolahan Lanskap Tempatan dalam<br />

Seni Moden 1930-1981, Balai Seni Lukis Negara, 1981.


12/page<br />

Saya tertarik untuk mengetahui lebih<br />

lanjut tentang pergerakkan pengkarya-<br />

pengkarya perempuan tempatan yang<br />

mana pada hemat saya, kekangan masa,<br />

tanggungjawab selain berkarya, tidak fokus,<br />

karya bers<strong>and</strong>arkan emosi dan individualistik<br />

selalu menjadi alasan mengapa karya-karya<br />

mereka kurang diambil perhatian.<br />

Apakah perlu untuk setiap karya itu<br />

berbaur universal? Atau sekiranya saya<br />

terlalu menekankan tentang pelukis yang<br />

bers<strong>and</strong>arkan alasan gender, adakah ianya<br />

penting untuk pertumbuhan pengkarya<br />

baru dan mereka adalah cerminan suara<br />

masyarakat dan kekurangan pengkarya<br />

perempuan ini secara tidak langsung<br />

memperlihatkan tiadanya suara lantang<br />

dalam mengetengahkan isu-isu yang<br />

dianggap minoriti. Saya tidak menyimpulkan<br />

kerjaya pengkarya ini adalah sebagai<br />

seorang pejuang hidup, tetapi pengkarya<br />

seni adalah lebih dari menyapu warna<br />

dan menyusun imej. Apakah yang ingin<br />

ditonjolkan selain medium seni dan sejauh<br />

manakah isi suara dari medium ini yang ingin<br />

di perdengarkan dan di kongsi?<br />

Sokongan House Of Matahati (HOM) dalam<br />

mengadakan program residensi sebagai<br />

platform kepada para pelukis muda untuk<br />

membina kerjaya dan berkongsi luahan<br />

karya telah memberi peluang kepada<br />

Anniketyni Madian menyertai program<br />

residensi untuk kali yang ke-9. Program ini<br />

telah bermula pada tahun 2008 lagi dan<br />

untuk setiap pengkarya muda, mereka di<br />

beri tempoh selama 6 bulan untuk berkarya<br />

dan mengadakan pameran setelah tempoh<br />

residensi tamat.<br />

Mendekati karya Anniketyni Madian<br />

membawa saya untuk mengetahui dengan<br />

lebih lanjut tentang p<strong>and</strong>angan dan persepsi<br />

beliau ketika olahan karya dibuat. Karya<br />

beliau yang kebanyakannya adalah susunan<br />

kayu yang berbentuk geometrik dan olahan<br />

ini secara tidak langsung telah membentuk<br />

satu alunan yang lebih organik.<br />

| INTAN RAFIZA<br />

Sekiranya kita melihat karya terdahulu<br />

oleh Dolly unithan, seorang pengarca<br />

perempuan yang menggunakan medium<br />

kayu untuk berkarya beliau pada tahun<br />

1964, koleksi Balai Seni Visual Negara<br />

(BSVN) yang bertajuk 'Pemalu-Shy'<br />

mengingatkan saya tentang k<strong>esa</strong>maan<br />

alunan kayu ini dibentuk secara organic<br />

tetapi kedua-dua pengarca ini mengguna<br />

cara teknikal yang berbeza. Kebiasaan<br />

ukiran kayu untuk membentuk arca<br />

berbeza dengan olahan Anniketyni<br />

yang disusun secara tertib bongkah<br />

kayu. Ulangan susunan secara teratur,<br />

dengan warna dan komposisi yang<br />

minimal membuatkan karya beliau<br />

bergerak dalam satu ruang dan secara<br />

tidak langsung ianya kelihatan seperti<br />

tumbuhan yang menjalar untuk terus<br />

mendominasi.<br />

Pengaruh lanskap dan alam semulajadi<br />

Bumi Kenyalang, Pulau Borneo menjadi<br />

titik tolak Anniketyni Madian yang mana beliau<br />

dilahirkan dan dib<strong>esa</strong>rkan di negeri Sarawak.<br />

Merakam pusaran air antara subjek yang<br />

diangkat untuk menyusun kepingan kayu<br />

mengingatkan semula alam yang pernah<br />

hampir dan telah jauh dari persekitaran<br />

pengkarya sendiri. Atas dasar keprihatinan dan<br />

daya sensitiviti pencinta seni, Anniketyni telah<br />

berkongsi rasa ini dengan penonton dalam<br />

karya-karya beliau.<br />

Mengagumi seorang pengarca kinetik Theo<br />

Jensen dari Bel<strong>and</strong>a yang percaya kepada<br />

unsur seni berhubung rapat dengan unsur<br />

kejuruteraan dalam menghasilkan karya. Selain<br />

daripada itu juga, pengolahan idea yang<br />

memberi penekanan unsur alam dalam karya<br />

Theo Jensen juga membuatkan pengkarya<br />

Anniketyni Madian merasakan kepentingan<br />

hubungkait alam dalam penghasilan karya<br />

Life doesn't always turn out as planned, that's why<br />

some said life is full <strong>of</strong> surprises. Here is a story about<br />

a boy whose ambition was to be an inventor but<br />

unexpectedly became a restless maker <strong>of</strong> images.<br />

Seah Ze Lin, who looks much younger than his age,<br />

used to work in the commercial <strong>art</strong>s industry. He<br />

was the illustrator who did the portrait <strong>of</strong> Stephen<br />

Chow for the movie ‘Kung Fu Hustle’ in 2004 <strong>and</strong><br />

had also illustrated various comic book heroes.<br />

The inventor’s instinct in Ze Lin found that life<br />

to be disagreeable. “Life was boring <strong>and</strong> the<br />

overwhelmingly commercial values sicken me,<br />

like eating tasteless food. It may look beautiful but<br />

it has no soul.” Finally, he decided to “escape to<br />

Birmingham to further his studies”. Since then, his<br />

mission is to delve into the endless search for the<br />

aesthetic through his own way <strong>of</strong> seeing. Life hasn't<br />

change much though, but a change <strong>of</strong> personality<br />

<strong>and</strong> attitude towards living has led to the<br />

underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> the infinite possibilities between<br />

the relationships <strong>of</strong> space <strong>and</strong> subjects.<br />

“I deconstruct <strong>and</strong> rebuild visual relationships when<br />

I draw figures, objects <strong>and</strong> space. This is not to<br />

depict the dismemberment <strong>of</strong> the literal but rather,<br />

to augment the disconnected, anxious tension<br />

between the subject matter themselves, their<br />

bodies <strong>and</strong> their immediate surroundings.”<br />

Ze Lin who works as an <strong>art</strong> lecturer at a private<br />

college is also the resident <strong>art</strong>ist at the House <strong>of</strong><br />

Matahati’s (HOM) Residency. He was <strong>of</strong>fered<br />

the residency in 2011after being selected as a<br />

runner up in the Malaysia Emerging Artist (MEA)<br />

competition in 2009. During the 6 month long<br />

residency, Ze Lin explored the sensations <strong>and</strong> feelings arising from<br />

the brushing <strong>of</strong> paints onto huge canvases. Using a ‘classical’<br />

approach to painting, Ze Lin shapes forms with black outlines<br />

intuitively, culled from what was experienced in daily life,<br />

<strong>and</strong> then erases those experiences with white paints to finally<br />

transforming the whole image, again intuitively into a metaphor.<br />

It’s like pulling a drawer, <strong>and</strong> pushing it back after disposing all <strong>of</strong><br />

its contents.<br />

All throughout the process, Ze Lin doesn’t even pay attention to<br />

his brushstrokes while he paints. He shapes the forms like a blind<br />

man who feels the joys <strong>of</strong> vision through the sense <strong>of</strong> touch.<br />

Instead <strong>of</strong> calling it an act <strong>of</strong> painting, the action is more akin to<br />

molding. He feels the visions. The heavy, short <strong>and</strong> swirling strokes<br />

reminded me <strong>of</strong> Van Gogh,<br />

who rejected objective<br />

representation in favor <strong>of</strong><br />

subjective expression 1 .<br />

The intensity <strong>and</strong> negation<br />

<strong>of</strong> any representational<br />

imagery in the creative<br />

process, which is guided by<br />

his intention <strong>of</strong> erasure seems<br />

more like an affirmation<br />

rather than a rejection.<br />

One <strong>of</strong> his h<strong>and</strong>ful <strong>of</strong> large<br />

scale paintings (12x8ft),<br />

formed by three canvas<br />

panels, entitled ‘Nothing<br />

Happened Here' shows<br />

underneath the white paints<br />

<strong>and</strong> some yellow strokes,<br />

black outlines depicting<br />

perlu dititikberatkan. Manakala dari segi<br />

teknikal pula, pengarca Reuben Heyday<br />

Margolin seorang lagi pengarca kinetik dari<br />

Amerika Syarikat yang menyusun kiub berskala<br />

kecil menjadi bentuk berskala b<strong>esa</strong>r menjadi<br />

rujukan untuk menghasilkan karya beliau.<br />

Selain dari berkarya, Anniketyni Madian juga<br />

adalah individu yang bergerak membantu<br />

dan memberi galakan kepada rakan-rakan<br />

seni yang lain mengadakan pameran seni<br />

secara berkumpulan yang mana penglibatan<br />

ini juga memberi peluang buat beliau<br />

bertukar pendapat dan idea dalam berkarya.<br />

Ketrampilan dalam pelbagai aspek seni visual<br />

sebagai seorang pengkarya muda adalah<br />

satu inisiatif yang positif dalam penglibatan<br />

pergerakan seni visual tanahair.<br />

Semoga semangat dan usaha dalam berkarya<br />

dan berkongsi kreativiti akan terus menyala<br />

buat Anniketyni Madian dan semoga program<br />

residensi beliau kali ini akan menjadi titik<br />

permulaan sebagai seorang pengkarya yang<br />

akan terus melangkah ke persada seni yang<br />

lebih luas pada masa yang akan datang!<br />

| TAN HuI KOON


Seperti yang dijanjikan pada keluaran lepas,<br />

siri terakhir Seni Visual dan Hakcipta (4) akan<br />

menyentuh isu paling kritikal di dalam dunia seni<br />

iaitu isu ‘pelanggaran’ hakcipta. Pengetahuan dan<br />

kesedaran terhadap isu ini di Malaysia (terutamanya<br />

di dalam bidang seni visual) masih dip<strong>and</strong>ang<br />

remeh dan ‘bersahaja’ oleh pengkarya mahupun<br />

khalayak umum. Oleh kerana itu, apabila terjadinya<br />

pelanggaran hakcipta terhadap sesuatu karya,<br />

kebanyakkan pengkarya tidak mengambil langkah<br />

yang sepatutnya untuk membendung perkara<br />

tersebut daripada berleluasa. Pelanggaran hakcipta,<br />

bukan sahaja akan melemah dan melumpuhkan<br />

industri seni tetapi juga mampu menyekat kreativiti<br />

dan idea untuk menghasilkan karya-karya yang baru<br />

bermutu lagi asli. Jika keadaan ini berterusan, paling<br />

minima k<strong>esa</strong>nnya pasti akan menyebabkan industri<br />

seni ‘tersekat’ dan tidak berkembang dengan baik.<br />

Lebih buruk lagi, keadaan ini akan mempengaruhi<br />

generasi muda yang akan datang untuk tidak<br />

menghargai seni warisan budaya mereka sendiri.<br />

Impak pelanggaran hak cipta bukan sekadar terk<strong>esa</strong>n<br />

pada ekonomi, malah turut melibatkan isu sosiobudaya.<br />

Oleh itu, pengkarya seharusnya lebih peka<br />

terhadap isu pelanggaran hakcipta.<br />

Bagi definisi terhadap ‘pelanggaran’ hakcipta 1 ,<strong>and</strong>a<br />

bolehlah merujuk kepada seksyen 36 di bawah Akta<br />

Hakcipta 1987 2 . Terdapat dua jenis pelanggaran<br />

yang diklasifikasikan di dalam CA 1987. Pertama,<br />

adalah pelanggaran secara langsung dan kedua<br />

adalah pelanggaran secara tidak langsung. Definisi<br />

pelanggaran secara langsung diterang di bawah<br />

Seksyen 36 (1) 3 dan harus di baca bersama Seksyen 13<br />

(1) 4 . Setiap perkara yang berlawanan yang terdapat<br />

di bawah Seksyen 13 (1) dan tidak mendapat keizinan<br />

daripada pemilik sah karya 5 adalah diklasifikasikan<br />

sebagai pelanggaran hakcipta menurut Seksyen 36<br />

(1). Pelanggaran hakcipta secara langsung dapat<br />

dibuktikan dengan (1) terdapat persamaan yang<br />

objektif terhadap karya asli dengan karya yang ditiru<br />

(atau yang dikatakan telah mengalami pelanggaran<br />

hakcipta) dan (2) ada seperti suatu keadaan yang<br />

bersebab(causal connection), contoh seperti :<br />

def<strong>and</strong>an mempunyai pengetahuan terlebih dahulu<br />

berkaitan karya tersebut atau keadaan tersebut<br />

terjadi kerana mereka berada di industri yang lebih<br />

kurang sama atau kemungkinan lain karya-karya<br />

tersebut telah ditiru daripada sumber ketiga 6 . Untuk<br />

lebih memahami situasi pelanggaran hak cipta<br />

secara lansung ini <strong>and</strong>a juga boleh membuat rujukan<br />

dengan membaca dua kes sebagai contoh iaitu kes<br />

Longman Malaysia Sdn. Bhd v Pustaka Delta Pelajaran<br />

Sdn. Bhd 7 dan kes Francis Day & Hunter Ltd & Anor v<br />

Bron & Anor 8 .<br />

Bagi definisi untuk pelanggaran hakcipta secara<br />

tidak langsung pula, <strong>and</strong>a bolehlah merujuk kepada<br />

Seksyen 36 (2) 9 di bawah CA 1987. Liabiliti untuk<br />

pelanggaran secara tidak langsung bergantung<br />

kepada seberapa banyak pengetahuan (knowledge)<br />

p<strong>esa</strong>lah terhadap k<strong>esa</strong>lahan yang telah diperlakukan.<br />

Tidak seperti p<strong>esa</strong>lah yang melakukan pelanggaran<br />

secara langsung di mana dua cara seperti yang<br />

dinyatakan dia atas adalah mencukupi untuk<br />

membuktikan bahawa beliau telah melakukan<br />

perbuatan melanggar hakcipta.<br />

a busy <strong>and</strong> lively urban sprawl or cityscape,<br />

suggesting that buildings <strong>and</strong> roads with lamp post<br />

(<strong>and</strong> still many unclear forms) are redundant <strong>and</strong><br />

overwhelming wasteful, a testament <strong>of</strong> poor urban<br />

planning.<br />

Between the subjects <strong>and</strong> spaces, <strong>of</strong> expression<br />

<strong>and</strong> romanticism, the <strong>art</strong>ist appreciates that the<br />

truth <strong>of</strong> beauty is from the pleasure <strong>of</strong> freedom<br />

<strong>and</strong> feelings. From what I recall <strong>of</strong> our dialogue,<br />

Ze Lin, who plucked out from thin air a quote<br />

by renowned British painter Francis Bacon, “The<br />

best p<strong>art</strong> <strong>of</strong> beauty is that which no picture can<br />

express”, truly believes in the process <strong>of</strong> feeling<br />

rather than the act <strong>of</strong> painting.<br />

To Whom It May Concern:<br />

Seah Ze Lin’s exhibition: BEING is open for public<br />

viewing from the 10 November – 19 November<br />

2011 at the House <strong>of</strong> Matahati (HOM).<br />

1 Kleiner, Fred S., Gardner’s Art Through The Ages, 2009, 13th edition,<br />

Thomson, Boston.<br />

| BED SAMAT<br />

Kadangkala, terdapat situasi yang nampak seakanakan<br />

seseorang itu telah melakukan pelanggaran<br />

hakcipta tetapi sebenarnya terdapat pengecualian<br />

dalam situasi tersebut. Pengeculian itu dapat<br />

diberikan, dengan syarat memenuhi ketiga-tiga<br />

elemen seperti berikut. Pertama, pengeluaran semula<br />

karya tersebut adalah kerana sebab-sebab tertentu<br />

(special cases). Kedua, tidak terdapat apa-apa konflik<br />

dalam pengeksploitasian secara normal terhadap<br />

karya tersebut dan ketiga pengeluaran semula karya<br />

tersebut tidak prejudis terhadap hak undang-undang<br />

pencipta karya.<br />

Antara contoh-contoh situasi pelanggaran<br />

hakcipta adalah dibenarkan seperti di dalam<br />

urusan-urusan munasabah seperti penyelidikan<br />

yang tidak berl<strong>and</strong>askan keuntungan (non-pr<strong>of</strong>it),<br />

pengajian persendirian, kritikan, ulasan atau untuk<br />

melaporkan peristiwa-peristiwa semasa. Cara-cara<br />

untuk menentukan sama ada urusan-urusan tersebut<br />

munasabah dan boleh mendapatkan pengecuali<br />

atau tidak, tidak dinyatakan di dalam CA 1987,<br />

tetapi mahkamah akan mengambil kira perkaraperkara<br />

seperti berikut : 1) cara pengubahsuai dan<br />

pelanggaran itu dilakukan 2) mempertimbangkan<br />

sama ada wujud motif yang tidak wajar daripada<br />

pihak def<strong>and</strong>an 3) bahagian karya yang telah<br />

mengalami pelanggaran hakcipta, sama ada<br />

bahagian tersebut digunakan setakat yang<br />

diperlukan 4) melihat kebiasaan budaya dan praktis<br />

industri tersebut 5)wujud di dalam karya yang sudah<br />

diterbitkan atau pun belum di terbitkan. Untuk<br />

pemahaman lanjut sebagai rujukan, <strong>and</strong>a bolehlah<br />

membaca dan mencari kes university <strong>of</strong> London Press<br />

Ltd v university Tutorial Press Ltd 10 dan kes Hyde park<br />

Residence Ltd v Yell<strong>and</strong> & Ors 11 .<br />

Kes-kes yang dinyatakan di atas adalah contoh<br />

untuk memahami lebih lanjut tentang pelanggaran<br />

hakcipta walaupun kes–kes tersebut tidak<br />

memfokuskan khusus dalam bidang seni visual. Faktafakta<br />

dan aplikasi di dalam kes-kes tersebut masih<br />

boleh diguna-pakai sebagai rujukan. Tetapi, masih<br />

terdapat satu kes Malaysia yang boleh di jadikan<br />

sebagai rujukan dan sekaligus boleh dianggap<br />

sebagai ‘precedent’ 12 kes bagi pelanggaran hakcipta<br />

di Malaysia terutama sekali di dalam skop seni visual<br />

Malaysia. Kes tersebut ialah kes Syed Ahmad Jamal 13 v<br />

Dato B<strong>and</strong>ar Kuala Lumpur 14 .<br />

Fakta berkaitan kes ini adalah seperti berikut: Kes ini<br />

melibatkan sebuah arca karya Syed Ahmad Jamal 15<br />

(SAJ) yang berjudul Puncak Purnama (juga dikenali<br />

sebagai Lunar Peaks). Karya ini telah dikomisenkan<br />

kepada beliau oleh UMBC H<strong>art</strong>a Sdn. Bhd pada<br />

tahun 1985 untuk melengkapkan l<strong>and</strong>skap sebuah<br />

taman di tanah kerajaan 16 Kuala Lumpur. Arca<br />

tersebut kemudiannya diserahkan oleh UMBC<br />

kepada penduduk Kuala Lumpur pada 20 November<br />

1986 di bawah tanggungjawab penyelenggaran<br />

diberikan kepada Dewan B<strong>and</strong>araya Kuala Lumpur<br />

(DBKL). Pada tahun 2000, pihak DBKL telah membuat<br />

beberapa perubahan terhadap arca tersebut tanpa<br />

meminta keizinan daripada SAJ. SAJ kemudiannya<br />

telah menulis surat kepada pihak DBKL untuk<br />

mengembalikan arca tersebut kepada bentuk asal<br />

tetapi tidak diendahkan oleh pihak DBKL. Maka,<br />

dengan sebab itu, SAJ memutuskan untuk mengambil<br />

tindakan undang-undang terhadap pihak DBKL 17<br />

menggunakan Seksyen 25 (2) 18 kerana berpendapat<br />

bahawa terdapat pelanggaran hakcipta di dalam<br />

kejadian ini terhadap karya milik beliau.<br />

Makhamah, bagi kes ini telah memutuskan bahawa,<br />

mengikut seksyen 25 (2), pengubahsuaian yang<br />

telah dibuat oleh pihak DBKL adalah dengan ketara<br />

telah mengubah karakter dan semangat Puncak<br />

Purnama sekaligus menghancurkan reka bentuk<br />

dan ketenangan yang diciptakan oleh plaintiff.<br />

Walaupun arca tersebut diubah berdasarkan kepada<br />

bentuk yang sama mengikut keterangan plaintiff,<br />

tetapi pengubahsuaian tersebut telah sama sekali<br />

menghilangkan ‘gaya’ seni beliau terhadap karya<br />

tersebut. Malah, pengubahsuain tersebut juga<br />

seakan-akan menghina reputasi dan kehormatan<br />

beliau sebagai salah seorang pengkarya agung di<br />

Malaysia.<br />

Untuk kejadian ini, mahkamah telah memutuskan<br />

bahawa plaintiff harus diberikan ganti rugi sebanyak<br />

RM750,000.00 dan karya asal beliau harus dibina<br />

kembali mengikut reka bentuk asal oleh pihak<br />

defendan 19 . Kes ini sekaligus telah membuktikan<br />

bahawa setiap hasil seni di Malaysia adalah dilindungi<br />

oleh Akta Hakcipta 1987 (Akta 332), Malaysia.<br />

1 Pelanggaran hakcipta di dalam <strong>art</strong>ikel ini adalah tertumpu kepada<br />

karya-karya yang berkaitan dengan seni visual khususnya tidak termasuk<br />

performance <strong>art</strong> , muzik atau karya-karya seni bukan daripada bidang<br />

seni visual.<br />

2 Selepas ini akan ditulis sebagai CA 1987 (Copyright Act 1987–Act 332),<br />

Regulations & Orders : ILBS.<br />

3 Contoh pelanggaran hakcipta secara langsung (khususnya di dalam<br />

seni visual) adalah seperti: pengeluaran semula karya itu dalam<br />

bentuk apa-apa bahan sekalipun, pengedaran salinan-salinankepada<br />

orang awam melalui penjualan atau pemindahan lain pemilikan dan<br />

penyewaan secara komersial karya itu kepada awam atau apa-apa<br />

yang terdapat berlawanan dengan Seksyen 13(1).<br />

4 Untuk mengetahui lebih lanjut penerangan berkaitan Seksyen 13(1), sila<br />

rujuk kembali Siri Seni Visual dan Hakcipta (3).<br />

5 Untuk penerangan mengenai pencipta dan pemilik sah karya, sila rujuk<br />

kembali Siri Seni Visual dan Hakcipta(2).<br />

6 Untuk penerangan lanjut di dalam memahami topik ini sila rujuk,<br />

Copyright Law in Malaysia (Second Edition) by Pr<strong>of</strong>. Dr. Khaw Lake Tee<br />

– (Chapter Six : Infringement <strong>of</strong> copyright); Malayan Law Journal, Kuala<br />

Lumpur, 2001.<br />

7 [1987] 2 MLJ 359<br />

8 [1963] 1 Ch 587<br />

9 Walau bagaimanapun, hanya Seksyen 36(2) yang menceritakan<br />

tentang pelanggaran hakcipta secara tidak langsung dan tiada seksyen<br />

lain yang memberi penerangan lain berkaitan isu ini. Untuk penerangan<br />

lanjut sila rujuk, Copyright Law in Malaysia (Second Edition) by Pr<strong>of</strong>. Dr.<br />

Khaw Lake Tee–(Chapter Eight : Indirect infringement <strong>of</strong> copyright);<br />

Malayan Law Journal, Kuala Lumpur, 2001.<br />

10 [1916] 2 Ch 601<br />

11 [2000] 3 WLR 215<br />

12 Dalam sistem undang-undang, precedent kes merupakan kes<br />

utama atau kes yang akan dijadikan sebagai satu garis p<strong>and</strong>uan<br />

atau satu prinsip atau kaedah yang ditubuhkan pada mana-mana<br />

undang-undang bahawa mahkamah atau lain-lain badan kehakiman<br />

boleh mengikut keputusan kes tersebut apabila memutuskan kes-kes<br />

seterusnya dengan isu-isu atau fakta-fakta yang serupa. (sumber: http://<br />

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precedent)<br />

13 Syed Ahmad Jamal merupakan seniman agung seni visual tanah air.<br />

Beliau telah kembali ke rahmtullah pada 31 July 2011. Selain daripada<br />

pencapaian yang membanggakan di dalam bidang seni visual<br />

Malaysia, beliau juga merupakan satu-satunya pengkarya seni visual<br />

yang pernah dinobatkan sebagai Sasterawan Negara (kadar waktu<br />

kenyatan ini ialah saat <strong>art</strong>ikel ini ditulis pada tahun Oktober 2011). Untuk<br />

membaca perjalanan seni dan biografi terperinci beliau, bolehlah<br />

merujuk kepada katalog terbitan Balai Seni Lukis Negara yang berjudul<br />

‘Syed Ahmad Jamal : Pelukis’, ISBN : 978-983-3497-43-0<br />

14 [2011] 2 CLJ as decided by Azahar Mohamed J. (Seperti yang telah<br />

diputuskan oleh Y.A Dato’ Azahar Mohamed).<br />

15 Selepas ini akan ditulis sebagai plaintif.<br />

13/page<br />

16 Tempat tersebut juga dikenali sebagai ‘Taman Mini Puncak Purnama<br />

UMBC’ Kuala Lumpur.<br />

17 Selepas ini akan ditulis sebagai defendan.<br />

18 Untuk penerangan berkaitan hak-hak moral seorang pengkarya sila<br />

rujuk Seni Visual dan Hakcipta (3).<br />

19 Kes lain yang boleh digunakan juga sebagai rujukan ialah kes Sehgal v<br />

Union <strong>of</strong> India [2005] FSR 39 (refd)<br />

* Setiap seksyen di dalam <strong>art</strong>ikel ini merujuk kepada Akta Hakcipta<br />

1987 (Akta 332), Malaysia.


Creative individuals who did not have any formal or<br />

academic <strong>art</strong> training are common. In fact, many <strong>of</strong><br />

them have contributed <strong>and</strong> enriched the history <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong><br />

by bringing a vision <strong>of</strong> originality <strong>and</strong> innovative use <strong>of</strong><br />

materials. In Malaysia, even though many <strong>of</strong> our early<br />

<strong>art</strong>ists did not receive formal academic training or only<br />

briefly, their contributions in developing a uniquely<br />

local as well as personal visual vernacular cannot be<br />

underestimated. Some have produced works that we<br />

cannot categorize under the <strong>art</strong> brut, outsider <strong>art</strong> or<br />

even naïve <strong>art</strong> category proper though we do recognize<br />

in their works distinctive traits that separates them from<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essionally trained <strong>art</strong>ists. Their works encourages one<br />

to look at <strong>art</strong> <strong>and</strong> its practices in contemporary times<br />

from different angles <strong>and</strong> approaches. Furthermore,<br />

their non-specialists background <strong>and</strong> their (sometimes)<br />

eccentric expressions also challenged the hegemony<br />

<strong>of</strong> conservative <strong>art</strong> <strong>and</strong> culture specialists’ monopoly<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>ideas</strong> in the field <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong>. Unlike most pr<strong>of</strong>essionally<br />

trained <strong>art</strong>ists, these autodidacts or informally trained<br />

individuals make works out <strong>of</strong> urges or necessities that<br />

mirrors their psychological states <strong>and</strong> social conditions.<br />

It is inseparable with the context from which they create<br />

<strong>and</strong> serves to address/ <strong>of</strong>fset the imbalances <strong>of</strong> inner<br />

turmoil <strong>of</strong> the psyche or as a result <strong>of</strong> freely following their<br />

inner voices. The unmediated expression <strong>of</strong> their impulses<br />

through visual means had produced some <strong>of</strong> the most<br />

st<strong>art</strong>lingly original <strong>and</strong> mindboggling works <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong>. In this<br />

<strong>and</strong> the <strong>art</strong>icles to follow, I will introduce three informally<br />

trained <strong>art</strong>ists to the readers. I hope a brief coverage <strong>of</strong><br />

their background history <strong>and</strong> motivations behind their<br />

labor <strong>of</strong> love will serve as an eye opener <strong>and</strong> inspiration.<br />

By acknowledging <strong>and</strong> celebrating their <strong>art</strong>istry, we also<br />

celebrate our own personal narratives, eccentricities,<br />

dreams, beliefs <strong>and</strong> world views.<br />

14/page<br />

Born in Kuala Lumpur (KL) in 1957, Thangarajoo M.A<br />

Kanniah or Raj as he is affectionately known is no<br />

stranger to the local <strong>art</strong> scene. As a child born in the<br />

year <strong>of</strong> the nation’s independence, the free spirited<br />

Raj left his working class family home to pursue the<br />

<strong>art</strong>ist’s life at the young age <strong>of</strong> eighteen. He was<br />

introduced by Zafaruddin Zainuddin @Apai to Anak<br />

Alam (Children <strong>of</strong> Nature) in 1974. Raj remembers<br />

Mustapha Haji Ibrahim, Mariam Abdullah, Ali<br />

Rahamad @ Mabuha, Osman ‘Volkswagen’, Dzulkifli<br />

Dahlan, Abdul Latiff Mohidin, Wairah Marzuki, Sharifah<br />

Fatimah Zubir, Khalil Ibrahim, Abdul Ghafar Ibrahim,<br />

Siti Zainon, Ismail Hashim <strong>and</strong> a few others as being<br />

the core or active visual <strong>art</strong>ists in the collective<br />

comprised <strong>of</strong> many from different <strong>art</strong>istic disciplines in<br />

the then nascent KL <strong>art</strong>s scene. Anak Alam was an<br />

<strong>of</strong>fshoot <strong>of</strong> the Angkatan Pelukis Semenanjung (APS)<br />

or Peninsula Artist Group headed by the towering<br />

painter <strong>of</strong> representational images <strong>and</strong> portraits,<br />

the late Datuk Mohd Hoessain Enas. While the APS<br />

championed realistic renditions <strong>of</strong> life, Anak Alam<br />

was multi- disciplinary in its approach. Members<br />

were mostly engaged in abstract or Surrealistic <strong>art</strong>,<br />

printing, photography, Malay theater, music (using self<br />

made musical instruments) <strong>and</strong> poetry. Many <strong>of</strong> their<br />

performances were held near Benteng (located near<br />

the small clock tower in KL) University Malaya (UM)<br />

<strong>and</strong> the City Hall Theater (Panggung B<strong>and</strong>araya) in<br />

Kuala Lumpur. The collective was established with the<br />

primary aims <strong>of</strong> creating innovative <strong>art</strong>istic expressions<br />

as well as to promote awareness for the need to<br />

conserve the environment. Group members had a<br />

strong aversion to man’s senseless ravaging <strong>of</strong> nature<br />

<strong>and</strong> believed in a shared vision in which nature <strong>and</strong><br />

man coexist in harmony.<br />

| TAN SEI HON<br />

Even though Raj did not received much formal training<br />

in the <strong>art</strong>s, he became skillful in drawing, painting <strong>and</strong><br />

crafts such as making paper-mache as well as puppetry.<br />

As a Malaysian <strong>art</strong>ist <strong>of</strong> Indian descent, he achieved<br />

many firsts in his 37 years career as a visual <strong>art</strong>ist. He<br />

was the first <strong>and</strong> only Malaysian Indian to win both the<br />

National Art Gallery (now, National Visual Arts Gallery)’s<br />

Young Contemporary’s Award <strong>art</strong> competition in 1984<br />

<strong>and</strong> the Hans Christian Andersen illustration competition<br />

sponsored by the Danish Embassy <strong>and</strong> organized by<br />

the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) later that year.<br />

Raj was also among the first Malaysian-Indian <strong>art</strong>ist to<br />

be honoured with a solo exhibition entitled ‘I <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Universe’ at the National Art Gallery, then located at<br />

its former premise at Jalan Hishamuddin, Kuala Lumpur<br />

in the early1980's. The gist <strong>of</strong> the <strong>ideas</strong> or philosophy<br />

behind his works was formed as a result <strong>of</strong> his near-death<br />

experience when he met an accident at Templar Park,<br />

Selangor. “He experienced a soundless world where his<br />

conscious soul dwelled in unity with the e<strong>art</strong>h, rocks <strong>and</strong><br />

sky. He was a p<strong>art</strong> <strong>of</strong> everything <strong>and</strong> everything was a<br />

p<strong>art</strong> <strong>of</strong> him .The episode changed his life dramatically;<br />

for the first time he saw himself, the universe <strong>and</strong> all<br />

people in it as one.”<br />

(To read more, please visit<br />

http://atomicscape-jootha.blogspot.com)


His many detailed drawings, paintings <strong>and</strong> mixed media<br />

works which he had produced after that incident to his<br />

latest ink on canvas series entitled ‘Atomic Numinosity’<br />

have been a life long continuation <strong>of</strong> Raj’s philosophy<br />

<strong>of</strong> transcending duality to non-duality; the oneness that<br />

pervades everything. (To see more <strong>art</strong>works, please visit<br />

www.flickr.com/photos/thanga4)<br />

Mohd Fadzil Othman was born in Kuala Muda, Kedah in 1943 <strong>and</strong><br />

worked with RTM (Radio Television Malaysia) as a technician right<br />

after completing his secondary education at the Sultan Abdul<br />

Hamid College, Alor Star, Kedah. He has since retired <strong>and</strong> is now<br />

focusing fulltime on his <strong>art</strong>. According to Mohd Fadzil, he had a<br />

good <strong>art</strong> teacher named Pa’ Chooi (Chooi Kok Keong) who not<br />

only taught <strong>and</strong> encouraged him but also showed a lot <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong><br />

books introducing many <strong>art</strong>ists while providing explanations to<br />

their works. “That really touched me, he<strong>art</strong> <strong>and</strong> soul”. Though he<br />

did not pursue a formal <strong>art</strong> education or a career in the visual<br />

<strong>art</strong>s, he continued to create works. Inspired by the works, lives <strong>and</strong><br />

philosophies <strong>of</strong> Van Gogh, Picasso, Leonardo Da Vinci, Salvador<br />

Dali <strong>and</strong> even Buckminster Fuller, as well as local <strong>art</strong>ists namely<br />

Datuk Ibrahim Hussein, Abdul Latiff Mohidin, Datuk Syed Ahmad<br />

Jamal, Sharifah Fatimah Zubir <strong>and</strong> Hasnul Jamal Saidon. All these<br />

<strong>art</strong> figures pushes him to seek <strong>and</strong> develop a distinct <strong>and</strong> personal<br />

style which “until now I am still searching <strong>and</strong> experimenting with<br />

the works, which are different from the ordinary.” The <strong>art</strong>istic<br />

breakthrough finally came when he discovered the Hungarian-<br />

French <strong>art</strong>ist Victor Vasarely (1906-97), widely hailed as the<br />

father <strong>of</strong> Op Art whose works in the 60s <strong>and</strong> 70’s found its way<br />

into popular culture <strong>and</strong> became one <strong>of</strong> its most recognized<br />

representative. Though his current Op <strong>art</strong> works were inspired by<br />

the paintings <strong>of</strong> Vasarely, his <strong>ideas</strong> are based on the aura <strong>of</strong> the<br />

human body as shown through the different colors. “If you are<br />

happy <strong>and</strong> tranquil, colors can be seen surrounding your body<br />

<strong>and</strong> if you are angry <strong>and</strong> moody different colors will be moving<br />

around the body. You can control the emotions through that<br />

aura. The flexibility <strong>and</strong> movement in my work is in relation to<br />

changing something negative to something positive <strong>and</strong> making<br />

it a form <strong>of</strong> creative problem solving.”<br />

It takes Mohd Fadzil days to work out an idea as he<br />

wants to ensure the intended effects using various<br />

combinations <strong>of</strong> unconventional materials such as<br />

winding threads / nylon or screws with drawn lines<br />

on papers, canvas, perspex , wood are correctly<br />

constructed to create the “multiple, psychedelic<br />

lights <strong>and</strong> water effects or mobiles that change<br />

direction <strong>and</strong> shapes if you position your self at<br />

various angles when looking at my works”. Though<br />

his mixed media works are intricate <strong>and</strong> requires<br />

carefully planning beforeh<strong>and</strong>, the process leading<br />

to the completion <strong>of</strong> the final form is loose enough<br />

for him to make alterations or changes as <strong>and</strong> when<br />

new shapes or forms appear together with colours<br />

that adds value to “the whole design <strong>and</strong> to bring it<br />

to the illusion <strong>of</strong> form so that the process is simply a<br />

steady progression till the end”.<br />

(His works brings to mind a little known ‘<strong>art</strong>ist’<br />

whose works were also centered on the energies<br />

emanated from humans <strong>and</strong> minerals, Emma Kunz<br />

(1892-1963). Born in Switzerl<strong>and</strong>, she was recognized<br />

as healer <strong>and</strong> visionary who used the pendulum to<br />

both discover the biodynamic energies as well as<br />

to diagnose diseases <strong>of</strong> the spirit though the legacy<br />

<strong>of</strong> her <strong>art</strong>istry are the detailed drawings <strong>of</strong> aura<br />

energies on large graph papers now collected <strong>and</strong><br />

displayed at the Emma Kunz Centre. For more info,<br />

please visit www.emma-kunz-zentrum.ch )<br />

Vong Nyam Chee or Cheev stumbled onto the<br />

local <strong>art</strong> scene not exactly by choice, but p<strong>art</strong>ly<br />

out <strong>of</strong> necessity as well as to re affirm the reasons<br />

that constitute the meaning <strong>of</strong> his life as he had re<br />

discovered <strong>and</strong> understood anew. Born in Kuala<br />

Lumpur <strong>and</strong> grew up in Cheras, life st<strong>art</strong>ed quite<br />

conventionally for the informally trained sculptor.<br />

Cheev had keen interests in the <strong>art</strong>s <strong>and</strong> was<br />

accepted to a degree program (which he thought<br />

was related to commercial <strong>art</strong>) in a university in the<br />

United States, but due to some misunderst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />

<strong>and</strong> complications, Cheev ended up doing<br />

Communication Arts in the English Dep<strong>art</strong>ment<br />

studying linguistics <strong>and</strong> literature instead <strong>of</strong> design<br />

or advertising! Still, he counted himself fortunate to<br />

have been under the tutelage <strong>of</strong> Ms. Joanne Lattavo,<br />

his tutor for the visual <strong>art</strong>s component which he<br />

took as a minor. She was adamant in ensuring that<br />

Cheev would receive a fine <strong>art</strong>s program covering<br />

<strong>art</strong> history, philosophy <strong>and</strong> techniques. It was not just<br />

geared towards the acquisition <strong>of</strong> technical skills, but<br />

also an appreciation for <strong>ideas</strong> about <strong>art</strong>, beauty <strong>and</strong><br />

life. The implications did not sink in at that time as the<br />

then youthful Cheev was more preoccupied with<br />

pressing financial matters <strong>and</strong> his dreams <strong>of</strong> making it<br />

big in the advertising world once he graduated.<br />

After coming back from the United States some 30<br />

years ago, Cheez worked in various capacities in<br />

the creative industry for two <strong>and</strong> a half decades but<br />

abruptly ab<strong>and</strong>oned the routine (<strong>and</strong> a well paying<br />

job) due to deep dissatisfactions <strong>and</strong> personal raison<br />

d'être. Though he excelled at what he did, he found<br />

the substantial remunerations to be meaningless <strong>and</strong><br />

true satisfaction to be fleeting <strong>and</strong> illusory.<br />

“…I realize that the commercial world did not reflect<br />

the depth <strong>of</strong> creative thoughts but just skimming<br />

the <strong>ideas</strong> <strong>of</strong>f the essence primarily to gain pr<strong>of</strong>its<br />

with no regards for posterity. This bothered me a<br />

lot. The commercial world has no soul. The feelings<br />

<strong>and</strong> rewards were short termed…I wanted to be<br />

recognized for my efforts <strong>and</strong> not just be rewarded in<br />

monetary value. I wanted to be relevant.”<br />

The nagging feeling that there has to be more to<br />

life than just the daily grind for the almighty Ringgit<br />

would lead him back to the lessons taught by his<br />

former <strong>art</strong> tutor. Her wisdom <strong>and</strong> guidance decades<br />

later proved to be the catalyst that pushed Cheev<br />

towards the direction <strong>of</strong> the fine <strong>art</strong>s, which he<br />

plunged into headlong without any expectations<br />

or assurance. Cheev took a 10 year period <strong>of</strong><br />

isolation <strong>of</strong> deep soul searching, recollecting past<br />

experiences <strong>and</strong> a reassessment <strong>of</strong> what they<br />

meant.“I have that urge <strong>and</strong> passion to translate<br />

them into physical interpretations that I can resonate<br />

with since I cannot wind back time. I wondered<br />

about existence <strong>and</strong> my primary conclusion was that<br />

we exist to experience…<strong>and</strong> to experience we must<br />

feel. In whatever consequences the end results were<br />

<strong>and</strong> still are…feelings… <strong>and</strong> their intensities. Having<br />

deduced a philosophy <strong>of</strong> existence, I now utilize that<br />

awareness to reenact the emergence <strong>of</strong> passions I<br />

accumulated.”<br />

Cheev found the perfect vehicle to form or<br />

materialize them as working with 3d materials<br />

came quite naturally. Though he is able to sculpt or<br />

craved the most intricate <strong>of</strong> details <strong>and</strong> forms into<br />

any shapes he desires with ease-as evident from<br />

his earlier smaller figurine pieces-it is his sculptures,<br />

carved <strong>and</strong> assembled from discarded<br />

wood that is most refreshing <strong>and</strong> unique.<br />

The crude <strong>and</strong> feral characteristic <strong>of</strong> each<br />

<strong>of</strong> his sculpture- all assuming the female<br />

form which he reasoned possessed both<br />

sensual <strong>and</strong> dangerous traits that perfectly<br />

embodies the qualities he wished to expressstood<br />

out distinctively when compared with<br />

the works <strong>of</strong> other h<strong>and</strong>ful <strong>of</strong> Malaysian<br />

sculptors working in the field today. His is<br />

a dancing female spiritualist in trance, a<br />

primitive gymnast gyrating, convoluting in<br />

complex yoga-like postures, perpetually in<br />

motion (<strong>and</strong> in heat!). Sensual, savage <strong>and</strong><br />

intense, the works conveys his reactions<br />

to life’s drama <strong>and</strong> his destiny, unscripted,<br />

unrehearsed, but spontaneous <strong>and</strong> intuitive,<br />

never capitulating but with all guns blazing or<br />

in this case, dancing like a hurricane!<br />

(To read more about Cheev, please visit<br />

www. sculpturexxx.blogspot.com)


16/page<br />

“ Our Magic Hour – How Much <strong>of</strong> The World Can We<br />

Know?” merupakan tema untuk Yokohama Triennale 2011.<br />

Festival ini berlangsung dari 6 Ogos hingga 6 November<br />

2011. Secara ringkas, B<strong>and</strong>ar Yokohama adalah sebuah<br />

pelabuhan dunia sejak pembukaannya pada tahun<br />

1859, sebagai langkah pembangunan dan pemodenan<br />

negara Jepun. Yokohama ini dilihat strategik dalam<br />

penganjuran festival kontemporari seperti <strong>triennale</strong> ini.<br />

Festival ini dilihat dapat representasi pemikiran cara baru<br />

dan penerimaan interaksi antara pelbagai bangsa, budaya<br />

dan kepelbagaian nilai. Julung kalinya, Yokohama Triennale<br />

dipentaskan di Yokohama Museum <strong>of</strong> Art sebagai tempat<br />

utama penganjuran dan NYK Waterfront Warehouse<br />

(BankArt Studio NYK) satu lagi lokasi untuk festival ini.<br />

Ianya sebuah bangunan bersejarah yang men<strong>and</strong>akan<br />

Yokohama sebagai sebuah b<strong>and</strong>ar pelabuhan Jepun yang<br />

terpenting serta b<strong>and</strong>ar kelahiran seni fotografi Jepun. Ia<br />

merupakan penganjuran ke empat Yokohama Triennale<br />

setelah permulaan acara ini sejak tahun 2001,<br />

2005 dan 2008.<br />

Tema yang berkaitan dengan unsur misteri, keajaiban dunia<br />

dan kehidupan harian berl<strong>and</strong>askan mitologi, lagenda<br />

dan animisme. Persoalan tentang sains dan teknologi<br />

juga dirungkaikan melalui beberapa karya seniman. Lebih<br />

300 buah karya daripada 77 orang seniman daripada<br />

pelbagai negara terlibat dalam acara Yokohama Triennale<br />

ini. Kepelbagaian genre seni kontemporari daripada<br />

kerja–kerja seniman seperti catan, lukisan, cetakan,<br />

fotografi, seni video, seni instalasi memberi daya tarikan<br />

kepada masyarakat. Penyertaan pengunjung juga dalam<br />

berinteraksi dan berhubung melalui bahan seni yang<br />

dipamerkan memerlukan tafsiran dan kreativiti dalam<br />

menelaah maksud dan intipati karya serta membina<br />

kebudayaan keseniaan baru.<br />

Manakala di BankArt Studio NYK, pengunjung boleh<br />

menikmati kepelbagaian genre dan lebih dinamik. Seni<br />

instalasi, seni video, seni fotografi, arca, catan dengan<br />

kepelbagaian bahan memenuhi ruang bangunan tiga<br />

tingkat ini. Visualnya bebas, dalam perancangan kurator<br />

memastikan keseimbangan kedudukan karya yang dilihat<br />

mempunyai kekuatan tersendiri. Selain l<strong>and</strong>skap luar yang<br />

cantik menanti ketibaan pengunjung untuk datang melihat<br />

Yokohama Triennale di sana. Penulis sempat mengunjungi<br />

Yokohama Triennale 2011 ini, setelah menghadiri<br />

Persidangan Asia Muzium Kurator ke-7 di Japan Foundation,<br />

Jepun pada 27 hingga 29 September 2011 diantara rangka<br />

lawatan yang dianjurkan. Ketibaan kami (kurator yang<br />

terlibat dengan persidangan) di sambut baik oleh Osaka<br />

Eriko, Pengarah Muzium Yokohama Museum <strong>of</strong> Art. Sedikit<br />

penerangan mengenai penganjuran Yokohama Triennale<br />

2011 sebelum bebas menerokai ruang pameran.


Di pintu masuk Yokohama Museum <strong>of</strong> Art tersergam<br />

sebuah arca pelangi yang bertajuk “Our Magic Hour” dan<br />

sebahagian arca seperti imajan figuratif era primitif oleh<br />

ugo Rondinone seniman dari Switzerl<strong>and</strong> yang membarisi<br />

ruang hadapan pintu masuk muzium seolah –olah sebagai<br />

penyambut tetamu untuk Yokohama Triennale 2011 ini.<br />

Menurut Miki Akiko Pengarah Seni, Yokohama Triennale<br />

2011, salah satu aspek yang tersendiri <strong>triennale</strong> tahun ini,<br />

perkara yang tidak dijangka adalah " pertembungan " dan "<br />

mesyuarat " yang menanti pengunjung sepanjang<br />

pameran itu.<br />

Bukan sahaja acara itu termasuk seni penyertaan<br />

(p<strong>art</strong>icipatory <strong>art</strong>), ia membolehkan pengunjung untuk<br />

memulakan perjalanan visual, klasifikasi bebas dan<br />

kategori, di mana tafsiran dan kreativiti baru timbul diantara<br />

konfrontasi, dialog, dan sambungan di antara kerja-kerja dari<br />

tempoh dan pelbagai generasi, budaya latar belakang dan<br />

genre yang berakar umbi dalam pelbagai tema dan konteks.<br />

Selain itu, sebagai Yokohama Museum <strong>of</strong> Art kini telah<br />

menjadi salah satu tempat utama, pengunjung akan dapat<br />

mendekati koleksi dan kemudahan dari perspektif yang baru.<br />

Selain itu satu lagi kawasan di Yokohama Creativecity<br />

Center (YCC), dilancarkan sebagai tapak untuk orang<br />

ramai berkumpul dan bertukar-tukar maklumat, penonton<br />

akan terkejut apabila mendapati rumah hijau, di mana<br />

persembahan muzik untuk tumbuh-tumbuhan akan diadakan.<br />

Di samping itu, kerja-kerja papan iklan boleh dilihat di<br />

sepanjang tepi jalan dan labu, diukir dalam gaya Thai yang<br />

indah, boleh didapati dalam bidang tempatan.<br />

Beberapa karya menarik untuk dikongsi p<strong>and</strong>angan secara<br />

individu di mana kali ini karya seni instalasi, seni penyertaan<br />

dan seni video menjadi tarikan Yokohama Triennale 2011.<br />

Seperti karya “Organi” oleh Massimo B<strong>art</strong>olini sebuah arca<br />

pemasangan terdiri daripada perancah besi (scaffolding)<br />

dari tapak bangunan yang telah dipasang di dalam ruang<br />

pameran. Dari paip perancah, bunyian melodi seperti di gereja<br />

terhasil seperti organ muzik boleh didengar oleh pengunjung.<br />

Mekanisma ini mewujudkan persekitaran yang sebelum ini<br />

tidak diketahui di mana tapak pembinaan, gereja dan muzium<br />

digabungkan dalam satu ruang.<br />

Penggunaan bahan daripada alam semulajadi seperti pasir,<br />

tanah dan tumbuh–tumbuhan juga di bawa masuk ke dalam<br />

ruang kotak putih menerokai ruang pameran oleh beberapa<br />

orang seniman. Henrik Hakansson, seniman dari Sweeden<br />

menghasilkan karya “ Fallen Forest” di mana sekumpulan<br />

pelbagai jenis pokok di jatuhkan ke lantai dalam ruang<br />

pameran dan sebuah lagi karya bertajuk “Tree with Root”<br />

yang membawa isu–isu persekitaran dengan akar pokok<br />

digantungkan di bahagian syiling dan sebahagian tengah<br />

pokok memenuhi ruang tingkat dua dan bahagian pucuk<br />

pokok di ruang tingkat tiga.<br />

| BAKTIAR NAIM<br />

Yokohama Triennale 2011, ini memberi pengalaman dan penerokaan baru<br />

merungkai tema pameran seperti “Our Magic Hour–How Much <strong>of</strong> The World Can<br />

We Know?”. Ia memberi inspirasi berhubung tema-tema magis sebegini dalam<br />

penghasilan karya bersifat kontemporari serta festival ini memberi sumbangan<br />

b<strong>esa</strong>r kepada perkembangan seni kontemporari dunia serta pertumbuhan<br />

ekonomi bagi negara yang menganjurkannya.<br />

Rujukan : Yokohama Triennale 2011 Guidebook


‘RAJA’AH: Art, Idea <strong>and</strong> Creativity <strong>of</strong> Sulaiman Esa [from<br />

1950’s – 2011]’ is a solo showcase <strong>of</strong> works by Sulaiman Esa,<br />

one <strong>of</strong> Malaysia’s most distinguished <strong>art</strong>ists. This exhibition is<br />

meant to give the contemporary public an opportunity to<br />

review the shifts not only in forms but more importantly in<br />

processes, <strong>ideas</strong> <strong>and</strong> contexts that underscores each <strong>and</strong> every<br />

series <strong>of</strong> works created by Sulaiman Esa over a period <strong>of</strong> 50<br />

years. This exhibition is divided into four main p<strong>art</strong>s, the<br />

‘London Era: Before <strong>and</strong> After’ (1950’s-70’s), ‘Towards a<br />

Mystical Reality’ (1974) with the late Redza Piyadsa, the<br />

‘Insyirah’ segment (1980’-2000) <strong>and</strong> ‘The Endangered Garden’<br />

(2011). Their chronological sequence is reflective <strong>of</strong> the<br />

apparent changes in the <strong>art</strong>ist’s ideatic <strong>and</strong> formalistic<br />

tendencies. The term ‘Raja’ah’ means ‘return’, <strong>and</strong> specifically<br />

refers to man’s transition from his worldly <strong>and</strong> existential self to<br />

the spiritual <strong>and</strong> primordial nature.<br />

Below are selected excerpts from his writings <strong>and</strong> an interview<br />

with the curator <strong>of</strong> the exhibition Nur Hanim Khairuddin.<br />

“It is our belief that the strength <strong>of</strong> the Asian <strong>art</strong>ist <strong>of</strong> the past<br />

(especially the Far Eastern <strong>art</strong>ist) lay in his ability to view life <strong>and</strong><br />

reality in terms <strong>of</strong> the meditative <strong>and</strong> the spiritual, The mystical<br />

attitude <strong>of</strong> the eastern <strong>art</strong>ists with its "spiritual" rather than<br />

"intellectual" outlook certainly contrasts with the notion <strong>of</strong> "<strong>art</strong> for<br />

<strong>art</strong>'s sake" that seems to be the fashion these days. Art in the Asian<br />

past was never meant to provide "intellectual entertainment but<br />

rather it aimed at a heightening <strong>of</strong> one's awareness <strong>of</strong> reality <strong>and</strong><br />

helped bring about a spiritual <strong>and</strong> mystical communion with nature<br />

<strong>and</strong> the Universe itself.<br />

As such, there was no dichotomy between <strong>art</strong> <strong>and</strong> life. Again, that<br />

so many major western <strong>art</strong>ists <strong>of</strong> the 20th century have in fact<br />

drawn their inspiration from the mystical philosophies <strong>of</strong> the east<br />

(e.g. John Cage, Yves-Klein, Ad Reinhardt, Tobey, Brecht) certainly<br />

indicates how necessary it is for Asian <strong>art</strong>ists to reconsider their<br />

Asian heritage. The tendency amongst so many creative Asian<br />

<strong>art</strong>istes (be they <strong>art</strong>ists, writers, poets, dramatists, or musicians) to<br />

go on functioning on the basis <strong>of</strong> a "western-centric" aesthetics <strong>and</strong><br />

formalism whilst remaining oblivious <strong>of</strong> their own <strong>art</strong>istic <strong>and</strong><br />

philosophical traditions is certainly indicative <strong>of</strong> a very sad state <strong>of</strong><br />

aairs which prevails all over Asia today !” (pg 15)<br />

Towards a Mystical Reality (1974) a documentation <strong>of</strong> jointly<br />

initiated experiences by redza piyadasa <strong>and</strong> <strong>sulaiman</strong> <strong>esa</strong>. “The Rise <strong>of</strong> Modern Art <strong>and</strong> the Decline<br />

<strong>of</strong> Traditional Art.<br />

From the spiritual perspective, the rise <strong>of</strong> modern <strong>art</strong> evidenced<br />

the process <strong>of</strong> secularization <strong>and</strong> humanization which the psyche<br />

<strong>of</strong> Malay <strong>art</strong>ists had undergone.<br />

Hence, as argued elsewhere, the emergence <strong>and</strong> ascendency <strong>of</strong><br />

modern Malaysian <strong>art</strong> movement such as Realism, Expressionism,<br />

Surrealism, Abstract-Expressionism, Constructivism <strong>and</strong><br />

Conceptual <strong>art</strong> are but manifestations <strong>of</strong> Western cultural <strong>and</strong><br />

intellectual colonization on Malaysian <strong>art</strong> scene. Unlike the<br />

traditional <strong>art</strong>, modern <strong>art</strong> is spiritually debilitating, sociologically<br />

alienating <strong>and</strong> psychologically corrupting. Rather than God-centric,<br />

modern <strong>art</strong> is decidedly man-centric. Instead <strong>of</strong> creating <strong>art</strong> for<br />

spiritual fulfillment <strong>of</strong> community or society, modern <strong>art</strong> is uniquely<br />

aimed at expressing the individualistic <strong>and</strong> idiosyncratic tendencies<br />

<strong>of</strong> an <strong>art</strong>ist. Furthermore, instead <strong>of</strong> contributing towards the<br />

refinement <strong>of</strong> the <strong>art</strong>ist’s soul, modern <strong>art</strong> <strong>of</strong>tentimes created<br />

intriguing characters who take pride in considering themselves as<br />

avant-garde, social rebels, <strong>and</strong> unique cultural heroes.<br />

The irony <strong>of</strong> the Malaysian <strong>art</strong>ists’ involvement with<br />

Western-centric <strong>art</strong> is that, intellectually <strong>and</strong> culturally, the <strong>art</strong>ists<br />

exist in no man’s l<strong>and</strong>.<br />

The late Ismail Zain in his devastating attack on modern Malaysian<br />

<strong>art</strong>ists, (10) considers their involvement essentially as cultural<br />

aberration <strong>and</strong> an anomaly. He linked the state <strong>of</strong> modern<br />

Malaysian <strong>art</strong> to that <strong>of</strong> “Ersatz”, namely the “state <strong>of</strong> being not<br />

quite what it is” –in other words, a state <strong>of</strong> cultural delusion. For<br />

him, the sense <strong>of</strong> inadequacy exhibited by many Malaysian <strong>art</strong>ists<br />

concerning the complex philosophical <strong>and</strong> semiological structures”<br />

that shape <strong>and</strong> determine the various <strong>art</strong> movements renders their<br />

involvement with Western modern <strong>art</strong> movements, highly<br />

questionable!”<br />

The Manifestation <strong>of</strong> Islamic Spirit in Contemporary<br />

Malaysian Art (1993)<br />

“Ap<strong>art</strong> from being spiritually debilitating, modern <strong>art</strong> is also<br />

self-consciously anti-social. Unlike the traditional society, modern<br />

<strong>art</strong> is not creating for the practical or spiritual needs <strong>of</strong> society<br />

instead it functions as vehicle for the expression <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong>ists'<br />

individual feeling <strong>and</strong> <strong>ideas</strong>. It is the concept <strong>of</strong> ‘<strong>art</strong>-for-<strong>art</strong>'s sake’<br />

<strong>and</strong> not ‘<strong>art</strong>-for-society's sake’ that determines the rationale <strong>of</strong><br />

modern <strong>art</strong>. Under the impact <strong>of</strong> formalist theories, <strong>art</strong> assumes<br />

the status <strong>of</strong> an independent, autonomous, self-referential entity.<br />

This, inevitably further exacerbates the alienation between<br />

<strong>art</strong> <strong>and</strong> society.<br />

The intelligibility <strong>and</strong> communicability <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong> suer when it<br />

concerns itself primary with formalistic, aesthetic <strong>and</strong> plastic<br />

problems, <strong>and</strong> is impervious to the material, cultural <strong>and</strong> spiritual<br />

needs <strong>of</strong> the society. Unquestionably, it is the self-image, attitude<br />

<strong>and</strong> posture <strong>of</strong> the modern <strong>art</strong>ists that betrays his essentially<br />

antagonistic relationship towards society. Nurtured by the romantic<br />

notion <strong>of</strong> his own uniqueness, the <strong>art</strong>ist assumes various labels<br />

such as cultural hero, social rebel, genius, <strong>and</strong> "avant-garde". Even<br />

the lifestyle that he leads reflects his anti-establishment stance.<br />

Living on the fringes <strong>of</strong> society, he usually leads the life <strong>of</strong> the<br />

bohemian, <strong>and</strong> an outsider, who is excessively ill-at-ease with the<br />

common people.”<br />

Form <strong>and</strong> Soul:The Continuity <strong>of</strong> Tradition on Contemporary<br />

Malaysian Arts (1993)


AND<br />

“There are two resolutions proposed by the Congress which proved to<br />

be most propitious. First, to restore the role <strong>and</strong> status <strong>of</strong> Malay<br />

indigenous <strong>and</strong> traditional <strong>art</strong> forms <strong>and</strong> elements as vital component in<br />

the formation <strong>of</strong> Malaysian culture. Second, to sanctify Islam as crucial<br />

element in Malaysian cultural development.<br />

That the national Congress was sponsored by the ruling government in its<br />

attempt to harness the power <strong>of</strong> culture in fostering unity <strong>and</strong> social<br />

integration among the multi-racial society <strong>of</strong> Malaysian, is a significant fact.<br />

But what is equally important is the recognition given by the Malaysian<br />

government <strong>of</strong> the indispensible role which Islam in the life <strong>and</strong> culture <strong>of</strong><br />

the people. Given the peripheral position relegated to Islam during the<br />

period <strong>of</strong> British colonization, the privileged position <strong>and</strong> recognition that<br />

it now achieved, augurs a greater role that Islam is to occupy in the<br />

decades that follow. In this context, the global phenomenon <strong>of</strong> Islamic<br />

resurgent in the 70’s was most propitious in that it provided the driving<br />

force that inevitably led to process <strong>of</strong> religious <strong>and</strong> spiritual revitalization<br />

in the lives <strong>of</strong> post-Independent Malaysians”.<br />

The Manifestation <strong>of</strong> Islamic Spirit in Contemporary<br />

Malaysia Art (1993)<br />

“There were also Chomsky’s “Imperial Ambitions”, Zaiuddin Sardar’s<br />

“Barbaric Others,” Farish Noor’s “Terrorizing the Truth” <strong>and</strong> many<br />

other books that have unmasked the real truth <strong>of</strong> America’s sinister<br />

<strong>and</strong> disquieting plan to rule the world! So, one should not read the<br />

tragic incident <strong>of</strong> September 11 based on the superficial<br />

interpretations <strong>of</strong> the AFP who accused Muslims as the evil forces<br />

behind the catastrophe. This accusations <strong>of</strong> br<strong>and</strong>ing the Muslims as<br />

terrorists which ultimately led to Islamophobia, was actually p<strong>art</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

their Policy to ensure that Islam should be dealt with <strong>and</strong> eventually<br />

eliminated as what they have done to Russia. Thus all the horrific<br />

tragedies inflicted in Muslim countries; killings, bombings <strong>of</strong> Iraq,<br />

Afghanistan, <strong>and</strong> Pakistan are manifestations <strong>of</strong> the Policy’s sinister<br />

gr<strong>and</strong> global ambitions. My anti AFP stunts st<strong>art</strong>ed not with the<br />

coming <strong>of</strong> Sept 11 but I have made my drawings as early as in ‘62 in<br />

London. I was involved with this student movement protest at the<br />

American Embassy because <strong>of</strong> the Vietnam War. We were a very<br />

radical group. In ‘68, I was in Paris, involved again in this Vietnam<br />

War protest <strong>and</strong> was even put in jail for one night because I was<br />

wrongly thought <strong>of</strong> as a rebel. In fact I was only taking photographs<br />

but the oshoot <strong>of</strong> it; I made a lot <strong>of</strong> drawings <strong>and</strong> painting <strong>of</strong> this<br />

experience. To me the metamorphosis is not new but it went back<br />

as early as in ‘62. So when I came back <strong>and</strong> did it again, but the<br />

intensity now is much greater because I was talking about Islam<br />

against the AFP, about Islamophobia. Because <strong>of</strong> this false creation <strong>of</strong><br />

a myth by the West, it had to be rightly addressed.<br />

So my work is trying to reverse the whole idea. You see, we are the<br />

victims, not the aggressors.<br />

Essentially, my ‘The Endangered Gardens’ series was simply a<br />

socio-political critic or comment about the hypocrisy, the double<br />

st<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>of</strong> the Policy in which I tried to visually interpret<br />

the global American cultural idealism as a threat to<br />

God-fearing peoples.<br />

19/page<br />

The violent, aggressive, beautiful, seductive, <strong>and</strong> destructive<br />

icons <strong>of</strong> the American psyche as expressed in their<br />

Superheroes, Captain America, Batman, Catwoman,<br />

Madonna, the statue <strong>of</strong> Liberty with wings, symbolizing the<br />

angels <strong>of</strong> death <strong>and</strong> D<strong>art</strong>h Vader embodying dark evil forces,<br />

etc. as metaphorical elements in their pursuit to displace our<br />

spiritual beliefs be it Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or those<br />

belonging to the indigenous societies <strong>of</strong> the country. In other<br />

words, ‘The Endangered Garden’ was to addressed<br />

God-fearing people, the Muslims <strong>and</strong> non-Muslims alike, to<br />

be weary <strong>of</strong> the subversive Western cultural hegemony <strong>and</strong><br />

to not easily imbibe values that are detrimental to our<br />

religious <strong>and</strong> cultural traditions”.<br />

[This interview between Sulaiman Esa <strong>and</strong> the<br />

curator Nur Hanim Khairuddin was conducted on<br />

June 12, 2011 in Shah Alam]


Penggunaan bahantara cat air antara medium<br />

tertua dalam sejarah seni lukis. Tetapi di Malaysia<br />

lukisan cat air agak tersisih daripada sebarang bicara.<br />

Ini menjadikan kolektor seni tidak berminat untuk<br />

membeli lukisan cat air sebagai himpunan koleksinya.<br />

Lulusan universiti dalam negeri akan mencebih bibir<br />

apabila ada rakan-rakannya yang ingin meneruskan<br />

berkarya dengan menggunakan medium cat air.<br />

Apatah lagi seniman perupa yang terdidik dalam<br />

tradisi Barat, biasanya akanlah lebih-lebih lagi<br />

mencemuhnya, seolah-olah dia sendiri sebagai<br />

pelancong Barat yang singgah bersiar-siar<br />

di Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Semasa hayatnya, Rahime Harun melalui A.P. Art<br />

Gallery miliknya bersama Pusat Kebudayaan Universiti<br />

Malaya pernah menganjurkan pameran Ide Dan<br />

Kreativiti Melayu pada 13-27 Disember 1997. Dalam<br />

katalog pemeran tersebut, Rahime Harun menulis:<br />

“Jumlah koleksi lukisan cat air dalam koleksi BSLN<br />

sehingga 1992 ialah 215 karya sahaja, sungguhpun<br />

tradisi catan cat air mempunyai keaktifan yang tinggi.<br />

Usaha untuk meningkat koleksi cat air telah diabaikan<br />

berb<strong>and</strong>ing dengan media yang lain. Jika diperhitung<br />

dari rasio koleksi cat air, ia merupakan hanya 10<br />

peratus dari jumlah koleksi BSLN. Koleksi pelukis cat air<br />

Melayu jelas amat sedikit dalam koleksi negara. Untuk<br />

pengetahuan umum, koleksi seni lukis oleh pelukis<br />

Melayu ialah 24 peratus daripada seluruhan koleksi<br />

BSLN, menurut kajian yang dilakukan pada<br />

tahun 1992.”<br />

Tulisan Rahime Harun merujuk kepada kajian tahun<br />

1992, sekarang sudah 2011 dan akan masuk 2012.<br />

Barangkali hal itu sudah berubah. Lukisan cat air<br />

Melayu barangkali telah banyak berubah dan jumlah<br />

peratus pelukis Melayu pun telah banyak bertambah.<br />

Moga-moga! Sayanglah kan, kalau pelukis cat air<br />

terbaik negara seperti Mansor Ghazalli, Mohd. Zain<br />

Idris dan Mokhtar Ishak tidak ada dalam koleksi<br />

negara. Seperti sedia maklum, Abdullah Ariff, A.B.<br />

Ibrahim, A.J.Rahman, Mansor Ghazalli dan Mohd Zain<br />

Idris semuanya sudah kembali ke alam arwah. Yang<br />

tinggal hanya karya-karya mereka.<br />

Muzium Kedah pernah<br />

menerbitkan sebuah<br />

katalog pameran lukisan<br />

A.B. Ibrahim yang diadakan<br />

pada 5 Januari 1993. Menarik<br />

apabila hampir 100 buah<br />

karya A.B. Ibrahim seorang<br />

pelukis cat air Melayu yang<br />

bergantung hidup sepenuhnya<br />

pada lukisan karyanya berjaya<br />

dikumpulkan. Ismail Hj Salleh telah<br />

menuliskan esei pendek tentang<br />

A.B.Ibrahim dalam katalog<br />

pameran itu.<br />

Walapun pendek tetapi<br />

banyak informasi yang<br />

perlu diketahui oleh<br />

peminat dan khalayak<br />

seni lukis Malaysia.<br />

Tulisnya: “Balai Seni<br />

Negara mempunyai<br />

12 buah karyanya dan Balai Seni Negeri Kedah<br />

mempunyai 9 buah”. Tetapi apabila saya meneliti<br />

Inventori Himpunan Tetap Warisan Seni Tampak<br />

Negara 1958-2003 (tanpa tahun terbit) jumlah koleksi<br />

A.B.Ibrahim yang terdapat dalam koleksi negara<br />

hanya empat buah sahaja dengan judul karya<br />

Kota Melaka(1952, cat minyak), Alam Benda(1953,<br />

cat minyak), Pem<strong>and</strong>angan(1940, cat air) dan<br />

Potrait Ibu Tua(1940, cat air). Lukisan Pem<strong>and</strong>angan<br />

kemudiannya diistiharkan sebagai Warisan Negara<br />

pada tahun 2009. Kalaulah benar tarikh 1940<br />

terhasilnya Pem<strong>and</strong>angan dan Potrait Ibu Tua, A.B.<br />

Ibrahim menghasilkan dua karyanya yang menjadi<br />

koleksi negara ketika usianya baru 15 tahun. Ini<br />

mengambil kira tahun kelahirannya pada 1925.<br />

Di s<strong>esa</strong>wang tertentu terdapat tawaran harga<br />

karya lukisannya yang telah mencecah RM6000<br />

untuk sebuah lukisan cat air bersaiz biasa.<br />

Beberapa foto yang menawarkan karyanya di<br />

internet juga memaparkan beberapa karya yang<br />

ditiru daripada gayanya.<br />

Kemudian daripada Haji Alias Mohd. Samah,<br />

dapat diketahui yang arwah bapanya<br />

merupakan penjual lukisan A.B. Ibrahim masih<br />

menyimpan karya-karya lama arwah. Daripada<br />

makluman Haji Alias, beliau telah menjualkan<br />

kesemua lukisan A.B. Ibrahim dalam simpanannya<br />

kepada BSLN dengan harga RM2,100 sebuah<br />

dengan jumlah 60 buah. BSLN mengambil<br />

semua sekali dengan meja tempat A.B. Ibrahim<br />

melukis termasuk berus dan pellet yang pernah<br />

digunakan oleh pelukis itu. BSLN telah mengambil<br />

tindakan yang tepat dengan memborong<br />

kesemua karya A.B. Ibrahim.<br />

Selepas zaman Yong Mun Sen dan Abdullah<br />

Ariff, A.B. Ibrahim dan teman-temannya yang<br />

dikenali sebagai “Pelukis Tiga Serangkai” (A.B.<br />

Ibrahim, A.J. Rahman dan Saidin Yahaya)<br />

merupakan penerusan kepada seni lukis cat air<br />

pada zamannya. Menarik apabila mereka bertiga<br />

berjaya membuka<br />

20/page<br />

| RAHIMIDIN ZAHARI<br />

A.B. Ibrahim @ Ibrahim Abu Bakar / Potrait Ibu Tua / 1940/Cat air / 73 x 63 cm<br />

/ Koleksi Himpunan Tetap Negara<br />

"Warna Art Studio” pada 1 April 1946 di Pekan Rabu, Alor<br />

Setar. Dua adik A.B. Ibrahim, iaitu A.B. Hassan (yang juga<br />

menggunakan nama A. Aziz atas sebab-sebab tertentu)<br />

dan A.B. Kechik mengikuti jejak langkah abangnya melukis<br />

dengan menggunakan medium yang sama.<br />

Karya cat air A.B. Ibrahim merakam suasana alam<br />

kampung, sawah padi, rumah beratap rumbia, tepi<br />

laut, kerbau di sawah dan pelbagai subjek yang tidak<br />

mungkin kita temui lagi hari ini. Karyanya telah menjadi<br />

perakam zaman yang akan kekal. Kita akan terpegun<br />

amat dengan rumah berlangsir merah di bawah redup<br />

pohonan kelapa. Sapuan cat air dibiarkan putih di dinding<br />

rumah yang terkena cahaya matahari. Begitu juga dengan<br />

batang kelapa yang dibiarkan dengan kertas putih yang<br />

asal. Di belakang rumah sepohon hijau yang merimbun<br />

meneduhkan p<strong>and</strong>angan. Tiga ekor ayam sedang<br />

mematuk-matuk mencari makan. Entahlah pula dengan<br />

lelaki berbaju merah yang meng<strong>and</strong>ar jualan itu. Apalah<br />

dia sedang menuju ke halaman untuk menjualnya atau<br />

pun membawa pulang hasil dapatannya pada hari itu.<br />

Langit pula dicat biru kekukingan lembut, jernih dan indah.<br />

Di tangga depan yang tidak kelihatan, belum tentu tuan<br />

rumah akanmembeli hasil jualan.<br />

Kita percaya dalam waktu terdekat karya-karya lukisan<br />

cat air A.B Ibrahim, A.J. Rahman dan teman-teman yang<br />

seangkatan dengannya yang manis dan syahdu itu akan<br />

menjadi buruan kolektor yang serius dan yang benar-benar<br />

memahami erti seni. Nostalgia silam seolah-olah hidup di<br />

dalam sejumlah karya mereka.<br />

OMBAK BESAR’ 1950-1970 an, Cat air atas kertas, 38 x 28 cm


SHE knew every whorl <strong>of</strong> flowers, every blade <strong>of</strong><br />

plants <strong>and</strong> herbs - the shape <strong>and</strong> textures <strong>of</strong> the<br />

leaves. She recognised the scent, even the bees <strong>and</strong><br />

the birds that carried out the rites <strong>of</strong> nature in her<br />

garden. Even when weak, with her plodding gait, she<br />

would hobble around <strong>and</strong> tend to her garden with<br />

the same loving care <strong>and</strong> devotion she brought up<br />

her three children-one, a son (Richard), since dead.<br />

Wong Siew Inn had sacrificed her love <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong>, which<br />

could well have been a career early on, but the war-<br />

Japanese Occupation-<strong>and</strong> her concentration on<br />

raising her family took precedence. She was a nurse<br />

(from 1942 to 1948, more or less during the War years)<br />

<strong>and</strong> then a school-teacher. When she retired <strong>and</strong><br />

her children were grown up, she went back to her<br />

“other love” with a vengeance. She even enlisted<br />

for the non-graduate course in Fine Arts (Painting,<br />

Printmaking <strong>and</strong> Sculpture) at the Universiti Sains<br />

Malaysia from 1988 to 1990.<br />

Naturally, her main theme was flower paintings. Her<br />

still-lifes on “canvas”-she painted in watercolours <strong>and</strong><br />

gouache-are an alternative garden from the one<br />

that she nurtured together with Nature. She had such<br />

green fingers that anything that scarcely remained<br />

<strong>of</strong> a few tendrils <strong>of</strong> roots would sprout merrily in her<br />

garden like a songfest. Her flowers are thus lively,<br />

vivacious even, fresh in colours <strong>and</strong> hues <strong>and</strong> with all<br />

the delicate lines or more robust bulbous supports,<br />

in an origami <strong>of</strong> stalks <strong>and</strong> leaves <strong>and</strong> amidst other<br />

flowers with different colours <strong>and</strong> patterns.<br />

(1924-2011)<br />

African Daisies, Calla Lilies, Gladiolis, Red Canna Lilies,<br />

White Lilies, Marigolds, V<strong>and</strong>a Orchids, Heliconias,<br />

Dahlias, Gloxinias, Phalaenopsis, Oncidium, V<strong>and</strong>a<br />

Hookeriana, Pidgeon Orchids, Sunflowers, Red Lilies,<br />

Purple Hibiscus, Hibiscus Mutabilis, Chrysanthemums,<br />

Magnolia, Green Anthuriums, Clitoria Ternatea<br />

(Blue Pea), the Changeable Rose Hibiscus (‘Pak<br />

Bor Hua’, in Hokkien), Purple Cattleya, Calla Lilies,<br />

Frangipanis, Peacock’s Pride, White Azaleas,<br />

Carnations, Caladiums, Spider Lilies (once done by<br />

her mentor Peter Harris in a surrealist watercolours ),<br />

Oncidium,Llileums, Baby’s Breath…,<br />

Madam Wong, as she was called, had painted them<br />

all, remembering their names-even scientific ones<br />

(occasionally, she was invited to write <strong>art</strong>icles for<br />

gardening magazines), their colours <strong>and</strong> changes, the<br />

splotches <strong>and</strong> patterns, the pistils <strong>and</strong> stamens. On<br />

painting the Cheangeable Rose Hibiscus, she advised:<br />

“One has to be very quick in painting this, because <strong>of</strong><br />

the colour changes <strong>of</strong> this flower which is related to<br />

the Bunga Raya but which originated from China.”<br />

21/page<br />

“I seek solace in my garden <strong>of</strong> live bunga rayas <strong>and</strong><br />

the visiting sunbirds,” she had told me once.<br />

She put <strong>of</strong>f a (right-eye) cataract operation until after<br />

her third 'Flower Power' show at the Penang State Art<br />

Gallery from May 15-27, 1999. Immediately after her<br />

eye operation, when she painted, she noticed that<br />

her Cannas Red <strong>and</strong> Yellow (1998) lacked the usual<br />

details. She credited Tan Gek Khean (Mrs Tay Hooi<br />

Keat, later Datin), for lighting the spark <strong>of</strong> her <strong>art</strong>istic<br />

inclinations, when she asked her to do bookmarks,<br />

at the Anglo-Chinese School (now Methodist Girls<br />

School) in 1938. She (Mrs Tay) was her Form 5 Literature<br />

teacher, <strong>and</strong> Madam Wong went on to do 100<br />

bookmarks with drawings <strong>of</strong> flowers. Such was her<br />

zeal for <strong>art</strong> that being more headstrong than prudent,<br />

she went ahead to sit for her last paper on Art for<br />

her Senior Cambridge examination in Penang in<br />

1941. War had broken out <strong>and</strong> the Japanese had<br />

swept the streets <strong>and</strong> burnt homes <strong>and</strong> buildings.<br />

She realised how foolhardy she had been when she<br />

saw the carnage when cycling back from school<br />

along Kelawei Road, but luckily she got back to<br />

safety. After completing her studies, she taught at the<br />

Convent <strong>of</strong> Holy Infant Jesus in Kedah <strong>and</strong> later its<br />

Penang chapter, before teaching Art at the Sekolah<br />

Menengah Greenlane Convent until her re<br />

tirement in 1979.<br />

She was among four women in a pioneer batch from<br />

Penang including Grace Selvanayagam selected by<br />

Peter Harris, then the Art Superintendent, to undergo<br />

a one-year course in <strong>art</strong> <strong>and</strong> crafts at the Specialists<br />

Teachers Training Institute in Kuala Lumpur in 1960.<br />

Naturally, she joined the Wednesday Art Group<br />

founded by Peter Harris. Another person whom she<br />

credited for inspiring her directly was May Liang, the<br />

late wife <strong>of</strong> batik-<strong>art</strong>/watercolour maestro Tay Mo-<br />

Leong, now a Dato. She was also later inspired by the<br />

more sensuous flower paintings <strong>of</strong> Georgia O’Keefe.<br />

Fong Chee Kway, her husb<strong>and</strong> who is two years<br />

older than her, observed <strong>and</strong> commented when I<br />

visited her in her house about a year ago (but she<br />

was admitted to hospital for a he<strong>art</strong> ailment): “There<br />

are more contrast in her works, <strong>and</strong> yet they appear<br />

| OOI KOK CHuEN<br />

so harmonious.” He said that although she could<br />

not paint for sometime then, she had had a bout<br />

<strong>of</strong> painting frenzy for about three months. Perhaps<br />

what struck people most about Madam Wong was<br />

not so much her paintings, good as they are, as her<br />

passion <strong>and</strong> spirit which was infectious <strong>and</strong> even<br />

child-like. Hers was an impulse that was pure in mind<br />

<strong>and</strong> he<strong>art</strong>. She would take trips on buses <strong>and</strong> once<br />

even on train to Kuala Lumpur, to see <strong>art</strong> exhibitions<br />

which she happened to learn about from the daily<br />

newspapers, despite her feeble condition, <strong>and</strong> this<br />

“sudden” habit <strong>of</strong> hers would get May-li, her daughter<br />

in Kuala Lumpur, greatly agitated. GaleriCitra assistant<br />

Ivy Chua remembered her: “She used to travel by bus<br />

to KL just to attend exhibitions by GaleriCitra <strong>and</strong> other<br />

galleries. Within that tiny frame <strong>of</strong> hers burns a fierce<br />

flame <strong>of</strong> self-determination <strong>and</strong> dedication to her<br />

craft. I salute her feisty spirit.”<br />

Although she put up her works every now <strong>and</strong> then<br />

<strong>and</strong> joined group exhibitions such as women’s-only<br />

exhibitions <strong>and</strong> the Penang Teachers’ Art Circle’s<br />

since 1965, it was not until July 1993 that she held her<br />

first solo, at the Conservatory <strong>of</strong> Fine Arts (Artville),<br />

called Flower Power. This was followed by another<br />

in September that year, at the National Art Gallery’s<br />

Creative Centre, which was <strong>of</strong>ficiated by Datin Seri<br />

Endon Dato Mahmood, wife <strong>of</strong> the then Finance<br />

Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, now<br />

Tun. Madam Wong had also held joint shows with<br />

her friends Grace Choon Ai May (at the Alliance<br />

Francaise) <strong>and</strong> Oon Suan See (1991).<br />

According to her second son, Michael Fong, Madam<br />

Wong had survived a he<strong>art</strong> operation but her other<br />

organs could not hold out, <strong>and</strong> she died peacefully.<br />

Like life, flowers are ephemeral. Here today <strong>and</strong><br />

gone tomorrow, leaving only the scent <strong>of</strong> their<br />

presence. Madam Wong took a maternal instinct to<br />

the things she grew in her garden. She would even<br />

get worried when a p<strong>art</strong>icular bird didn’t patronise her<br />

garden anymore. “I like flowers, even weeds <strong>and</strong> wild<br />

flowers. I like growing plants <strong>and</strong> trees <strong>and</strong> watching<br />

them grow. I try to record their beauty, <strong>and</strong> my joy in<br />

them forever.” Like her flowers, the sweet scent <strong>of</strong> her<br />

passion for her <strong>art</strong> <strong>and</strong> her <strong>art</strong> itself, will remain forever<br />

in her paintings. R.I.P., Madam Wong!<br />

Wong Siew Inn was born in Penang on Sept 27, 1924<br />

<strong>and</strong> died on Aug 3, 2011.


'Pulsing'<br />

'Shadow people'<br />

22/page<br />

'Shock'<br />

Question: "When is <strong>art</strong> not valued for it’s aesthetic beauty,<br />

technical prowess, photo realism or political message,<br />

not an investment opportunity or statement <strong>of</strong> affluence,<br />

not decorative, designed to communicate concepts or<br />

to sell something to a wider audience <strong>and</strong> is created for<br />

only limited private viewing?"<br />

Answer: When it is <strong>art</strong> therapy.<br />

Almost everyone would agree that the process <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong><br />

making can feel therapeutic, but fewer underst<strong>and</strong><br />

that how we feel while we are making <strong>art</strong> is only a small<br />

p<strong>art</strong> <strong>of</strong> the therapy. Within an <strong>art</strong> therapy session there<br />

are many things going on simultaneously that combine<br />

to create a therapeutic relationship between client,<br />

therapist <strong>and</strong> images.<br />

The classical idea <strong>of</strong> traditional psychotherapist <strong>and</strong><br />

client (<strong>of</strong>ten depicted lying on a couch) is <strong>of</strong>ten a<br />

summary <strong>of</strong> common knowledge in our region about<br />

psychotherapy. While most people with no personal<br />

experience <strong>of</strong> therapy feel unfamiliarity from this subject,<br />

some treat it with frank suspicion <strong>and</strong> others undergo a<br />

process <strong>of</strong> distancing themselves further from a subject<br />

they are uncomfortable about by joking about it.<br />

So let’s demystify things a little.<br />

I’m sure that if you are reading Senikini you are already<br />

somewhere on a scale between ‘I am comfortable<br />

with’ <strong>and</strong> ‘ I have expertise in’ underst<strong>and</strong>ing the many<br />

languages <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong>. Now apply this knowledge <strong>and</strong><br />

underst<strong>and</strong>ing to the fact that 80% <strong>of</strong> our thinking is<br />

actually unconscious but can be expressed succinctly<br />

through <strong>art</strong> making. Then add to this, the knowledge<br />

that most <strong>of</strong> us struggle from time to time with personal<br />

emotional issues <strong>and</strong> the opportunity that <strong>art</strong> <strong>of</strong>fers us<br />

to underst<strong>and</strong> these from a conscious <strong>and</strong> unconscious<br />

level at the same time. The final ingredient is the trained<br />

<strong>art</strong> therapist who knows how to help people work<br />

sensitively with all <strong>of</strong> this material, make sense <strong>of</strong> it <strong>and</strong><br />

move forward. The end result is a more holistic <strong>and</strong><br />

insightful view <strong>of</strong> any internal struggle.<br />

Art therapy is not about creating images, as much as<br />

finding ways to express what is inside us, <strong>and</strong> exploring<br />

this once it becomes externalized. Hence it’s not about<br />

making figurative images to depict a story, but expressing<br />

the feelings evoked by it. The therapy takes place in<br />

both the process <strong>and</strong> the product. Although working<br />

directly with a therapist, there is an inherent privacy within<br />

<strong>art</strong> therapy, as the feelings are contained in the image<br />

<strong>and</strong> not necessarily spoken about. An <strong>art</strong> therapist<br />

helps clients express <strong>and</strong> work through these feelings in<br />

a way that <strong>of</strong>ten helps them feel less vulnerable than<br />

direct discussion. Modern knowledge <strong>of</strong> how emotions<br />

are processed in our right hemisphere, while the left<br />

is more language driven, helps us appreciate the<br />

fluency <strong>of</strong> visual <strong>art</strong>s in depicting feelings. Art is simply<br />

a more powerful language than words. For this reason<br />

images created in <strong>art</strong> therapy sessions are private <strong>and</strong><br />

seldom appropriate for display. They contain intensely<br />

personal feelings that in many cases the client prefers<br />

to leave behind with the therapist.<br />

Art therapy can be appropriate for almost anyone<br />

who wishes to work through personal issues. It is<br />

regularly used pr<strong>of</strong>essionally in health, education <strong>and</strong><br />

social work settings with many different client groups<br />

to address a range <strong>of</strong> varied needs. Examples <strong>of</strong> this<br />

might be helping someone find acceptance following<br />

bereavement, recover from a traumatic experience,<br />

or work through feelings <strong>of</strong> anger or betrayal after a<br />

divorce. While it is an effective therapy for adults, it has<br />

additional appeal for children to whom playing <strong>and</strong><br />

creating comes very naturally. But you don’t have to<br />

'Untitled'<br />

'SL faces'<br />

| HAZEL McCLuRE<br />

have a problem to work with an <strong>art</strong> therapist. It can<br />

also be used as a personal development process for<br />

those who want to know themselves better, or find<br />

ways <strong>of</strong> changing patterns in their lives. Companies<br />

for example, use <strong>art</strong> therapists to run pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />

development training workshops <strong>and</strong> interpersonal<br />

skills sessions with groups <strong>of</strong> employees.<br />

Art Therapist <strong>and</strong> Art Psychotherapist (interchangeable<br />

terms) are protected job titles in the UK, US, Australia<br />

<strong>and</strong> New Zeal<strong>and</strong>. That means that legally only those<br />

who are pr<strong>of</strong>essionally trained <strong>and</strong> registered (or<br />

licensed) can state this as their job title. Training to<br />

become an <strong>art</strong> psychotherapist is a two year masters<br />

degree level programme <strong>and</strong> is a mix <strong>of</strong> therapeutic<br />

theory (psychology, psychiatry <strong>and</strong> psychotherapy),<br />

underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> the deeply personal process<br />

involved in our own image making <strong>and</strong> the knowledge<br />

<strong>of</strong> how to apply this to help others.<br />

Applicants usually apply for <strong>art</strong> therapy training with<br />

either a visual <strong>art</strong>s first degree or through working in<br />

a psychological pr<strong>of</strong>ession <strong>and</strong> having a personal<br />

interest or experience with <strong>art</strong>.


However, the pr<strong>of</strong>ession is newly developing in Asia so<br />

students are currently entering training from a wider<br />

range <strong>of</strong> backgrounds. Post qualification, in the UK,<br />

US, Australia <strong>and</strong> New Zeal<strong>and</strong>, additional registration<br />

or licensure with the appropriate pr<strong>of</strong>essional body is<br />

then required, to ensure that therapists are adequately<br />

trained <strong>and</strong> working to approved st<strong>and</strong>ards. This helps<br />

prevent confusion with other related pr<strong>of</strong>essions such as<br />

community <strong>art</strong>s workers or <strong>art</strong>ists in residence <strong>and</strong> helps<br />

to reassure potential clients that they are working with<br />

someone who is an approved practitioner.<br />

In Malaysia, the closest masters training course in <strong>art</strong><br />

psychotherapy is in Singapore <strong>and</strong> there is a second<br />

course soon to st<strong>art</strong> in Bangkok. There is also a newly<br />

opened Centre for Creative Arts Therapies in Penang,<br />

which runs introductory courses to creative <strong>art</strong>s<br />

therapies, <strong>and</strong> some other local organisations run short<br />

courses from time to time.<br />

To date there have been only two batches <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong><br />

therapy graduates from the Singapore training course,<br />

but there are also other graduates trickling back<br />

home from training overseas. Interest in the subject is<br />

growing steadily in our region, as we come to realize<br />

the value <strong>of</strong> accessing our unconscious world through<br />

<strong>creativity</strong> <strong>and</strong> perceived stigmas attached to seeking<br />

psychological support services are being replaced<br />

by underst<strong>and</strong>ing. These days a whole battery <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong><br />

materials is replacing the traditional<br />

psychotherapist’s couch.<br />

Hazel is a state registered <strong>art</strong> therapist (UK, 1990),<br />

trainer, consultant, counsellor <strong>and</strong> teacher. She works in<br />

an international school in KL <strong>and</strong> also writes, undertakes<br />

research in the visual images <strong>of</strong> third culture children<br />

<strong>and</strong> does <strong>art</strong> therapy training work for NGOs around SE<br />

Asia. She can be contacted through<br />

surfaceintervalcreative<strong>art</strong>s@gmail.com<br />

'Make it stop!'<br />

Further Information about <strong>art</strong> psychotherapy :<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Art therapy Organisations<br />

British Association <strong>of</strong> Art Therapists www.baat.org.<br />

Australia <strong>and</strong> New Zeal<strong>and</strong> Arts Therapy Association www.anzata.org<br />

American Art Therapy Association www.aata.org<br />

Art therapy Association <strong>of</strong> Singapore www.atas.org.sg<br />

Hong Kong Association <strong>of</strong> Art Therapists www.hk-hkaat.org<br />

Training courses<br />

Singapore:<br />

http://www.lasalle.edu.sg/index.php/programmes/master-<strong>of</strong>-<strong>art</strong>s/<strong>art</strong>-therapy<br />

Bangkok:<br />

http://www.<strong>art</strong>4human.com/bcsat.html<br />

For training courses further afield please refer to information on the appropriate<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essional organizations listed above.<br />

Centre for Creative Arts Therapies, Penang<br />

www.creative<strong>art</strong>stherapy.org.my


24/page<br />

I was fortunate to be selected as an <strong>art</strong> educator to this year’s<br />

Art for All 2011 which was held in Thail<strong>and</strong> from 14July-18July. Our<br />

team from Malaysia includes curator Hui Koon from the National<br />

Visual Arts Gallery (NVAG) young <strong>art</strong>ist Damien Wong <strong>and</strong> his<br />

mother Nora Tan. Upon our arrival at Suvarnabhumi International<br />

Airport, we were welcomed by Ms Borimas Srikhajon from the<br />

International Relations Ministry <strong>of</strong> Culture, Thail<strong>and</strong>. This year eight<br />

Asean countries were invited to this memorable event, namely<br />

Brunei Darussalam, India, Japan, Lao, Philippines, Vietnam,<br />

Singapore <strong>and</strong> Malaysia.<br />

| TAN SEE LING<br />

The opening ceremony was held on the 14th<br />

July at the United Nation Conference Centre in<br />

Bangkok. I was surprised to witness such a gr<strong>and</strong><br />

ceremony with so many children <strong>and</strong> youth<br />

gathered together at the main hall.<br />

All <strong>of</strong> them came from different provinces <strong>of</strong><br />

Thail<strong>and</strong>. This event was held annually to unite<br />

the disabled <strong>and</strong> normal children <strong>and</strong> youth<br />

through <strong>art</strong>.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>.Dr.Channarong Pornrungroj was the<br />

founder <strong>of</strong> the <strong>art</strong> foundation in1999. This year<br />

marked his 15th year <strong>of</strong> passion, dedication<br />

<strong>and</strong> contribution to this project. The event was<br />

successfully supported by The Crown Property<br />

Bureau Foundation, Government Savings Bank,<br />

Ministry <strong>of</strong> Culture, Government <strong>of</strong> Thail<strong>and</strong>,<br />

Ministry <strong>of</strong> Education, Government <strong>of</strong> Thail<strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong> Tri Petch Isuzu Sales Company Limited.<br />

The opening ceremony was very spiritual, all the<br />

international delegates were seated in front to<br />

p<strong>art</strong>icipate in the chanting <strong>of</strong> Buddhist hymn<br />

during the opening. Nun Sansanee Sateerasut<br />

was one <strong>of</strong> the special speaker on that day<br />

to share about spiritual teachings to young<br />

children <strong>and</strong> youth. It was a very he<strong>art</strong> warming<br />

ceremony when we were asked to sing along<br />

with the meditation song screened during the<br />

opening.<br />

We were also introduced to Bai Sri ceremony which<br />

is a traditional ceremony performed on special<br />

occasions such as birth, wedding <strong>and</strong> welcoming<br />

new people. All p<strong>art</strong>icipants were blessed wih white<br />

strings tied a around the wrist to have “khwan” or<br />

“high spirit” before we embarked our journey to<br />

the campsite at Wangree Resort in Nakhon Nayok<br />

Province.<br />

Orientation <strong>and</strong> introduction for each children <strong>and</strong><br />

youth were held the first night when we arrived<br />

at the campsite. After a cold dinner, we were<br />

gathered at the main hall where all the children<br />

came in their pajamas. During the 5-day camp,<br />

children <strong>and</strong> youths were asked to practice<br />

mindfulness in their words <strong>and</strong> actions. A short study<br />

class was given by Pr<strong>of</strong>.Channarong Pornrungroj.<br />

I was amazed to see his dedication <strong>and</strong> his deep<br />

passion in this event.


The <strong>art</strong> activities at the camp site was on the 15th<br />

to 18th July. After a brief introduction from all the<br />

international delegates, we were invited for a guided<br />

tour by a few English speaking <strong>of</strong>ficers from the Ministry<br />

<strong>of</strong> Culture to the campsite. All the children <strong>and</strong> youth<br />

were divided into small groups each day to p<strong>art</strong>icipate<br />

in the <strong>art</strong> activities.<br />

Some interesting works that caught my<br />

attention were clay works by children,<br />

c<strong>and</strong>le sculpturing, drawing on carbon<br />

canvas heated by c<strong>and</strong>le, feet stamping<br />

<strong>art</strong>, foot <strong>and</strong> mouth painting <strong>and</strong><br />

exploring the darkroom.<br />

Delegates from every country have<br />

to present <strong>ideas</strong> for the <strong>art</strong> activities.<br />

Malaysia <strong>and</strong> Brunei teamed up for a<br />

recycling workshop. Young <strong>art</strong>ists from<br />

Brunei conducted a brief session on<br />

paper rolling for constructing paper<br />

houses.<br />

The team from Malaysia did doll installation<br />

using natural <strong>and</strong> used materials to<br />

enhance the beauty <strong>of</strong> all the works done<br />

by some children who came to p<strong>art</strong>icipate<br />

in the workshop. Delegates from Japan<br />

presented the <strong>art</strong> <strong>of</strong> wrapping with scarf<br />

while delegates from Vietnam <strong>and</strong> the<br />

Philippines did performing <strong>art</strong>s with a small<br />

group <strong>of</strong> disabled youth.<br />

In conclusion, the camp was an eye opener for me.<br />

Not so much <strong>of</strong> seeing new <strong>art</strong> or good <strong>art</strong> but the<br />

process <strong>of</strong> making <strong>art</strong> that made the experience<br />

with them wonderful.<br />

Nevertheless, Art for All has inspired all <strong>of</strong> us <strong>and</strong> i<br />

hope that Malaysia can be a host one day. With<br />

my dedication in nurturing special children through<br />

<strong>art</strong>, I am really looked forward to seeing more<br />

changes in the <strong>art</strong> scene especially for <strong>art</strong>ists with<br />

disabilities. In Art there is NO INABILITY.<br />

Tan See Ling<br />

Artist,<br />

Art Educator to special needs<br />

Thumb Art<br />

Tutti Art Club<br />

www.thumb<strong>art</strong>studio.com<br />

www.tutti<strong>art</strong>club.blogspot.com<br />

We had a good exposure with some<br />

Thai <strong>art</strong>ists <strong>and</strong> <strong>art</strong> educators during a<br />

group workshop.There was a sharing<br />

session with an Australian p<strong>art</strong>icipant<br />

in relation to western <strong>and</strong> eastern<br />

<strong>art</strong> cultures <strong>and</strong> also an interesting<br />

<strong>art</strong> therapy session with Mr Mairom<br />

Thamachati-Asoka.


Pertemuan petang itu amat santai dengan suasana yang amat tenang,<br />

setenang ruang galeri di singgahsana milik pelukis tersohor tanah air iaitu<br />

Yus<strong>of</strong> Ghani (Pak Yus<strong>of</strong>). Ditemani rakan sekerja saudara Ahmat Jafri Sharif<br />

dan jurufoto saudari Intan, penulis berpeluang menemubual pelukis yang<br />

tidak asing bagi graduan dan juga bakal graduan jurusan Seni Halus,<br />

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) juga bagi penggemar siri ‘Tari’, siri ‘Wajah’,<br />

siri ‘Wayang’, ‘Segerak’ dan yang terkini siri ‘Taman 2011’. Yus<strong>of</strong> Ghani<br />

satu nama yang penulis kira kekal relevan berdekad lamanya. Keterujaan<br />

menemubual beliau membuatkan penulis melakukan kajian demi kajian<br />

mengenai beliau sebagai persediaan bertatap mata dengan pelukis<br />

yang terkenal dengan kritikan-kritikan sosial yang tajam dalam mengheret<br />

pelbagai isu kemasyarakatan dan kesedaran terhadap dunia seni dalam<br />

karya beliau. Ini mem<strong>and</strong>angkan penulis biarpun pernah bertemu namun<br />

tidak pernah berbual dengan lebih lanjut mem<strong>and</strong>angkan reputasi yang<br />

dibina oleh beliau seakan langit dan bumi pada perkiraan penulis.<br />

Dilahirkan pada 29 November 1950 di Pontian<br />

Johor, anak kepada seorang pegawai kerajaan<br />

dan suri rumah sepenuh masa ini mempunyai<br />

sebelas orang adik beradik. Beliau mendapat<br />

pendidikan awal di Sekolah Rendah Tengku<br />

Mahmud Isk<strong>and</strong>ar. Minat kepada seni lukisan<br />

bermula apabila beliau berpeluang menonton<br />

wayang dan dari situ terhasil lakaran-lakaran<br />

babak yang dilakonkan seperti kata beliau;<br />

“Saya suka menonton wayang, apabila<br />

pulang ke rumah saya akan melukiskan<br />

kembali babak-babak lakonan tersebut secara<br />

‘storyboard’ dan akan tunjukkan kepada<br />

rakan-rakan”, - Yus<strong>of</strong> Ghani.<br />

Beliau juga melibatkan diri secara aktif dengan<br />

persatuan seni dan sering dipilih untuk melukis<br />

mural di sekolahnya dan ini menjadikan minat<br />

beliau dalam seni lukis semakin bercambah.<br />

Penulis tidak berhajat menulis panjang lebar<br />

mengenai latar belakang pendidikan beliau<br />

namun keinginan beliau untuk terus berjaya<br />

mampu menjadi p<strong>and</strong>uan kepada generasi<br />

baru. Apa yang mengagumkan adalah,<br />

bagaimana beliau mencorak masa hadapan<br />

dan bergelut dalam keadaan di mana<br />

pembudayaan dan kesedaran masyarakat<br />

terhadap dunia seni merupakan satu mimpi<br />

yang tidak pasti namun beliau yang juga<br />

pernah menjadi pelukis jalanan bersama-sama<br />

pelukis terkenal Raja Azhar begitu optimis akan<br />

masa depan dunia seni visual Malaysia. Beliau<br />

merasakan penerokaan terhadap dunia seni<br />

visual tanah air adalah suatu proses jangka<br />

masa panjang dan tidak akan tercapai<br />

dalam tempoh puluhan tahun ini. Proses ini<br />

harus berterusan dan yang paling utama<br />

pengkarya/perupa harus terus berusaha<br />

menghasilkan karya-karya yang terbaik.<br />

27/page<br />

Pak Yus<strong>of</strong> yang pernah dikenali sebagai pereka<br />

grafik dan juga pelukis ilustrasi terus bergerak maju<br />

kehadapan apabila menerima biasiswa dari George<br />

Mason University di Virginia, U.S.A dalam bidang<br />

Seni Grafik pada usia 29 tahun dan beliau tidak<br />

menunggu lama untuk berkarya apabila minat yang<br />

mendalam dalam bidang seni halus menyebabkan<br />

beliau mengambil subjek lukisan sebagai subjek<br />

elektif. Disitulah boleh disifatkan sebagai kejayaan/<br />

platform beliau dalam menerokai dunia seni visual<br />

apabila menyertai pameran ‘Seni Antarabangsa’<br />

anjuran Art Barn Gallery di Washington dan beliau<br />

telah menerima biasiswa Dr. Burt Am<strong>and</strong>a sebagai<br />

penghargaan terhadap karya yang luar biasa<br />

dihasilkan oleh beliau. Ini menyebabkan penulis<br />

teringat perbualan ringkas bersama saudara<br />

u-Wei Hj Saari ketika pameran “Wayang U-Wei<br />

Angkat Saksi” iaitu pameran pertama beliau<br />

yang menggabung elemen filem dan seni visual<br />

dengan beberapa pelukis tanah air yang baru<br />

sahaja berlangsung di galeri 3A & 3B di Balai<br />

Seni Visual Negara. Penulis bertanyakan apa lagi<br />

yang diperlukan oleh setiap pengkarya Malaysia<br />

tidak kira dibidang pengarahan filem atau seni<br />

visual agar setiap karya mereka mempunyai roh<br />

dan jiwa yang tinggi di mana setiap karya yang<br />

terhasil mampu memberi k<strong>esa</strong>n dan ingatan<br />

yang dalam terhadap penonton, pengunjung<br />

mahupun pencinta seni. “Kau nak tau apa..?<br />

Exposure…!” katanya. Ringkas tepat dan padat<br />

dalam merangkumi persoalan penulis lantas<br />

membuatkan penulis tersenyum. Ya, pendedahan<br />

sedari awal sangat perlu kepada semua pengkarya<br />

bukan hanya terkongkong di dalam alasan ciptaan<br />

sendiri.<br />

Kata-kata itu menggambarkan perjuangan<br />

pelukis tersohor tanah air ini. Pertemuan dengan<br />

beliau secara peribadi menjadikan mutiara kata<br />

bahawa ‘pengalaman itu mendewasakan’<br />

amat bertepatan sekali untuk penulis gambarkan<br />

siapakah gerangan Yus<strong>of</strong> Ghani. Banyak yang<br />

dikupas oleh beliau mengenai harapan dan<br />

kecintaan beliau terhadap dunia seni ini terutama<br />

di Malaysia. Peredaran masa tidak menjadikan<br />

beliau lupa Maha Pencipta apabila beliau sentiasa<br />

mengingatkan penulis bahawa disiplin manusia<br />

telah Allah bentuk sedari dulu, solat 5 waktu yang<br />

diwajibkan keatas umat Islam harus dilihat sebagai<br />

cara Allah mendisiplinkan manusia. “Tentu ada<br />

sebabnya… “ ujar beliau lagi.<br />

| ZuRIYADI SARPIN<br />

Berbalik kepada permulaan perjalanan karier<br />

beliau, impak yang paling berk<strong>esa</strong>n ialah<br />

apabila beliau menyertai pelukis-pelukis muda<br />

yang radikal dan menyertai pameran secara<br />

berkumpulan iaitu "American Intervention in<br />

Nicaragua & El Salvador" di Gallerie Intae di<br />

Washington, Amerika Syarikat. Gambaran<br />

karya beliau sebagai medan kritikan sosial yang<br />

sangat tajam terhadap tindakan-tindakan sosial<br />

masyarakat pada ketika itu. Kritikan itu bertujuan<br />

menyedarkan masyarakat bahawa setiap<br />

tindakan yang diambil haruslah diteliti dan tepat<br />

agar ianya tidak menimbulkan k<strong>esa</strong>n yang tidak<br />

baik akhirnya. Lantas dari itu lahirlah pameran<br />

solo yang pertama oleh beliau berjudul "Protest"<br />

pada 27 Julai 1984 di Anton Gallery, Capitol<br />

Hill, Washington, D.C. Penulis berpendapat itu<br />

merupakan satu lagi kejayaan bagi Malaysia<br />

kerana pada tahun itu 1984, seorang anak<br />

Malaysia telah berjaya mengadakan pameran<br />

solo di sana.<br />

Menjadikan William De Kooning dan Henry Matisse sebagai<br />

rujukan, pelukis aliran abstrak ekspressionis ini terus mengorak<br />

langkah dengan menghasilkan beberapa siri lukisan seperti<br />

siri ‘Tari’, siri ‘Topeng’, siri ‘Wayang’, ‘Segerak’, ‘Biring’,<br />

‘Wajah’dan siri ‘Hijau’ sepanjang hampir 30 tahun beliau<br />

berkarya. Pameran solo terkini beliau adalah pameran ‘Taman<br />

2011’ yang bertempat di galeri seni PUNCAK di Bukit Jelutong,<br />

Shah Alam. ‘Taman 2011’ merupakan rentetan pengalaman<br />

dan kenangan beliau ketika berada di Amerika Syarikat<br />

dan juga negara Eropah lain. Bersekali dengan pameran ini<br />

Yus<strong>of</strong> Ghani turut menampilkan karya-karya yang pernah<br />

menggegar dunia seni visual satu ketika dahulu dan juga<br />

karya simpanan peribadi yang tidak pernah dipamerkan<br />

kepada khalayak.


Menceritakan perkembangan terkini pelukis<br />

ini, beliau telah pun membina sebuah galeri<br />

seni yang diberi nama ‘Tapak Yus<strong>of</strong> Ghani’ di<br />

Seksyen 8, Shah Alam, Selangor. Ini merupakan<br />

satu lagi sumbangan beliau kepada komuniti<br />

setempat. Galeri yang dibina ini boleh dilawati<br />

secara percuma dan beroperasi seperti galerigaleri<br />

lain. Beliau turut mengadakan kelas<br />

seni bagi mereka yang berminat bermula dari<br />

pukul 9.00 malam – 1.00 pagi. Kelas seni ini turut<br />

disertai oleh golongan pr<strong>of</strong>esional seperti Arkitek,<br />

Peguam, Pensyarah dan sebagainya yang ingin<br />

mendalami seni visual dengan lebih lanjut. Galeri<br />

yang menempatkan 120 karya koleksi peribadi<br />

beliau, juga turut menyimpan karya-karya dari<br />

pelukis terkenal tanah air seperti, Ibrahim Hussien,<br />

Latiff Mohidin, Awang Damit, Sulaiman Esa,<br />

Ramlan Abdullah, Raja Azhar Ahmad Idris dan<br />

lain-lain pelukis lagi. Satu-satunya pameran solo<br />

yang pernah diadakan di galeri ini adalah pada<br />

tahun 2005 adalah pameran ‘Segerak 2’ iaitu<br />

satu lagi siri pameran solo beliau.<br />

Tapak Yus<strong>of</strong> Ghani ini terbahagi kepada 3 iaitu<br />

ruang pameran, studio pelukis dan tempat<br />

tinggal. Ruang hadapan tingkat bawah dijadikan<br />

galeri/ruang pameran yang menempatkan<br />

karya beliau, juga sebagai ruang menerima<br />

kunjungan manakala bahagian belakangnya<br />

sebagai kediaman. Tingkat dua pula dijadikan<br />

ruang perbincangan di antara pelukis dan juga<br />

penyelidikan bagi mereka yang ingin melakukan<br />

kajian lukisan. Terdapat juga satu ruang tamu<br />

yang dihiasi rak buku dengan pelbagai buku yang<br />

digunakan oleh beliau sebagai sumber rujukan.<br />

Tingkat paling atas pula digunakan oleh beliau<br />

untuk menempatkan karya-karya pelukis tanah air<br />

yang telah dikumpul oleh beliau sejak awal 90-an.<br />

Karya-karya didalam himpunan beliau yang pada<br />

perkiraan penulis merupakan himpunan karya<br />

yang hebat.<br />

Galeri beliau ini persis galeri sebenar seperti milik<br />

organisasi lain, di sini jugalah beliau membawa<br />

rakan dan jiran tetangga bagi menyemai kesedaran<br />

dunia seni dalam minda mereka. Seperti kata beliau<br />

“Kadang-kadang saya juga membawa rakan surau<br />

ke sini bagi mereka memahami dunia seorang pelukis<br />

dan mengharapkan kesedaran ini menjadikan<br />

mereka lebih arif tentang seni lukis”, ujarnya. Pada<br />

masa ini juga beliau menyatakan kepada penulis<br />

empat prinsip berkenaan isu-isu yang bagi beliau<br />

harus ada dalam setiap penghasilan karya agar karya<br />

tersebut mendapat ‘jiwa’.<br />

Protest Series Hydrogen Man / Mixed media on<br />

canvas / 66 x 50 cm / 1983<br />

“Kita harus ada empat perkara ini dalam<br />

menghasilkan karya dan karya kita tidak akan lari<br />

paksinya, yang pertama sosial, cultural, spiritual<br />

dan mistikal”. – Yus<strong>of</strong> Ghani.<br />

Apa yang menarik adalah kesungguhan beliau dalam<br />

mewujudkan kesedaran dunia seni visual terhadap<br />

masyarakat, kesungguhan beliau untuk jatuh dan<br />

bangun di dalam arena ini harus diberikan pujian,<br />

pengalaman benar-benar mendewasakan beliau.<br />

Kita letak dahulu soal lain dalam sisi karya-karya Yus<strong>of</strong><br />

Ghani, ada yang mempertikai karya-karya beliau,<br />

tidak kurang juga yang mencemuh namun bagi<br />

beliau ini semua sebagai satu pengalaman yang<br />

menyeronokkan. Namun nilai yang harus dipuji adalah<br />

bagaimana beliau sebagai pelukis ‘memasarkan’<br />

diri beliau agar terus dikenali dan karya beliau terus<br />

dinanti oleh pencinta-pencinta seni visual. Dalam<br />

keadaan karyawan tempatan yang terus berjuang<br />

dan masih mencari sinar beliau terus bangkit dan<br />

maju terus dalam menghasilkan karya-karya terbaik<br />

beliau. Beliau harus berdepan realiti yang nasib<br />

seseorang bukan ditentukan oleh orang lain namun<br />

beliau percaya nasib itu boleh diubah hanya dengan<br />

USAHA. Beliau harus terus bangun dan mengejutkan<br />

masyarakat luar tentang pentingnya nilai budaya<br />

ini, seni dan budaya saling berkait, seni mampu<br />

menceritakan apa sahaja sesuai dengan tugasan lain<br />

beliau sebagai pensyarah seni di Universiti Teknologi<br />

MARA ini.<br />

Atas kesedaran itu, kini beliau sedang membina<br />

sebuah lagi galeri seni yang terletak ditepi jalan<br />

utama di ruang belakang Tapak Yus<strong>of</strong> Ghani.<br />

Beliau telah membeli sebidang tanah bagi tujuan<br />

itu. Galeri setinggi dua tingkat ini bertujuan untuk<br />

mempamerkan koleksi-koleksi simpanan beliau dan<br />

juga memberi ruang dan peluang kepada manamana<br />

pelukis yang ingin mengadakan pameran seni<br />

secara solo atau berkumpulan. Hakikat tujuan beliau<br />

hanya satu, dengan sokongan yang beliau terima<br />

dari masyarakat, beliau ingin kembalikan semula ‘hak’<br />

ini kepada masyarakat dan beliau ingin berkongsi<br />

kepada khalayak akan keindahan seni visual. Semoga<br />

ini mampu memberi kesedaran kepada masyarakat<br />

mengenai dunia seni lukis di Malaysia. Sebagai<br />

permulaannya, beliau ingin mengadakan pameran<br />

retrospektif sebagai t<strong>and</strong>a pembukaan galeri<br />

tersebut.<br />

Apa lagi yang harus penulis katakan apabila<br />

menterjemah perupa ini dalam konteks penulisan<br />

kecil sebegini? Semuanya telah dilakukan, sokongan<br />

dorongan, cemuhan, kritikan, cabaran dan kejayaan<br />

telah beliau lalui. Namun penulis percaya seseorang<br />

perupa tidak boleh terus dibiarkan sel<strong>esa</strong>, perupa,<br />

pengkarya dan pelukis harus terus dicabar bagi<br />

menghasilkan karya hebat, perlu terus dikritik dalam<br />

konteks pembudayaan ilmu, dipuji seminima mungkin<br />

dan harus terus disokong setiap karyanya kerana<br />

seni itu merupakan nadi bangsa, seni itu merupakan<br />

penceritaan terhadap ketamadunan sebuah bangsa<br />

yang berjaya.<br />

Memetik kata-kata Nur Hanim Mohamed Khairuddin,<br />

seorang kurator bebas dalam buku Persoalan Seni<br />

Rupa Sezaman sebagai berkata “Mutakhir ini kita<br />

kerap dicanang dengan konsep ‘independen’ dalam<br />

konteks seni di Malaysia. Seniman muda digalakkan<br />

untuk menjunjung sikap m<strong>and</strong>iri, melakukan sendiri<br />

tugas-tugas asas untuk mengangkat karya masingmasing<br />

tanpa perlu senantiasa bergantung kepada<br />

badan-badan b<strong>esa</strong>r yang ditubuh khas untuk<br />

tujuan tersebut, untuk mengelakkan diri daripada<br />

kongkongan-kongkongan garis p<strong>and</strong>uan rasmi yang<br />

telah termaktub. Ini akan memberi lebih ruang dan<br />

kepuasan kepada seniman untuk menghasilkan karya<br />

secara jujur mengikut visi dan target personal mereka<br />

lantas dapat mengundang respons perdebatan atau<br />

wacana yang lebih bermakna”.<br />

Yus<strong>of</strong> Ghani harus dilihat dalam konteks kejayaan<br />

beliau meletakkan diri di dalam persaingan dunia seni<br />

lukis moden Malaysia yang serba kompetitif. Semoga<br />

karya beliau dapat terus kita nikmati pada masa<br />

akan datang mungkin dengan nafas yang lebih baru<br />

sekaligus mencabar tahap intelektual masyarakat<br />

Malaysia, lebih menggerunkan dan mampu<br />

mencetus polemik hangat dikalangan pencinta seni.<br />

Diharapkan rentetan perjalanan beliau ini dapat<br />

dijadikan dorongan sebagai pembakar semangat<br />

jiwa perupa muda Malaysia dan penulisan ini akan<br />

terus mampu menzahirkan rasa cinta terhadap seni.<br />

“In <strong>art</strong>... you cannot cheat, because <strong>art</strong> is visual….”<br />

Kata beliau mengakhiri perbualan kami.<br />

Rujukan:<br />

- “WAJAH”, Yus<strong>of</strong> Ghani 2010. published by TAPAK<br />

- Katalog SEGERAK – One Movement 1 Malaysia.<br />

- Katalog Yus<strong>of</strong> Ghani, Taman 2011.<br />

- PERSOALAN SENI RUPA SEZAMAN?, Contemporary Visual Art Discourse: vignettes by Malaysian <strong>art</strong>ist/<br />

editor Raja Ahmad Aminullah, Nur Hanim Mohamed Khairuddin. ISBN 983-101-056-6.<br />

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yus<strong>of</strong>_Ghani.<br />

- http://www.yus<strong>of</strong>ghani.com<br />

- http://seni-lukis.blogspot.com/2005/05/rumah-itu-galeri-dunia-seniku.html<br />

- http://risalahproseni.blogspot.com/2009/06/menatap-buku-yus<strong>of</strong>-ghani-<br />

- http://malaysian-<strong>art</strong>ist.blogspot.com/2005/05/yusuf-ghani.html


Art as<br />

therapy<br />

is a form <strong>of</strong><br />

treatment which could<br />

be traced back to ancient<br />

times. It played a role in health<br />

<strong>and</strong> symbolic expression. From Egyptian<br />

hieroglyphics, it was discovered that people <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

use objects <strong>and</strong> visuals <strong>of</strong> animals <strong>and</strong> birds as<br />

intervention in mental health. Another example are<br />

scripts from the Sumerians <strong>and</strong> the Mayan cultures,<br />

called logograms, were primitive elements for<br />

magical, spiritual, protection purposes <strong>and</strong> as a daily<br />

journal.<br />

Through contemporary cultures <strong>and</strong> societies, <strong>art</strong> has<br />

been used symbolically to cure illness, which brought<br />

physical <strong>and</strong> psychological relief. For example, as<br />

evidenced in the culture <strong>of</strong> the Navajo Indian inthe<br />

United States, who combined songs, dance, <strong>and</strong><br />

s<strong>and</strong> paintings in some specific element <strong>of</strong> patterns.<br />

Further, s<strong>and</strong> painting in the form <strong>of</strong> M<strong>and</strong>alas act<br />

as a focus <strong>of</strong> prayers that were used by the Tibetans<br />

intended for healing <strong>and</strong> relief from suffering.<br />

Art therapy was been inspired by Sigmund Freud<br />

a psychologist & philosopher, who claimed that<br />

psychological disorders are the results <strong>of</strong> conflicts<br />

in early childhood which the individual is unaware<br />

<strong>of</strong>. Impulses <strong>and</strong> emotions involved that have been<br />

repressed unconsciously results in conflicts between<br />

the aggressive <strong>and</strong> sexual impulses. The techniques<br />

<strong>of</strong> psychoanalysis were modified into more flexible<br />

<strong>and</strong> less stressful to reconstruct the patient’s<br />

childhood experiences during therapeutic process.<br />

Freud clarified that psychoanalysis is a form <strong>of</strong><br />

psychotherapy-which combines other theories<br />

<strong>and</strong> techniques that now are now widely used by<br />

the group therapists, counselors, psychologists <strong>and</strong><br />

psychiatrists- acts as a bridge to access deeper<br />

levels <strong>of</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ing in manipulating between<br />

mind <strong>and</strong> body.<br />

Carl Jung,a former follower <strong>of</strong> Freud <strong>and</strong> founder <strong>of</strong><br />

Analytical Psychology said :<br />

“Expressive therapy is a form <strong>of</strong> therapy which<br />

uses <strong>art</strong>istic expression <strong>and</strong> divided into different<br />

discipline <strong>and</strong> approaches such as dance therapy,<br />

drama therapy, <strong>art</strong> therapy <strong>and</strong> music therapy”<br />

Therapy is a process designed to help changes in<br />

personality or in daily life while <strong>art</strong> is a means to<br />

discovering both the self <strong>and</strong> world in establishing a<br />

| RINA SHuKOR<br />

relation<br />

between<br />

the two. It is a<br />

meeting ground <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

both the inner <strong>and</strong> outer worlds.<br />

A recent scientific research <strong>of</strong>ficially declared<br />

how images influenced emotions, thoughts <strong>and</strong><br />

well-being. This is a process <strong>of</strong> how the brain <strong>and</strong> body<br />

reacts through drawings <strong>and</strong> paintings. Science has<br />

found connections between emotions <strong>and</strong> health,<br />

stress, disease <strong>and</strong> the immune system. Therefore,<br />

<strong>art</strong> therapy is to discover the use <strong>of</strong> imagery <strong>and</strong> <strong>art</strong><br />

expression in treatment.<br />

In the field <strong>of</strong> education, <strong>art</strong> therapy is a way to<br />

express emotion through <strong>creativity</strong> in expressing<br />

inner feelings <strong>and</strong> emotion. Art therapists were to<br />

help in analyzing factors such as attitudes, emotion,<br />

environment, behaviors <strong>and</strong> social relationships.<br />

Zeki (1999) has used new method in brain imaging,<br />

the process <strong>of</strong> forming memories from motor, visual<br />

<strong>and</strong> “somatosensory” information whose relationship<br />

is created between the process <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong> expression <strong>and</strong><br />

brain function using <strong>art</strong> media through stimulation.<br />

According to Barbara Granim,<br />

“When we use <strong>art</strong> to express our pain, we are<br />

accessing that through body – mind’s inner language<br />

<strong>of</strong> imagery instead <strong>of</strong> using words”. (2004)<br />

In lighter terms, <strong>art</strong> therapy can be described as a<br />

process <strong>of</strong> therapeutic <strong>and</strong> diagnostic means <strong>of</strong><br />

underst<strong>and</strong>ing people’s emotion through <strong>art</strong> activities<br />

instead <strong>of</strong> words.<br />

These days, <strong>art</strong> therapy is a new media to detect<br />

social skills, motor skills, expression, inner self-emotion<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>art</strong>istic skills through <strong>art</strong> making activities towards a<br />

variety groups <strong>of</strong> people namely people with disorders,<br />

physical disabilities, cancer patients, hardcore<br />

drug abusers, severe mental disorders, Human<br />

Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), sexually abused children<br />

<strong>and</strong> etc.<br />

28/page<br />

Each group<br />

that I’ve worked<br />

with have developed<br />

an intervention towards mind –<br />

body <strong>and</strong> brain co-ordination through<br />

the <strong>art</strong> process. Clients are able to create<br />

their own images, <strong>ideas</strong> <strong>and</strong> problem- solving in<br />

their <strong>art</strong> production. Working with autistic children<br />

using <strong>art</strong> is a long-term process due to their lack <strong>of</strong><br />

eye coordination <strong>and</strong> motor skills. However, autistic<br />

children are more creatively expressive than normal<br />

children in making their <strong>art</strong> pieces. Working with the<br />

disabled using <strong>art</strong> <strong>of</strong>ten stretches one’s <strong>creativity</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

imagination because one has to think <strong>of</strong> how to make<br />

the end results achievable. In <strong>art</strong> therapy sessions with<br />

autistic children, one must pay p<strong>art</strong>icular attention<br />

to the <strong>art</strong> making process in order to address deficits<br />

in communication <strong>and</strong> imagination. This helps the<br />

children collaborate with the <strong>art</strong> therapist in making<br />

symbols, icons <strong>and</strong> visual <strong>art</strong>s. Children with HIV,<br />

psychologically abused, social withdrawal, refusing<br />

to go to schools, anxiety disorders, social phobias<br />

are even more challenging. They are capable <strong>of</strong><br />

communicating through drawing <strong>and</strong> storytelling.<br />

As demonstrated with case materials, children with<br />

these disorders frequently reveal themes <strong>of</strong> death,<br />

destruction <strong>and</strong> rebirth.<br />

My current project, which uses the <strong>art</strong> therapy<br />

approach is aimed towards adult hardcore drug<br />

abusers <strong>and</strong> addiction to help them change to a new<br />

lifestyle that does not include compulsive abuse <strong>of</strong><br />

chemicals <strong>and</strong> the change <strong>of</strong> behavior requires both<br />

time <strong>and</strong> commitment. The purpose <strong>of</strong> the treatment is<br />

not to push the addicts into de-escalation but rather to<br />

bring about a pr<strong>of</strong>ound shift in beliefs <strong>and</strong> behavior in<br />

which the addiction loses its power.<br />

Art making may stimulate a similar experience <strong>and</strong><br />

provide experiences that soothes <strong>and</strong> heals the self.<br />

The process <strong>of</strong> “<strong>art</strong> therapy has a unique <strong>and</strong> specific<br />

potential relative to self-healing <strong>of</strong> the way <strong>art</strong> affects<br />

the brain.” (Tinnin, 1994). As an addition, researches in<br />

neuroscience continues to provide an ever-widening<br />

underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> how the brain <strong>and</strong> body reacts to<br />

stress, illness <strong>and</strong> other events. The ability to capture<br />

through visual imagery the internal world <strong>of</strong> feelings,<br />

sensations, perceptions, <strong>and</strong> cognition makes the <strong>art</strong><br />

therapy approach a unique, creative <strong>and</strong> effective<br />

way to work with clients <strong>of</strong> all ages.


To Create, To Communicate, To Connect<br />

Artis di lobi BSVN<br />

Osman Akhbar<br />

(Fulltime Artist / Art Consultant)<br />

-Water color l<strong>and</strong>scape <strong>and</strong> Kampung Houses.<br />

019-3698 486<br />

Email:osmanakbarlong@yahoo.com<br />

Umi Natasha<br />

(Fulltime Artist / Art Consultant)<br />

-Batik, Sculpture<br />

016-3766181<br />

Email:Uminatasha@yahoo.com


BSVN SANA SINI<br />

PELANCARAN SETEM KHAZANAH SENI<br />

VISuAL NEGARA-SIRI II<br />

Lobi Aras 1, Balai Seni Visual Negara (BSVN)<br />

25 September 2011<br />

BSVN dengan kerjasama Pos Malaysia turut melancarkan<br />

setem Khazanah Seni Visual Negara-Siri II, di mana<br />

Pos Malaysia telah mengeluarkan 3 jenis setem yang<br />

bertemakan perjuangan kemerdekaan sempena sambutan<br />

kemerdekaan Malaysia ke 54 pada tahun ini. Setem-setem<br />

tersebut mempamerkan karya tiga orang pelukis pelopor<br />

negara iaitu Datuk Mohd Hoessein Enas, Encik Nik Zainal<br />

Abidin Nik Salleh, dan Encik Anthony Lau. Pelukis-pelukis ini<br />

terkenal dengan kajian bahan dan olahan reka bentuk yang<br />

penuh estetika. Kaitan karya ini dengan tema perjuangan<br />

adalah berdasarkan idealisme pelukis terhadap budaya,<br />

persekitaran dan kelestarian kehidupan.<br />

PAMERAN SENI LI CHI MAO<br />

‘JOY OF LIVING'<br />

Lobi Aras 1, Balai Seni Visual<br />

Negara (BSVN)<br />

25 September 2011-09-22<br />

25 September–27 November 2011<br />

Galeri 2B, BSVN<br />

Balai Seni Visual Negara berb<strong>esa</strong>r hati apabila<br />

sekali lagi bekerjasama dengan Art Expo Sdn Bhd<br />

dalam menganjurkan Pameran Seni Li Chi Mao<br />

‘Joy <strong>of</strong> Living’ iaitu sebuah Pameran Berus Cat<br />

Cina yang menjadi sebuah lagi jambatan budaya<br />

yang diterjemahkan melalui karya Pr<strong>of</strong> Li Chi Mao<br />

melalui unsur-unsur kemanusiaan dan kehidupan<br />

dalam rantaian persembahannya. Perasmian ini<br />

dengan jayanya telah Dilancarkan oleh RAJA<br />

MuDA PERLIS, DYTM TuANKu SYED FAIZuDDIN<br />

PuTRA IBNI TuANKu SYED SIRAJuDDIN JAMALuLLAIL<br />

dan RAJA PuAN MuDA OF PERLIS, DYTM TuANKu<br />

HAJJAH LAILATuL SHAHREEN AKASHAH KHALIL.<br />

PELANCARAN AKTA BALAI SENI VISuAL NEGARA<br />

Lobi Aras 1, Balai Seni Visual Negara (BSVN)<br />

25 September 2011<br />

Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan Malaysia,<br />

Dato’ Sri utama Dr. Rais Yatim hari ini telah merasmikan<br />

Majlis Pelancaran Akta Lembaga Pembangunan Seni Visual<br />

Negara 2011 (Akta 724) yang membawa kepada penukaran<br />

nama dari Balai Seni Lukis Negara (BSLN) kepada Balai Seni<br />

Visual Negara (BSVN). Majlis tersebut juga telah dihadiri oleh<br />

Timbalan Menteri, Ketua Setiausaha dan Timbalan Ketua<br />

Setiausaha serta wakil-wakil agensi KPKK selain rakan-rakan<br />

korporat dan media yang turut sama menyaksikan pelancaran<br />

yang bersejarah bagi Balai Seni Visual Negara.<br />

BENGKEL PENDIDIKAN SENI VISuAL (2)<br />

DI BALAI SENI VISuAL NEGARA<br />

Balai Seni Visual Negara sekali lagi telah mengadakan Bengkel<br />

Pendidikan Seni Visual (2) berikutan sambutan dan permintaan<br />

yang menggalakkan dari bengkel-bengkel yang lalu. Bengkel ini<br />

telah berlangsung pada 15 Oktober sehingga 20 November 2011<br />

selama 5 sesi, setiap sabtu dan ahad yang melibatkan Bengkel<br />

Pendidikan Seni Visual khususnya bagi pelajar sekolah rendah dan<br />

pelajar sekolah menengah.<br />

• Bengkel Pendidikan Seni Visual bagi pelajar sekolah rendah<br />

telah dibimbing oleh tenaga pengajar muda , Saudara Hirzaq<br />

Harris yang juga merupakan seorang pelukis sepenuh masa.<br />

Setiap peserta diketengahkan dengan pelbagai teknik dan<br />

penggunaan medium dalam menghasilkan sesuatu hasil seni.<br />

Antaranya catan,corak kolaj, stensil, rekaan dan seni kraf.<br />

• Bengkel Pendidikan Seni Visual bagi pelajar sekolah<br />

menengah pula telah diberi tunjuk ajar oleh seorang<br />

pelukis muda , Saudara Ali Azraei Bebit. Di sini, peserta<br />

diberi pendedahan berkaitan pengenalan asas seni visual,<br />

perspektif, lanskap perm<strong>and</strong>angan, lukisan alam benda (still<br />

life), dan merekacipta “miniature”.<br />

ART ExPO 2011 CATALOGuE LAuNCHED BY<br />

THE MINISTER OF TOuRISM<br />

The Art Expo Malaysia has become a marketplace <strong>of</strong> East-West <strong>and</strong><br />

Arabian <strong>art</strong> trading <strong>and</strong> commerce <strong>and</strong> exchanges. It is a great<br />

confluence <strong>of</strong> Western, Asian <strong>and</strong> Arabian <strong>art</strong> with Iran making its<br />

debut this year with representations from Shiraz Art Gallery <strong>and</strong> Art &<br />

Identity.<br />

Some 66 exhibitors from 24 countries will be taking p<strong>art</strong> <strong>and</strong> they<br />

include six <strong>art</strong> organisations <strong>and</strong> 51 <strong>art</strong> galleries. The p<strong>art</strong>icipating<br />

countries are: Brazil, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Germany, Hong Kong,<br />

Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Macau, Malaysia,<br />

Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden,<br />

Switzerl<strong>and</strong>, Taiwan, The Philippines <strong>and</strong> Vietnam. It will involve more<br />

than 400 <strong>art</strong>ists, some <strong>of</strong> whom come from nine other countries like<br />

Costa Rica <strong>and</strong> Tibet.<br />

MAJLIS BERBuKA PuASA DAN PELANCARAN<br />

PAMERAN BSLN YAYADAN/MANIFESTASI<br />

MERDEKA/‘JAGA!’/‘SYED AHMAD JAMAL<br />

DALAM KENANGAN’<br />

Pada 18 Ogos 2011- Sempena menyambut keberkatan<br />

bulan Ramadhan al-Mubarak, Balai Seni Lukis Negara<br />

(BSLN) menganjurkan satu Majlis Berbuka Puasa dan<br />

pelancaran empat buah pameran BSLN seperti Pameran<br />

Yayadan, Pameran Manifestasi Merdeka, Pameran<br />

‘JAGA’ dan Pameran ‘Syed Ahmad Jamal Dalam<br />

Kenangan’.<br />

PAMERAN DAN JuALAN BERSEMPENA ISTIADAT<br />

KONVOKESYEN KE 8 AKADEMI SENI BuDAYA DAN<br />

WARISAN KEBANGSAAN (ASWARA)<br />

Pada 14 dan 15 Oktober 2011, Balai Seni Visual Negara telah dijemput<br />

untuk mengadakan pameran dan jualan bersempena Istiadat<br />

Konvokesyen ke 8 Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan<br />

(ASWARA). Tujuan pameran dan jualan ini diadakan adalah untuk<br />

memberi pendedahan dan informasi kepada pelajar khususnya<br />

para graduan mengenai industri seni visual tanahair. Balai Seni Visual<br />

Negara amat berbangga kerana pameran dan jualan ini mendapat<br />

sambutan yang amat menggalakkan dari pengunjung dan pelajar<br />

jurusan seni halus. Pelbagai katalog penerbitan yang dipamerkan<br />

seperti Bakat Muda Sezaman 2010, Wayang U-Wei Angkat Saksi,<br />

Kasihnya Ibu, Yang Terutama dan sebagainya.


SESI PERBINCANGAN PINJAMAN DANA<br />

INDuSTRI KREATIF DI BSVN<br />

Satu sesi perbincangan bersama para pemohon Pinjaman<br />

Dana Industri Kreatif telah diadakan pada 6 Oktober 2011<br />

(Khamis) di Balai Seni Visual Negara yang dihadiri hampir<br />

80 orang wakil industri kreatif.<br />

Objektif sesi berkenaan sebagai satu platform untuk<br />

meningkatkan jalinan kerjasama dengan para pemohon<br />

dalam memberikan p<strong>and</strong>angan serta kritikan membina<br />

untuk menambah baik proses permohonan Pinjaman<br />

Dana Industri Kreatif dengan matlamat utama iaitu<br />

membawa impak positif kepada pembangunan<br />

industri kreatif.<br />

Antara-antara isu-isu yang telah dibangkitkan dalam<br />

sesi pertemuan dan lain-lain p<strong>and</strong>angan yang diterima<br />

berhubung Pinjaman Dana Industri Kreatif adalah:<br />

• Kelewatan pempros<strong>esa</strong>n pinjaman<br />

• Ketiadaan peng<strong>esa</strong>han pempros<strong>esa</strong>n<br />

• Ketiadaan perincian justifikasi penolakan<br />

• Kekurangan proses komunikasi<br />

• Polisi pinjaman berhubung pembelian aset<br />

• Isu-isu h<strong>art</strong>a intelektual/hak cipta/ assignment royalty<br />

PERTANDINGAN SENI VISuAL<br />

TERBuKA JOHOR 2011<br />

Satu panel hakim telah dipilih untuk menilai dan memilih<br />

pemenang-pemenang bagi Pert<strong>and</strong>ingan Seni Visual<br />

Terbuka Johor yang bertajukkan 'Ritma Johor'. Panel<br />

hakim terdiri dari wakil BSVN Saudara Tan Seihon,<br />

Pengarah Muzium dan Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, USM iaitu<br />

En. Hasnul Jamal Saidon selaku Ketua Panel Hakim dan<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>. Ponirin Amin dari UiTM dan dibantu oleh staf-staf dari<br />

Galei Seni Johor. Tiga kategori utama dalam pet<strong>and</strong>ingan<br />

tersebut ialah catan/cetakan, Arca dan Batik. Galeri<br />

Seni Johor telah menerima hampir seratus penyertaan<br />

dari penggiat-penggiat seni dari seluruh negara melalui<br />

penggunaan pelbagai media dan pendekatan seni yang<br />

telah diperlihatkan.<br />

PANASONIC KIDS SCHOOL ECO WORKS OF ART<br />

NATIONAL CONTEST 2011 JuDGING SESSION<br />

Panasonic News on the recent Panasonic Kids School Eco<br />

Works <strong>of</strong> Art National Contest 2011 Judging Session that<br />

was held on 13 October 2011 at National Visual Gallery<br />

Kuala Lumpur for information sharing. The line up <strong>of</strong> the<br />

works <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong> exhibits to be judged at National Visual Gallery<br />

Malaysia, produced by students age 10 to 16 years old.<br />

Nine judges had a grueling time judging 16 works <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong> by<br />

students from Panasonic Kids School program at National<br />

Visual Gallery Kuala Lumpur on 13 October 2011. The works<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong> were submitted by students from both primary <strong>and</strong><br />

secondary schools from the 10 schools in Selangor that<br />

took p<strong>art</strong> in the pilot project for eco learning program.<br />

The works <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong> are based on the concept <strong>of</strong> collage <strong>art</strong>,<br />

sculpture or innovation models using recyclable items or<br />

biodegradable materials.<br />

PERKARA<br />

AUDITORIUM<br />

(kapasiti : 144 orang)<br />

LCD PROJECTOR<br />

PROGRAM<br />

SUKARELAWAN<br />

di Balai Seni Visual Negara<br />

Membuka peluang kepada masyarakat<br />

di luar sana untuk menyumbangkan<br />

tenaga dalam ruang kesenian visual di<br />

Malaysia. Program yang bertujuan ke arah<br />

mendidik masyarakat dalam memahami<br />

kepentingan seni visual dan dalam masa<br />

yang sama ianya dapat membantu<br />

Balai Seni Visual Negara menaik taraf<br />

memahami dan memenuhi kehendak<br />

pelukis tempatan, peminat seni dan<br />

masyarakat. Program sukarelawan<br />

yang diharap dapat menjadi<br />

titiktolak dialog dua hala kearah<br />

pembangunan minda yang lebih<br />

sihat dari persepsi seni visual.<br />

Syarat-syarat dan garis p<strong>and</strong>uan untuk program sukarelawan<br />

Balai Seni Visual Negara:<br />

• Terbuka kepada yang berumur 18 tahun-60 tahun.<br />

• Sukarelawan mendapat latihan yang melibatkan<br />

tenaga pr<strong>of</strong>esional dari Balai Seni Visual Negara dan<br />

juga melibatkan tenaga pengajar badan sukarelawan<br />

luar yang berpengalaman.<br />

• Mendapat pengiktirafan sijil dari Balai Seni Visual Negara<br />

sebagai t<strong>and</strong>a penghargaan.<br />

• Pihak Balai Seni Visual Negara menyediakan kupon<br />

makan dan minum dalam program sukarelawan<br />

• di jalankan.<br />

• Penyediaan alat bantuan kerja oleh Balai Seni Visual<br />

Negara dan penerangan terperinci akan di berikan<br />

tentang prosedur dan tatacara kerja.<br />

• Jawaban permohonan dan latihan akan di beritahu<br />

terus oleh pihak urus setia.<br />

Tarikh tutup permohonan sukarelawan seni adalah pada<br />

30 November 2011. Borang permohonan sukarelawan seni<br />

boleh di dapati di ruang kaunter Balai Seni Visual Negara<br />

di alamat :<br />

Pihak Balai Seni Visual Negara menawarkan sewaan Auditorium dan LCD Projector kepada<br />

semua agensi Kerajaan, NGO dan pihak swasta untuk mengadakan sesuatu acara atau<br />

program dengan kadar sewaan seperti berikut :<br />

KADAR MENGIKUT JABATAN / AGENSI<br />

MASA<br />

Min : 3 jam<br />

1 jam<br />

AGENSI<br />

KERAJAAN<br />

RM 100<br />

RM 33<br />

BADAN BUKAN<br />

KERAJAAN (NGO)<br />

RM 120<br />

RM 40<br />

SWASTA<br />

RM 300<br />

RM 100<br />

Sehari RM 500 RM 650 RM 1500<br />

Sehari RM 150 RM 300 RM 500<br />

* Tertakluk kepada kekosongan dan permohonan awal selewat-lewatnya 3 minggu<br />

sebelum tarikh penggunaan auditorium.<br />

No 2, Jalan Temerloh,<br />

Off Jalan Tun Razak,<br />

53200 Kuala Lumpur,<br />

Malaysia.<br />

Ataupun boleh terus berhubung di Bahagian Penyelidikan dan<br />

Pameran, Puan Intan Rafiza di talian<br />

03-40267015 atau email : intan@<strong>art</strong>gallery.gov.my<br />

Permohonan boleh dibuat dengan menghantar surat permohonan kepada :<br />

Ketua Pengarah, Balai Seni Visual Negara, No. 2 Jalan Temerloh Off Jalan Tun Razak, 53200 Kuala Lumpur<br />

[u/p : Bahagian Khidmat Pengurusan]


CENTRES / GALLERIES /<br />

STUDIOS / OTHERS<br />

Hueman Studio<br />

(<strong>art</strong>works <strong>and</strong> crafts)<br />

Add: No. 9, Jalan Tokong, 75200<br />

Melaka,Malaysia.<br />

Tel: 06-288 1795<br />

Email: huemanstudio@yahoo.com<br />

Url: www.hueman–studio.com<br />

ART GENERATION STUDIO<br />

21-1, Jalan Damai Perdana 1/8D,<br />

B<strong>and</strong>ar Damai Perdana,<br />

56000 Cheras Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Tel/Fax: 03-9100 1597<br />

Blog: baiduren-space.blogspot.com<br />

Email: <strong>art</strong>.baiduren@gmail.com<br />

Relaxsee Gallery<br />

lot 125, lrg Kempas 1,<br />

Kampung Melayu 68000<br />

Ampang, Slangor D.E<br />

Ismail Hj. Baba<br />

Naive Artist<br />

017 883 0303<br />

03-42533984<br />

JOM<br />

Jadilah ahli<br />

Keahlian pelukis akan menikmati<br />

faedah menarik seperti berikut :<br />

Dijemput menghadiri pembukaan pameran,<br />

menyertai program khas, bengkel,<br />

ceramah dan sebarang acara anjuran<br />

Balai Seni Visual Negara.<br />

Menikmati *diskaun 10% ke atas hampir<br />

kesemua barangan di Kedai Galeri<br />

merangkumi bahan-bahan melukis,<br />

penerbitan dan cenderamata.<br />

Menerima maklumat terkini melalui SMS.<br />

Menerima warkah Balai Seni Visual Negara,<br />

SENIKINI : Malaysia Art Now, percuma<br />

untuk setahun (enam keluaran).<br />

Nama dan alamat pelukis akan dimuatkan di<br />

dalam rangkaian laman web direktori pelukis<br />

Balai Seni Visual Negara.<br />

Wan Faizun Zaan : faizun@<strong>art</strong>gallery.gov.my<br />

NEO POP ART (JERI’S STUDIO ‘55)<br />

Sitajeriazhari (Art Dealer)<br />

220 Lorong Maar<strong>of</strong><br />

Bangsar 59000 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia<br />

Studio : 03-2094 1537<br />

Mobile : 013-3253 045<br />

Natyavaruval Arts Workshop<br />

And Gallery<br />

Umi Natasya Pie<br />

016-3766 181<br />

25-2, Taman Setapak Indah Jaya<br />

Jalan Puah Jaya,<br />

Off Jalan Pahang,<br />

53000 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Email: natyavaruval @yahoo.com<br />

THE ART CAFE<br />

54, Jalan Ss2/75<br />

Petaling Jaya 46100<br />

Selangor.<br />

christianlai.blogspot.com<br />

christians<strong>art</strong>cafe.blogspot.com<br />

chris.the<strong>art</strong>cafe@gmail.com<br />

CULTURE STREET ARTS & GALLERY<br />

(Gallery, Chinese Paintings Mounting, Mounting<br />

Material,Art Materials)<br />

10C, 3rd Floor, Jalan Panggong, 50000 Kuala<br />

Lumpur.<br />

Tel/Fax:03-2026 0292<br />

Email: cs_<strong>art</strong>s@tm.net.my<br />

Oriental Art & Cultural Center<br />

Kuala Lumpur<br />

(under the auspices <strong>of</strong> Elken Foundation)<br />

Tel: 03-7785 6363<br />

Fax: 03-7785 9393<br />

No 10 & 12, 2nd & 3rd, Pusat Elken,<br />

Jalan 1/137C, Batu 5,<br />

Jalan Kelang Lama, 58000 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Duncan Tang<br />

Assistant Curator<br />

012-297 3618<br />

www.efoacc.org<br />

SOCIETY OF INTERPRETERS<br />

FOR THE DEAF (SiD)<br />

The Community Service Centre for the Deaf<br />

No. 41A, Lorong Ampang,<br />

540450 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Tel:03-2031 4599 Fax: 03-2078 6630<br />

GLOBP Stoodio<br />

Animation/motiongraphics/editorial+concept<br />

illustration/charaterdesign<br />

globp@yahoo.com<br />

www.flickr.com/photos/myglobp<br />

Untuk penggunaan ruang<br />

Peti Seni BSLN bagi tujuan<br />

menjalankan aktiviti-aktiviti<br />

yang berkaitan dengan seni<br />

visual, sila majukan surat<br />

permohonan ke pejabat Ketua<br />

Pengarah Balai Seni Lukis<br />

Negara. Penggunaan Peti Seni<br />

ini tidak dikenakan caj.<br />

To apply for the use ( <strong>art</strong> studio,<br />

experimental <strong>and</strong> other <strong>art</strong>-related<br />

activites) <strong>of</strong> NAG's Peti Seni<br />

(3-6 months) please write to<br />

the Director-General <strong>of</strong><br />

National Art Gallery. Peti Seni is<br />

available free <strong>of</strong> charge.<br />

/ tanseihon@gmail.com<br />

EDEN ART STUDIO<br />

ART CENTRE, TEA HOUSE,<br />

COMMUNICATION CENTRE,<br />

ARTGALLERY<br />

eden<strong>art</strong>studio@gmail.com<br />

Block L6-3-9C, Pelangi Promenade,<br />

Jalan Pekan Baru 34, 41050 Klang,<br />

Selangor.<br />

LEADER PORTRAIT ARTIST<br />

Abdul Hadi Haji Ahmad<br />

Lot 01.08A, Groud Floor,<br />

Central Market Annexe,<br />

Jalan Hang Kasturi,<br />

50050 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Email : hadi365@gmail.com<br />

www.hadiportrait.blogspot.com<br />

MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION OF<br />

CREATIVITY & INNOVATION<br />

macri<br />

empowering simple <strong>ideas</strong><br />

Tel:03-2282 7028<br />

Fax: 03-2282 7028<br />

Email : www.macri.com.my<br />

Lot A-28-10, Menara UOA Bangsar,<br />

No 5 Jalan Bangsar 1, 59000 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

SCULPTUREATWORK<br />

(M) SDN.BHD.<br />

www.sculpcureatwork.com<br />

Studio: 108 Lorong Maar<strong>of</strong>, Bangsar Park,<br />

59000 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Tel: 03-22836936<br />

Fax: 03-22835936<br />

NURIDAUS ENTERPRISE<br />

(SPECIALIST IN COPPER TOOLINGS)<br />

Blok L22-505, Persiaran P<strong>and</strong>an,<br />

P<strong>and</strong>an Jaya, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.<br />

-FULLY HANDCRAFTED-<br />

019-334 7877<br />

018-268 1880<br />

018-287 7883<br />

CHEAP SENG POTTERY SDN.BHD.<br />

(Ceramic Design, Glazes Mixing,<br />

Plaster Mold Design, Sculpture)<br />

Factory & Seramic Studio:<br />

Lot 2269 Jalan Bercham,<br />

31400 Ipoh, Perak.<br />

Tel: 05-547 8936<br />

Fax: 05-547 5040<br />

Email : <strong>art</strong>studio39@yahoo.com<br />

Mouth & Foot Painting Artists Sdn.<br />

Bhd.<br />

Lot 327, 2nd Ampang Park Shopping<br />

Centre, Jalan Ampang,<br />

50450 Kuala Lumpur,<br />

P.O.Box 12431,<br />

50778 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Tel: 03-2161 8860,2161 8502<br />

Fax: 03-2162 1504<br />

Gerai OA<br />

-Indigenous Peoples Stall-<br />

Contact us:<br />

Reita Faida Rahim (coordinator)<br />

Email: geraios@gmail.com<br />

buy online: www.elevyn.com/shop/geraioa<br />

www.urban-cr3atures.com<br />

Motiongraphics/printgraphics+interactive/<br />

clothing/toys/web+characterdesign/illustration/<br />

typography/animation/event/C.G effects/music/<br />

sound/publication.<br />

www.projectboxie.com<br />

urbancr3atures.blogspot.com<br />

D.I.Y / FREELANCE /<br />

SERVICES<br />

Chekri Mansor<br />

(Free lance caricaturist, c<strong>art</strong>oonist, painter <strong>and</strong><br />

musician)<br />

chekrimansor@gmail.com<br />

http://chekrimansor.webs.com/<br />

Suchen SK<br />

(Freelance Photographer)<br />

www.suchens.com<br />

Let’s H<strong>and</strong>made<br />

a.hippies@gmail.com<br />

Miss Ireen H<strong>and</strong>made<br />

www.missireen.blogspot.com<br />

www.missireen.110mb.com<br />

AChiBuu H<strong>and</strong>made<br />

Blog: http://achibuu.blogspot.com<br />

Website: www.achibuu.com<br />

Contact: huichyet@yahoo.com<br />

P<strong>and</strong>a Eyes H<strong>and</strong>made<br />

Wen Yi (Graphic Designer)<br />

hata-knight@hotmail.com<br />

http://www.p<strong>and</strong>aeyesdiy.blogspot.com<br />

Ambriel Craft -h<strong>and</strong>made from the he<strong>art</strong>-<br />

(H<strong>and</strong>made Cards, Custom Made To Order,<br />

Home baked, Custom Bake to Order,<br />

Wedding Invitations, Thematic P<strong>art</strong>y Cards,<br />

Thank You Cards, Corporate Gifts.)<br />

43, Jalan Bp2,<br />

B<strong>and</strong>ar Bukit Puchong,<br />

41720 Puchong<br />

Selangor.<br />

Tel/Fax: 03-8060 3795<br />

Blog: http://ambrielcraft.wordpress.com<br />

Email: audrey@ambriel.com.my<br />

I LOVE UNIQUE GIFTS<br />

http://iloveunique.blogspot.com<br />

email: aimeili55@yahoo.com (Emily Ng)<br />

Shahril Nizam Ahmad<br />

(Freelance Illustrator)<br />

Email: shahrila@yahoo.com<br />

Webpage:<br />

http://www.geocities.com/shahrila/shahril_<br />

nizam.html<br />

Nazmi<br />

(Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Photographer)<br />

nazmi_photo@yahoo.com<br />

Yus Usratika@Luqman Husaini<br />

(Writer/composer)<br />

yusratika@yahoo.com<br />

yusnistone@yahoo.com<br />

www.usratika.blogspot.com<br />

Heroes Sticker + Heroes Apparel<br />

heroesticker@gmail.com<br />

hero<strong>esa</strong>pparel@gmail.com<br />

hero<strong>esa</strong>pparel.webs.com<br />

mudah.my/herosticker<br />

facebook.com/hero<strong>esa</strong>pparel<br />

Pyanz Henna Arts & Crafts<br />

Pyan Shariff<br />

(Henna Artist)<br />

012-297 9588<br />

Email:pyanzhenna<strong>art</strong>@yahoo.com<br />

Website: http://pyanzshariff.webs.com<br />

www.pyanzhenna<strong>art</strong>.com<br />

Studio: Blok A8-G-25, Jalan Mewah 4,<br />

P<strong>and</strong>an Mewah, 68000 Ampang, Selangor.<br />

Fax: 03-4291 1588<br />

'Everyone is Awesome'<br />

Ummi<br />

Creative Designer<br />

Phone: 03-6038 6377<br />

Email: everyoneisawesome@gmail.com<br />

Kufi On Kanvas<br />

Yushafizal Yunos<br />

kufionkanvas@gmail.com<br />

012-252 5644<br />

VALERIE YAN CREATIONS<br />

Valerie Yan<br />

( Illustrator)<br />

Rainie_yan@hotmail.com<br />

http://valeriecreations.blogspot.com<br />

Nurgajir@Gajir<br />

(Tempahan Nama Dalam Tulisan Jawi<br />

Lukisan Atas Kanvas)<br />

017-366 9290<br />

http://gajirkaligrafi.blogspot.com<br />

-Oil Painting<br />

-Abstrak<br />

-Seni Khat<br />

Tan Chee Hon<br />

Artist @ photographer<br />

85B, jalan tiong nam,<br />

50350 Kuala lumpur.<br />

Email: tchon75@gmail.Com<br />

picasaweb.google.com/tchon75<br />

Thangarajoo @ Mr. Raj<br />

(Artist-Children's book illustrator-Art Tutor)<br />

Conducts <strong>art</strong> classes at stucent's home.<br />

Call- 012 3467872<br />

Email: jootha@gmail.com/ jootha57@yahoo.com.<br />

Please visit:www.flickr.com/pjotos/thanga4<br />

bibichun<br />

(freelance designer, illustrator +graffiti <strong>art</strong>ist)<br />

bibichun@gmail.com<br />

www.bibichun.com<br />

Khor Hui Min<br />

(Writer)<br />

khor.hm@gmail.com<br />

khorhmin@yahoo.co.uk<br />

(Writing, Editing, Pro<strong>of</strong>reading, Project<br />

Coordination, Brochures Articles, Corporate<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>iles, General/Technical<br />

Reports, Websites/Interactive, Lyrics<br />

Translation, Children’s<br />

Books etc.)<br />

Michael Chuah Design<br />

(character designer/comic book <strong>art</strong>ist)<br />

chuahshihchung@yahoo.com<br />

www.michaeldesign.com<br />

The Seamstress<br />

http://seamstresses.blogspot.com<br />

Syahirah Suhaimi: 013-6282 2417<br />

Sumarni Suhaimi: 013-3730 602<br />

KLOBOT<br />

www.come<strong>and</strong>harmeme.vox.com<br />

myspace.com/klobot<br />

come<strong>and</strong>harmme@gmail.com<br />

WISEZONE-Innovative Photography<br />

GARY CHEW<br />

(Photographer)<br />

Tel/Fax: 03-7980 2210<br />

Fax: 03-7984 0959<br />

Email:wisezone_innovative@yahoo.com<br />

Play & Expressive Arts<br />

Andrew Ng (Play & Art Therapist)<br />

Tel : 012-361 8596<br />

-Founder & Director <strong>of</strong> Play & Expressive Arts<br />

-Conducts Parenting Seminars, Play Therapy<br />

Workshops & Training in Malaysia, Singapore,<br />

Hong Kong & China.<br />

Elements Creations- h<strong>and</strong> crafted<br />

ceramics<br />

48 Lorong Nikmat 2, Taman Gembira<br />

Jalan Kuchai Lama<br />

58200 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

nikicheong33@yahoo.com<br />

Colorss Clay Accessories<br />

www.colorss88.blogspot.com<br />

chia_li_huei@hotmail.com<br />

SUPPLIERS / SERVICES /<br />

BOOKS /<br />

Selvan Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd<br />

Specialised in convenience/newst<strong>and</strong> concept<br />

stores. Exclusive distributors <strong>of</strong> foreign<br />

magazines <strong>and</strong> books.<br />

tel: 603 4042 2339<br />

email: selvan39@streamyx.com<br />

On Target Training Sdn Bhd<br />

-books, posters, manuals, simulation s<strong>of</strong>tware,<br />

E-book,E-learning, educational dvds, Interactive<br />

Cd-Roms, customized content development.<br />

Office-03-77859716<br />

Fax-03-77859718<br />

email: arull@ottlearning.com.my<br />

HAVEN (something for everyone)<br />

Lot S211 (2nd floor) Promenade,<br />

1 Utama Shopping Centre,<br />

1 Lebuh B<strong>and</strong>ar Utama, 47800<br />

Petaling Jaya, Selangor.<br />

tel: 03-7727 3541<br />

email: getcrafty@craft-haven.com<br />

www.crafty-haven.com<br />

Clarity Enterprise<br />

(whol<strong>esa</strong>le & retail keychains, accessories &<br />

<strong>art</strong> pieces)<br />

No. 21 Lorong 9/115C, Taman Jaya,<br />

Off Jalan Kuchai Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Tel/Fax: 03-7875 9195<br />

Email: clarityenterprise@gmail.com


Design Art Books<br />

Lot FF-07,<br />

The Waterfront @Park City 5,<br />

Persiaran Resident,<br />

D<strong>esa</strong> Park City,<br />

52200 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Email: deendab@gmail.com<br />

Tel: 03-6280 7876<br />

Fax: 03-6280 7875<br />

BASHEER GRAPHIC BOOKS<br />

AT BORDERS<br />

Lot – 216-B, Third Floor, The Gardens Mid<br />

VALLEY<br />

Lingkaran Syed Putra 59200 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

www.basheergraphic.com<br />

www.basheercityroom.com<br />

Internasional Art Services(M)Sdn Bhd<br />

-mover <strong>and</strong> transportation <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong>works-<br />

Jerry (Supervisor)<br />

Tel: 03-7846 5821<br />

Fax: 03-7846 1944<br />

Email: international<strong>art</strong>services@jim.com.my<br />

THE ART SHOP<br />

(Art Material, Technical Drawing<br />

Instruments, Stationary)<br />

No 65, Jalan Negara,<br />

Taman Melawati,<br />

53100 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Tel: 03-4108 8322 Fax: 03-4107 8036<br />

Wholly Owned By Hi-Scan<br />

Whol<strong>esa</strong>le Sdn.Bhd.<br />

Leong Brothers<br />

-Artistic, Frame Specialists <strong>and</strong> Designer,<br />

Glass Dealer-<br />

331 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman,<br />

50100 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Tel/Fax: 03-2691 3941<br />

Tel: 03-2692 2116<br />

ART.FRIEND<br />

(Complete range <strong>of</strong> Art,<br />

Graphic & Craft Materials,<br />

<strong>and</strong> Stationary)<br />

Tel: 03 2284 7777<br />

Fax: 03 2284 7577<br />

email: kl_eng@<strong>art</strong>friend.com.sg<br />

Lot T-213, Third Floor, The Gardens,<br />

Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra,<br />

59200 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

www.<strong>art</strong>friend.com.sg<br />

KHAI LIEN SILK SCREEN<br />

SUPPLIERS (M) SDN.BHD.<br />

132, Jalan Selar, Taman Bukit Riau, Batu 3 ½,<br />

Jalan Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Tel: 03-9283 7032<br />

Fax: 03-9285 1035<br />

Email : kailien@po.jaring.my<br />

www.khailien.com.my<br />

We supply:<br />

Inks, Machineries & Equipment, Other<br />

Silkscreen Materials, Advertising.<br />

WS ART & FRAMES<br />

CENTRE SDN. BHD.<br />

(Art Gallery, Conservation & Custom Framing,<br />

delivery & Installation <strong>of</strong> Artwork.)<br />

No 34, Jalan Dang Wangi,<br />

50100 Kuala Lumpur.<br />

Tel: 03-2698 0132<br />

Fax: 03-2692 7520<br />

Email: ws<strong>art</strong>ctr@msn.com<br />

A member <strong>of</strong>:<br />

PROFESSIONAL PICTURE FRAMERS<br />

ASSOCIATION(USA)<br />

Perniagaan Hai Kuang Sdn. Bhd.<br />

-Supplies all kinds <strong>of</strong> screen printing, pad<br />

printing,materials, equipment machinery <strong>and</strong><br />

stencil making service.<br />

Head Office : No. 51, Jalan Dato’ Haji Eus<strong>of</strong>f,<br />

Damai Komplek,<br />

50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.<br />

Tel: 03-4042 9569, 4042 0071, 4041 9493,<br />

4041 9479<br />

Fax: 03-4042 2467(ADMIN) , 4042<br />

3425(SALES)<br />

Email: haikuang@tm.net.my<br />

SOLE DISTRIBUTOR IN MALAYSIA<br />

(The Most Famous in Silkscreen Printing<br />

Industry)


NEW YORK – September 5, 2011 – Leon Lim broke<br />

into the world’s leading television <strong>and</strong> entertainment<br />

industry that is making him Malaysia’s first <strong>art</strong>ist <strong>and</strong><br />

Asia’s first deaf star to qualify for the new second<br />

season <strong>of</strong> Bravo’s reality show series, “Work <strong>of</strong> Art:<br />

The Next Great Artist,” on NBC Universal, one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

America’s five major television networks, as well as<br />

Bravo’s first deaf star <strong>and</strong> contestant in its 43 reality<br />

shows including Top Chef, Project Runway <strong>and</strong> The<br />

Real Housewives. The show, “Work <strong>of</strong> Art: The Next<br />

Great Artist,” is a direct descendent <strong>of</strong> the juriedexhibition<br />

tradition which was greatly modified for a<br />

different age <strong>and</strong> culture, <strong>and</strong> became a staple <strong>of</strong><br />

American museums through much <strong>of</strong> the twentieth<br />

century.<br />

Mr. Lim, one <strong>of</strong> the fourteen <strong>art</strong>ists, was selected from<br />

several thous<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong>ists from across the United<br />

States <strong>and</strong> around the world. Thous<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong>ists<br />

came to New York, Chicago <strong>and</strong> Los Angeles with<br />

their digital <strong>and</strong> hardcopy portfolios or <strong>art</strong> pieces<br />

<strong>and</strong> waited in a four-hour long line for hours for their<br />

chance to casting audition. The <strong>art</strong>ists’ backgrounds<br />

range from recent <strong>art</strong> school<br />

graduates to emerging <strong>art</strong>ists to<br />

<strong>art</strong>ists with gallery representation<br />

<strong>and</strong> pieces in the permanent<br />

collections <strong>of</strong> internationally<br />

recognized museums, as well as<br />

their talents ranging from painting,<br />

photography, performance <strong>art</strong>,<br />

installation, multimedia, film,<br />

illustration <strong>and</strong> sculpture to come<br />

out for a potentially life <strong>and</strong><br />

career-level-changing opportunity.<br />

In the episodes <strong>of</strong> the reality<br />

show, the producers provided a<br />

certified interpreter who is fluent<br />

in American Sign Language <strong>and</strong><br />

English Spoken Language for the<br />

installation <strong>art</strong>ist Leon Lim for studio<br />

discussion with the <strong>art</strong>ists <strong>and</strong><br />

critiques <strong>and</strong> narratives with the<br />

judges.<br />

With his p<strong>art</strong>icipation in “Work <strong>of</strong> Art: The Next Great<br />

Artist,” Leon Lim embodies the new wave <strong>of</strong> Malaysian<br />

contemporary <strong>art</strong> <strong>and</strong> also is a leader in changing the<br />

perceptions <strong>of</strong> those among us who cannot hear <strong>and</strong><br />

have native language – American Sign Language – by<br />

defying the radical ideology <strong>and</strong> traditional images <strong>of</strong><br />

deaf people in the context <strong>of</strong> family, business, media,<br />

<strong>and</strong> the <strong>art</strong> world as a whole. He doesn’t believe that<br />

the inability to hear sound or music is a way to create<br />

an uncertain future or a poor life. Being deaf with sign<br />

language <strong>and</strong> being an <strong>art</strong>ist are new culture <strong>and</strong> a<br />

source <strong>of</strong> great pride.<br />

Mr. Lim has dedicated himself to increasing public<br />

awareness <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong> education <strong>and</strong> deaf education in<br />

Malaysia as well as advancing the diverse narratives<br />

threaded through Malaysian Contemporary Art.<br />

Influenced, yet not limited by his deafness <strong>and</strong><br />

strength, his career as an <strong>art</strong>ist draws extensively from<br />

his experiences in both Malaysia <strong>and</strong> America.<br />

Born in Kedah, Malaysia, Mr. Lim has been pr<strong>of</strong>oundly<br />

<strong>and</strong> proudly deaf since birth. His first language is<br />

American Sign Language. An alienated <strong>and</strong> isolated<br />

child growing up in a largely un<strong>art</strong>istc family, he<br />

drew <strong>and</strong> painted incessantly, inspired by the<br />

colorful covers <strong>of</strong> music cassettes-a fact he now finds<br />

amusingly ironic. Instinctively, his deafness motivated<br />

Mr. Lim to devise ways <strong>of</strong> telling a story through his<br />

<strong>art</strong>work without speaking, reading, or writing. It is not a<br />

surprise then, that Mr. Lim believes that experiencing<br />

<strong>art</strong> first begins from seeing, opposed to reading<br />

description on a label or hearing a teacher lecture<br />

on the subject.<br />

Mr. Lim left his family following primary school in<br />

Kedah, enrolling at the Federal School for the Deaf in<br />

Penang, the oldest deaf institution in Malaysia. At 14<br />

he was living alone in a three-bedroom ap<strong>art</strong>ment<br />

in Tanjung Bungah, Penang, which further instilled a<br />

strong sense <strong>of</strong> independence. Seven years <strong>of</strong> living<br />

alone allowed Mr. Lim build his world<br />

without the need to hear sound or<br />

music. He went to New York as an<br />

international student after he was<br />

awarded four scholarships, including<br />

the prestigious Nippon Foundation<br />

Scholarship.<br />

Mr. Lim received degrees from<br />

Rochester Institute <strong>of</strong> Technology in<br />

New York <strong>and</strong> De Montfort University<br />

in the United Kingdom, <strong>and</strong> then<br />

settled in New York City to pursue his<br />

passion for <strong>art</strong>, design, photography,<br />

fashion, <strong>and</strong> film. He dabbles in a<br />

wide range <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong> forms including<br />

painting, photography, multimedia,<br />

installations, <strong>and</strong> performance<br />

objects, Mr. Lim's compositions<br />

explores various themes, namely<br />

heritage preservation <strong>and</strong> social<br />

segregation, communication<br />

barriers, intertwining realms <strong>of</strong> life<br />

<strong>and</strong> death, connections between<br />

nature <strong>and</strong> man-made objects, <strong>and</strong> the politics <strong>of</strong><br />

identity <strong>and</strong> culture.<br />

Mr. Lim's <strong>art</strong>work has been exhibited in galleries,<br />

museums <strong>and</strong> major festivals including the Total<br />

Museum <strong>of</strong> Contemporary Art in Seoul, the CAFA<br />

Art Museum in Beijing, the John F. Kennedy Center<br />

in Washington, D.C., <strong>and</strong> the World Financial Center<br />

Gallery in New York City. Last year, in cooperation<br />

with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Mr. Lim<br />

was commissioned to create a new site-specific,<br />

l<strong>and</strong>mark public <strong>art</strong> installation for the George Town<br />

Festival in Penang. His “The Last Chairs” exhibition<br />

marked Penang’s first public <strong>art</strong> in its new chapter on<br />

Contemporary Art in George Town as well as Mr. Lim's<br />

first major work in his home country.<br />

Recently, Mr. Lim's transformative portrait <strong>of</strong> Julian<br />

Assange was featured in the 2010 TIME Magazine’s<br />

“Person <strong>of</strong> the Year” issue, which was printed in over<br />

28 million copies. Mr. Lim is currently exploring the<br />

dispositions <strong>and</strong> aftereffects <strong>of</strong> creation, evolution <strong>and</strong><br />

abstraction, working with the elements <strong>of</strong> fire, water<br />

<strong>and</strong> sunlight.<br />

In an interview with New Straits Times, one <strong>of</strong> the major<br />

Malaysian newspapers, Lim said,<br />

"People generally cannot see beyond a deaf person’s<br />

senses. Many <strong>of</strong> them have hidden talent. All that is<br />

required is a little prodding, a push. Give them a little<br />

encouragement. They are not as disabled as you<br />

might think."<br />

Cathy Rose A. Garcia <strong>of</strong> The Korea Times, wrote,<br />

'Being deaf should not be seen as a hindrance to<br />

pursuing one's dreams. If anyone is living pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> this, it<br />

is deaf Malaysian <strong>art</strong>ist Leon Lim'.<br />

Bravo’s 10-episode reality show series, “Work <strong>of</strong> Art:<br />

The Next Great Artist,” will be airing on Wednesdays<br />

st<strong>art</strong>ing on 12 October 2011. This imaginative series<br />

is a creative synergy between the Emmy-winning<br />

producers Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, the Golden<br />

Globe <strong>and</strong> Emmy-winning actress <strong>and</strong> executive<br />

producer Sarah Jessica Parker, <strong>and</strong> the creator<br />

<strong>of</strong> Project Runway, Eli Holzman <strong>and</strong> the executive<br />

producer Alison Benson.<br />

Host, judge <strong>and</strong> <strong>art</strong> enthusiast China Chow lends<br />

her <strong>art</strong>istic grace to the second season <strong>of</strong> Bravo’s<br />

cutting-edge contemporary <strong>art</strong> competition. The<br />

judging panel includes Jerry Saltz, the three-time<br />

Pulitzer Prize-nominated senior <strong>art</strong> critic for New York<br />

Magazine, <strong>and</strong> Bill Powers, the owner <strong>of</strong> New Yorkbased<br />

Half Gallery <strong>and</strong> literary <strong>art</strong> contributor. Simon<br />

de Pury, one <strong>of</strong> the <strong>art</strong> world’s leading figures <strong>and</strong> the<br />

world-renowned Chairman <strong>and</strong> Chief Art Auctioneer<br />

<strong>of</strong> Phillips de Pury & Company, adds his expertise as a<br />

mentor to the contestants.<br />

The new second season <strong>of</strong> “Work <strong>of</strong> Art: The Next<br />

Great Artist” is filmed in New York City under the<br />

watchful eye <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong> world elites. The fourteen up<strong>and</strong>-coming<br />

<strong>art</strong>ists are ready to make their mark on<br />

the industry <strong>and</strong> battle it out for a solo show at the<br />

Brooklyn Museum <strong>and</strong> a cash prize <strong>of</strong> $100,000.<br />

Bravo’s first season <strong>of</strong> “Work <strong>of</strong> Art: The Next Great<br />

Artist” averaged 1.37 million total viewers <strong>and</strong> 809,000<br />

in the adult age 18 to 49.


How long have you been based abroad?<br />

I was working in Singapore from since1995 but left<br />

for Japan in 2000 to pursue <strong>art</strong>.<br />

What made you decided to venture overseas?<br />

(Smile) hahaha ^^…<br />

Tired <strong>of</strong> working for other people!!?<br />

Before becoming an <strong>art</strong>ist, I was a ‘Visualizer’<br />

(Commercial Artist) in an advertising firm. When I<br />

was 24 years old, I imagined that I was going to be a<br />

famous <strong>art</strong> director or an Illustrator in an advertising<br />

firm one day as my training had prepared me. I was<br />

even awarded a ‘Best Studio man Award’ in 1999<br />

but I had already secretly applied online to study<br />

in Japan the 6 months before <strong>and</strong> was just waiting<br />

for the admission approval. My decision surprised<br />

everyone around me, including my family. I had only<br />

3 weeks to make preparations <strong>and</strong> resigned <strong>and</strong> left<br />

Singapore for Japan.<br />

I guess, perhaps seeking the REAL ME was my main<br />

purpose for venturing overseas after recalling all<br />

those years living abroad.<br />

What were the initial challenges when you began<br />

your <strong>art</strong> career in a foreign l<strong>and</strong>?<br />

At the beginning <strong>of</strong> my career, I had no doubt that<br />

I would have to learn <strong>and</strong> to do new things as well.<br />

Because <strong>of</strong> these reasons, I got invited to p<strong>art</strong>icipate<br />

in exhibitions with other fellow <strong>art</strong>ists organized by<br />

one <strong>of</strong> my pr<strong>of</strong>essors outside <strong>of</strong> the campus. The<br />

feedback was good, thus giving me the confidence<br />

to continue.<br />

What are the advantages <strong>of</strong> being based overseas<br />

<strong>and</strong> how have those advantages nurtured your<br />

<strong>art</strong>istic <strong>and</strong> creative talent?<br />

I don’t know whether what I have at the moment<br />

could be called advantages. For me personally, I<br />

had tried very hard to make my <strong>art</strong>works closer to<br />

the Japanese but it just comes out distinctively. You<br />

might say I already have my own ‘colors’, ‘shapes’,<br />

culture <strong>and</strong> identity. And difference is a constant<br />

in my works. However, philosophy stimulates me in<br />

creating my works.<br />

What are the differences in terms <strong>of</strong> environment,<br />

working as an <strong>art</strong>ist in Malaysia <strong>and</strong> abroad?<br />

I can’t really compare the differences between<br />

Japan <strong>and</strong> Malaysia because I have not kept<br />

up with the contemporary situation in Malaysia.<br />

However, I personally feel that Japan has more<br />

opportunities for one to show one’s works to the<br />

public. There are long lists <strong>of</strong> <strong>art</strong> galleries <strong>and</strong><br />

museum everywhere <strong>and</strong> <strong>art</strong> workshops for kids <strong>and</strong><br />

adult are common.<br />

What are some <strong>of</strong> the themes that inspire your work?<br />

Since moving to Japan 11 years ago, I had lived<br />

in both urban <strong>and</strong> rural areas. I am constantly<br />

fascinated by my surroundings <strong>and</strong> have never<br />

stopped being inquisitive <strong>and</strong> curious about human<br />

reactions around me, especially critiques <strong>of</strong> fixed<br />

<strong>ideas</strong>, namely symbolic image associated with the<br />

social structure <strong>and</strong> appearances.<br />

What <strong>art</strong>istic works/projects are you currently<br />

working on right now?<br />

I will have an open-air group show in a park next<br />

week. It is a valuable challenge to exhibit precious<br />

works outdoors. The works itself has to confront the<br />

natural elements, including man’s destructiveness.<br />

The longevity <strong>and</strong> sustainability <strong>of</strong> an <strong>art</strong>work is<br />

still essential these days <strong>and</strong> must be taken into<br />

consideration.<br />

What were the most memorable/ unforgettable<br />

experiences you’ve had as an <strong>art</strong>ist working<br />

overseas?<br />

It happened at a recent group show in Nagoya.<br />

A young man was grinning at my kinetic work ‘The<br />

Rubber Fan’ (2011) for more than 30 minutes!<br />

How <strong>of</strong>ten do you come back to Malaysia? What<br />

are your typical activities when you are back<br />

here?<br />

I used to come back twice a year but have nor<br />

been back since 2007. I usually gather with my<br />

family <strong>and</strong> friends. I also visit <strong>art</strong> galleries <strong>and</strong> the<br />

museum. I do ‘cultural research’ at the Mamak<br />

stores <strong>and</strong> hawker centers with my friends.<br />

I have a few SNS friends who are <strong>art</strong>ists on<br />

Facebook <strong>and</strong> they are my source <strong>of</strong> information<br />

about the Malaysian <strong>art</strong> scene. I think I will try to<br />

meet them in my next trip home.<br />

What advice would you give to other aspiring<br />

Malaysian <strong>art</strong>ists hoping to make it abroad?<br />

First <strong>of</strong> all I believe, if one wishes to venture abroad,<br />

one need to double one’s efforts or to pour in<br />

more energy in what one does as compare to<br />

being based back home for opportunities to<br />

appear. In the case <strong>of</strong> Japan, it has a very unique<br />

culture, it is Asia but it is not. Secondly, never ever<br />

forget your reasons for going abroad.<br />

Thirdly, ‘Let it be’.<br />

Name : Tan Ru Yi<br />

Year <strong>of</strong> birth : 1973<br />

Hometown : Kuala Lumpur<br />

Education : Nagoya Zokei university<br />

Current Base : Shizuoka, Japan


RESOURCECENTER<br />

GALLERYSHOP<br />

GALLERYCAFE<br />

‘CAHAYA’<br />

26 Oct - 25 Nov 2011<br />

Gallery REKA<br />

Curators: Kannathasan A/L Thanapal/Azman Salleh<br />

EXHIBITIONS<br />

‘LI CHI-MAO : JOY OF LIVING’<br />

25 Sept - 27 Nov 2011<br />

Gallery 2B<br />

Guest Curator: Vincent Sim<br />

The National Visual Arts Gallery was established<br />

on 27 August 1958 under the patronage <strong>of</strong><br />

Malaysia’s first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul<br />

Rahman Putra Al-Haj. Presently the NVAG,<br />

under the Ministry <strong>of</strong> Information,<br />

Communications <strong>and</strong> Culture Malaysia, aims to<br />

create awareness, underst<strong>and</strong>ing,<br />

appreciation <strong>of</strong> the visual <strong>art</strong>s <strong>and</strong> is the<br />

custodian <strong>of</strong> our national visual <strong>art</strong>s heritage.<br />

‘RAJA‘AH’<br />

ART, IDEA AND CREATIVITY OF SULAIMAN ESA<br />

(1950’S- 2011)<br />

20 Sept - 31 Dec 2011<br />

Galleries 3A & 3B<br />

Guest Curator: Nur Hanim Khairuddin<br />

www.facebook.com/ar tgaller y.gov.my<br />

‘CONCEPTUAL ART’<br />

(NATIONAL COLLECTION)<br />

9 Oct 2011 - 26 Mar 2012<br />

Gallery 1A<br />

Curator: Faizal Bin Sidek<br />

Guest Curator: Nasir Baharuddin<br />

ALI ‘MABUHA’ RAHAMAD: KEMBARA<br />

DI SARANG SENI<br />

30 Nov 2011- 31 Jan 2012<br />

Gallery 3A<br />

Guest Curator: Nur Hanim Khairuddin<br />

PELANCARAN BUKU & MINI<br />

PAMERAN : ‘PERJUANGAN PAK SANI’<br />

19 Dec 2011 - 20 Jan 2012<br />

Gallery 3B<br />

Curator: Rohana Mohd Yus<strong>of</strong><br />

International KLIB<br />

5 Dec 2011 - 31 Jan 2012<br />

Gallery REKA<br />

Curator: Rohana Mohd Yus<strong>of</strong><br />

nationalar tgaller y.blogspot.com<br />

2 Jalan Temerloh<br />

Off Jalan Tun Razak<br />

53200 Kuala Lumpur<br />

T+603 4024 4998<br />

F+603 4025 4987

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