Working Title @ Petronas Gallery

WORKING TITLE

29 August – 12 October 2008

GALERI PETRONAS, KLCC

Media Release: WORKING TITLE EXHIBITION LAUNCHED AT GALERI PETRONAS

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 August – As part of its exhibition programme to celebrate Malaysia’s 51st Anniversary of Merdeka by showcasing new voices in a growing Malaysian art movement, GALERI PETRONAS launched its latest exhibition Working Title, a group exhibition featuring the works of twelve emerging Malaysian artists, curated by Zainol Abidin Ahmad Shariff and Bodrolhisham Mohamad Tahi. The event was officially launched by the internationally acclaimed Malaysian filmmaker and art activist, U-Wei Hj. Saari, who also unveiled the exhibition publication of the same title. Many of the artists selected to be part of this exhibition are relatively unknown to the public. All of them – Ahmad Zuraimi Abdul Rahim, Elias Yamani Ismail, Fabian Tan, Kamal Mustafa, Khairul Azril Ismail, Maslin Md Ramly, Mohd Afifee Ibrahim, Mohd Fuad Md Arif, Nadhirah Anuar, Safrizal Shahir, Saharuddin Supar and Tan Sei Hon – demonstrate innovative and refreshing approaches to developing their own artworks. These artists are also at the forefront of new media as well as the reinvention of classical practice like painting, printmaking or sculpture. Working Title attempts to provoke important questions about how and why artists make their work by examining the creative processes and conceptual concerns behind the making of the work. Rather than focusing on the aesthetics of the finished work alone, the exhibition explores the methodology and the philosophical concerns of these young artists in creating work that responds to the world around them. Featuring a diverse range of artworks including video installation, photography, installation and sculpture as well as classical mediums like painting, the exhibition highlights the range of mediums and innovations that are being employed by contemporary artists today. To add more value to the exhibition, GALERI PETRONAS will also hold floor talk sessions to provide the opportunity for the public to interact with all of the artists on Saturday, 30 August 2008 and another with the Guest Curators on Saturday, 11 October 2008. Both sessions will be held at 4:00 p.m. in GALERI PETRONAS. With this exhibition, GALERI PETRONAS intends to support the development of the Malaysian contemporary art movement by providing the space and impetus for newer voices to be heard, as well as making it accessible to the Malaysian public in line with its ‘Art for Everyone’ thrust. In her speech, Tengku Nasariah Tg Syed Ibrahim, Director of GALERI PETRONAS said “With this exhibition GALERI PETRONAS demonstrates its commitment towards supporting the development of the contemporary Malaysian art movement by providing the space and platform for both artists and audiences alike to engage in a discourse of alternative views in art.” Exhibition continues until 12 October 2008. Issued by GALERI PETRONAS 29 August 2008

Working Title – Berita Harian

Saturday, 30 August 2008

Galeri: Pameran iktiraf bakat baru seni rupa Oleh Farah Wahida Md Razid bhsastera@nstp.com.my Dua pelukis berbakat besar tanah air diberi peluang mengadakan pameran di KLCC BAKAT baru dalam pergerakan seni Malaysia mendapat pengiktirafan apabila himpunan karya garapan 12 pelukis tanah air berbakat besar yang sedang mengukir nama dalam industri ini dilancarkan di Galeri Petronas, KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, baru-baru ini. Antara pelukis yang terbabit pada Pameran Working Title ialah Ahmad Zuraimi Abdul Rahim, Elias Yamani Ismail, Fabian Tan, Kamal Mustafa, Khairul Azril Ismail, Maslin Md Ramly, Mohd Afifee Ibrahim, Mohd Fuad Md Arif, Nadhirah Anuar, Safrizal Shahir, Saharuddin Supar dan Tan Sei Hon. Dikuratorkan oleh Zainal Abidin Ahmad Shariff dan Badrolhisham Tahir, Working Title merujuk kepada proses penciptaan seni dan pameran kali ini menonjolkan pelbagai karya kontemporari menggunakan media campuran atas kertas, video, cetakan digital dan kotak lampu, cetakan iris, kaca lebur serta cat minyak atas kanvas. Graduan Seni Halus (Lukisan), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Maslin Md Ramly, antara pelukis wanita berbakat yang menyerlah pada pameran kali ini seperti dapat disaksikan dalam koleksinya seperti Bleeding Heart II, Holly Blood II dan Eating Habits. Eating Habits menampilkan makanan popular kalangan masyarakat tempatan dan pelukis ini mendapat ilham daripada beberapa nama produk terkenal tanah air yang kemudian dicurahkan ke dalam lukisan sehingga tampil santai dengan unsur lucu. Kayu keras, engsel keluli dan helaian muka surat majalah lama sekitar 1889 juga menjadi bahan yang diadaptasi pelukis bagi pengisian Pameran Working Title apabila pakar dalam bidang pengkonsepsian, reka bentuk, dokumentasi, koordinasi serta pengurusan projek moden, Fabian Tan, menjadikan bahan lama terbabit sebagai konsep utama rekaannya. “Saya gemar bermain dengan perkataan terutamanya bahasa Inggeris dan ia bergantung kepada sudut penglihatan pemandang kerana sisi yang berlainan akan mengurai strukturnya selain mungkin saling melengkapi atau bertentangan dengan imejan,” ulasnya pada pertemuan dengan Sastera, di Kuala Lumpur, pada hari pelancaran, baru-baru ini. Turut mencuri tumpuan ialah pemenang Anugerah Biasiswa SLAB dan Anugerah Insentif pada Pameran Terbuka Galeri Shah Alam, Elias Yamani Ismail kerana tampil dengan hasil kerja menarik lewat Tingkap dan Metropolis yang menggunakan kaedah cetakan digital dan kotak lampu. Pelukis berbakat yang sering merangkul pelbagai anugerah tempatan dan juga luar negara, Ahmad Zuraimi Abdul Rahim, tampil dengan karya unik iaitu Hope dan The Safety Pin, mempertaruhkan hasil seni menggunakan media campuran serta ukiran aluminium. Nadhirah Anuar pula tampil dengan koleksi lukisan, The Story of Pantang Larang dalam lima siri dan keunikannya terletak kepada kreativitinya apabila beliau menggunakan skrol kerana menurutnya ia bersesuaian dengan idea penyembunyian serta pendedahan yang ingin ditonjolkan dalam karyanya. “Idea menggunakan skrol tercetus ketika saya sedang membaca mengenai kaedah lama persembahan wayang kulit Melayu dan cerita kanak-kanak dalam bentuk kartun di Jepun manakala pantang larang itu mempunyai maksud tersirat di sebalik ayat,” tambah beliau lagi. http://www.bharian.com.my/Current_News/BH/Friday/Sastera/20080919092906/Article/

Artworks from the exhibition

Metropolis, light box, digital print, wires & extensions,

101 x 72 cm (2 units) + 101 x 24 cm (3 units), 2008

Full installation view

Installation view

Detail

Detail

Detail

Tingkap, Window

Mixed media,  43 x 43 cm (8units), 2000

Installation view

Detail

Working Title – Opening Ceremony

Speech by Uwei Hj. Saari

Tengku Nasariah Tengku Syed Ibrahim – The Director of Gallery Petronas with Uwei Hj. Saari. (background artwork by Elias Yamani Ismail, ‘Tingkap’, collection of Uwei Hj. Saari, year 2000)

Voize interviews U-Wei Hj. Saari

Saturday, 30 August 2008

At the launch of “Working Title” art exhibition in Galeri Petronas KL, Rachel Chan interviews U-Wei Hj. Saari – Filmaker & Art Collector.

http://voize.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1476

Blogs on Working Title

http://www.emmagem.com/2008/09/01/working-title-artworks-by-emerging-malaysian-artists/

http://www.berandaseni.com/journal/files/b49e68db87d64ef37d4181dc24ae882d-31.html

http://www.notesfromvenus.com