Somewhere behind Central Market leading up to Dayabumi. Shot in 2018 I grew up in a relatively small section of Petaling Jaya in the late 70's and 80's. Back then, there wasn't much in the way of highways or tall buildings. My first experiences with skyscrapers was the IBM Tower in TTDI, and while visiting relatives in Pekeliling Flats in KL, during my youth. My dad was always working to earn a living for the family, my mom, a housewife. In my teenage years I was able to experience personally, the large, immense city that we call Kuala Lumpur. It was then that I began clubbing, dancing, partying and gallivanting the streets and clubs at night till the wee hours of the morning. In the daytime, street, rap and skate culture led me to places like Lot 10 and Sungei Wang in Bukit Bintang. This was in the mid 90's. I began to realize that metropolitan cities like this were found everywhere else in the world. They provide a function of industrialisation; they are working and living spaces for millions of people. People travel and relocate to large cities, primarily for work. To earn better livelihoods and to make worthwhile, an education that was paid for by sweat and tears by parents, families and student loans. A better quality of life. That's the main idea is, isn't it? Cities nourish and prop up the capitalist ideal : to provide spaces that house the best variety in entertainment, finance, food and beverages, hotels, nightlife, stores, movie theatres, grocers and a multitude ways to spend your hard earned cash that would never exist in a kampung. So why do millions of people that live, commute and work in the city feel lonely and alienated? Why do they feel depressed? A disconnection happens when an individual is cut off from his/her family. Humans are social creatures. This is evident in our shared communal history. Essentially, we are all just very advanced animals / mammals that can wilfully create and believe in fictional, abstract ideas. Isn't the idea of money, law, countries and borders, entertainment, trends, social media - merely products of our imaginations? Aren't our combined and shared beliefs, the wellspring that make these things real and tangible? It exists in our minds. It resides there, conscripted to us from infancy. Why are people disconnected and lonely in big cities? Its been demonstrated that the ideologies of capitalism do not benefit our natural state of being. Cities are antithetical to the social animals that we are. When we hit crises in our lives, who do we turn to for support? Our families and friends - Echoing what The Beatles wrote in '67 : 'We get by with a little help from our friends'. I walk around the streets of Kuala Lumpur and I see elderly shopkeepers holding the fort in their businesses. Flower shops, mini markets and grocers, foodstall hawkers etc. - They have been living and working the city almost all their lives. They've been doing the same thing for 20, at times, 30-40 years. Exuberant as they may be, they are ruthless too. They don't take shit from anyone. It's a cutthroat world out there. And there's no time to dawdle. The natural instinct to survive and thrive in the city amazes me. I find this trait and skill admirable, brutally honest and noble. KL is very much like any big city in the world. There's your KFC, McDonalds, Uniqlo, H&M, Fridays, Starbucks, Samsung, Apple store - being in one mega mall is like being in any other mall in the world. The juxtaposition lies in the remnants of the past, embedded in the city's architecture. Abandoned buildings and skyscrapers still tower among us, deserted and neglected. Back alleys co-exist in the dark. They are dingy, broken and remedied streets. Dark alleys await us in the nocturnal light, anticipating the possibility of a passerby. This macabre juncture between the new and the old fascinates me. As a visual artist and human being, it is unavoidable. It's all there for us to look at, like a bad traffic accident. Desolate places where people who fall in between the cracks of life, live, rest and find respite. The streets mimic life ensconced. The ghosts of present and past are laid bare for all to see. Being an artist, this fissure attracts my attention. Old tiles from the 60's, old stairways leading nowhere, rickety plumbing and haphazard electrical wiring - these are spirits of the past; planners and doers contributed to these contraptions. They are now debauched. Uncared for. Put aside and set asunder. Filed away for an unknown future. This is the real KL - the real city we live in. It's the soul of the megacity. It's what swallows us whole, if we let it. For a lot of city dwellers, these are truths of their lives. It humbles me to think about the squalid affairs of things. But let's get real. It is important. And it matters. A homeless man sitting by the roadside at Jalan Walter Grenier. Shot in 2018 Many do not have families to go back to at the end of the working day. They are separated from their kin. There is no other option, sad as it may be. We are a civilised culture, or so we think. Countless wars, revolutions, civil unrest has befallen us throughout history and will continue to do so. In the face of adversity ('Tirar Para Arriba', meaning 'to toss upwards' but most often translated as 'to overcome adversity') - people do what they can and will. There are great, beautiful things that happen on a daily / hourly basis which we will never see in a shopping mall. It is in the giving of food to the less fortunately and homeless (soup kitchens). It is in the giving of money or alms to the needy when they never ask for it. It is in the strength of a community that rallies around to help others in times of need and disaster (earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, fires, COVID). It is in the good samaritan who holds the door open for the elderly. Or in the act of holding the lift doors open for others to enter. It is in the generosity of companies and corporations that appropriate yearly funds and resources to feed, clothe, buy school bags and books, toys, playthings, soccer balls, dolls - for the orphans in the outskirts of the city (through CSR programmes) and it is in the sending of money back home to siblings, families, elderly parents, aunties and uncles and ailing families and communities. This is not heroic. These are not superhuman feats. They are basic values, a common decency and natural for us as human beings - as natural as the sun rises and sets. As natural as breathing. 'Rubicon', 48x48 inches, Oil on canvas, 2022 The new Cityscapes embody this story of humanity, hope, responsibility, love and resilience. Never forget your roots. We live on this pale blue dot and in a yellow submarine. For as much hurt and suffering we may inflict upon ourselves and others, we also have an enormous capacity to heal, to take care of, and to believe in the impossible. We can realize our dreams and desires if we want to, no matter who or where we may be. Care for others. Listen. Be still and accountable. Embrace your humanity.
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'88 Bulls', 48x48 inches, Mixed media on canvas, 2021 (Sold) '88 Bulls' is a painting from the One Series. It embodies the theme of repetition and finding order and beauty in chaos. A central figure is omnipresent, creating tension and a counterpoint to the smaller characters embedded within the painting. Objectively, the works arose from my studies and paintings of animal figures which are used as a reference point to expand and express themes and values in society.
Animals present me with an opportunity to speak about the subjects of behaviour, equality, greed, harmony, interconnectivity, nature and our role in the tree and pyramid of life. About our roles in it and about being responsible, appreciative and mindful that we possess the power to influence every living thing on earth. Bulls are a representation of strength and sheer indomitable force. These bulky yet graceful creatures have been symbols in human history for a millennia and embodies great cultural and spiritual significance. From the Spanish bullfights to Hindu beliefs to Zodiac symbolism to agriculture - bulls have been part of human history for a long time. Technically, '88 Bulls' is similar to the other works in the One Series. Works that draw on the power of repetition and modulation, they are painstakingly rendered one character at a time, numbered (in this case, the number 88 signifies prosperity and includes twin infinity symbols), and drawn in my usual drawing style. A style that I've developed as far back as a teenager in my graphic novel days. '88 Bulls' builds on this experience with a new influence. A new medium - Bitumen; a petroleum based medium also known as tar. I've used bitumen in this work as a shading and tonal medium. The warm, umber hues are built up of bitumen washes, glazing and glossing over until it gives the work a textural and chemical resonance. It is my hope that the viewer and collector receives the raw and indefatigable power that the bull animal represents; a galloping, unstoppable force that pushes and plows forward which makes progress and beautiful things possible. 'Alchemist', 36x36 inches, Mixed media on board, 2021 (Sold) The work aims to raise awareness and highlight issues surrounding mental health. The need for support and care in this day and age is highly underrated, yet much needed at a time like this.
One of the main causes that afflict a person's well being - an invisible one - one that's not talked about or generally understood until recently; is the topic of mental health. It's our mental capabilities that endow us with thought processes that makes us unique individuals. All throughout my life, I've encountered cases of people who suffer from stress, depression and delusions. While people may receive support; psychosomatic ills remain prevalent in many cases and are almost always difficult, uncomfortable battles. It's my aim and prerogative to be in a position to help others. I myself have undergone various forms, stages and phases of depression - ranging from mild to severe. Having experienced this, I do not wish it upon others and I'm contributing what I can; my time, materials, ideas and energy towards the rehabilitation, support and recovery of my friends and peers. It's my hope that you too can contribute in your own way, be it in raising awareness, or just being there for someone. Alchemy is the transmutation of base chemical elements. The conversion of one physical substance into another. We are all alchemists, and I appreciate your support in making the world we live in a better place for all. 'There is a voice that doesn't use words. Listen.' - Rumi '100 Malaysians', 22x30 inches, Ink and watercolors on paper, 2019 (Sold) Ah, 62 years old. Happy 62nd, Malaysians! Yeah this sounds pretty old compared to a human's lifespan, but 62 is a pinprick in the grander perspective of civilisations (I personally know of a few human beings who are older than Malaysia). Founded in 1957 under British rule, independence was declared by a conglomerate of clans, races and parties united. It was an amazing time right? Just look at all those old photos of Malaya in the 1960's. Man, these people were having a great time. I was born when Malaysia was just 20 years old.
What have we achieved so far? Besides the most recent political and financial fiasco which led to demonstrations over the years (Malaysians always execute their rights to congregate and rally for what's just), there were no major wars, no natural disasters, no nuclear fallouts. Overall, we've had quite an unmarked history. Still, like most countries we are slaves to the monetary system and banks but in general, most people are just looking to live out their normal lives. Now for some accomplishments: A Malaysian invented the USB flash drive. We rejoice whenever one of our sports persons / teams or academians receive worldwide acclaim. We have several cities listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We're home to tigers, orangutans and tapirs (not to mention a multitude of flora). We have our own language, national flag, anthem, laws and a federal democratic constitution (It's a little British, sure; but everyone's gotta start somewhere right?). This is a celebration for all of us. In a way, it's all our birthdays. Yes, we're still a teenager compared to USA, India, Japan, Indonesia, China et al. and we have so many things to improve on. But for now, enjoy this thing our forefathers worked so hard on achieving. Selamat Hari Merdeka! |
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