“Raised in an artist family, I was very fortunate to learn Chinese Ink Painting from my father. I did not go through formal fine art trainings, rather, my background in interior design and fashion and textile design influenced my perception of the visual world and the way I constructed my composition.
Combining my unique use of color, technique and detail, it is my desire to create art pieces emphasizing the spiritual aspect and the conceptual aspect of expression. I do not paint to represent the physical form with precision, but rather convey inner feeling and thought. Hence, the core subject hovers enigmatically between concreteness and abstraction. My intention is to integrate the spiritual and natural beauty in order to reach the unity of “beauty” and “perfection”.”…Jing Chung

1. Name of event: An art exhibition entitled “Sabung Santai”.
2. Venue: 1st Floor, No 8, Jalan Abdullah,Off Jalan Bangsar,59000,KL
3. Company: Pelita Hati Sdn Bhd
4. Duration: 7th to 30th April 2012 (Viewing hours: Mon- Sat 10.00am-6.00pm)
5. Category: Paintings & wall relief.
6. Contact details: Tel: 03-20923380; 03-22829206

Email: phati@streamyx.com , Website: www.pelitahati.com.my
Facebook: www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/phati1

The exhibition coming in April 2012 is about a collaborative effort by a group of professionals that uses visual arts in their academic activities. As lectures, they not only teach visual arts to their students but contribute also to the development of arts as a whole. They are all from UiTM Perak and participating for this exhibition are – Zainon Abdullah, Hamdan Shaarani, Addy Azman Mahmud, Aznan Omar,Izzadin Mat Rahah,Izzal Khairi Ramli, Khayril Anwar Bin Khairudin, Mahadi Ayob, Mahizan Hijaz Mohammad,Mohamad Fadly bin Sabran, Mohamad Hafiz bin Yahya, Mohd Daud Abdul Rahim, Muh Sarip Abd Rahman & Noor Efendi Desa.

Sabung Santai ialah curahan pemikiran sekumpulan karyawan seni visual yang menghubungkan kegiatan akademik dan catan. Sebagai tenaga pengajar mereka menghasilkan karya yng bukan sahaja membantu proses akademik tetapi juga berperanan sebagai penyumbang kepada pembangunan seni visual. Sabung santai mengetengah isu alam kemanusiaan dan alam ketuhanan. Isu-isu tersebut dicurahkan diatas kanvas dan bahan sebagai luahan ekpresi secara santai.

Perasmian pameran pada hari Sabtu, 14hb April jam 5.30 petang.

artmalaysia.com.my
( http://artmalaysia.com.my/arttalk/detail/31/sabung-santai-%E2%80%93-a-group-exhibition )

James Ooi
…….
I write and I paint to express myself. Life is about sharing, expressing and giving loving kindness and helping others. I know I am on a journey, along the way I write about it, I paint about it and I wish to share my thoughts and my art with those like minded people who may find it interesting. And helpful, I hope and wish for them.

Jing was born to an artist family in Malaysia, she received her BFA in Interior Design from Academy of Art University, San Francisco, USA in 1995, and MS from University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK in 2003. From 1996 to 1998, she was a visiting lecturer at International Modern Design Art College (IMDAC) of Yunnan University and IMDAC of Inner Mongolia Normal University. She was then appointed the vice president of IMDAC of Inner Mongolia Normal University. A few years back she started to go full time in painting as she realized that spending much time in lecturing and designing never gave her self satisfaction.

Jing received numerous awards local and international including Malaysia 11th National Furniture Design Competition (1999), Malaysia IFDC Award for Open Category (2003), Korea International Travel Souvenir Design Competition (2005), Italy Design Boom Social Awareness Award (2006), and finalist in Italy ARTINGENUA Prize (2008) and The Hunting Art Prize of Houston, Texas (2009). In 2010, she was one of the winners of Susquehanna International Art Competition and her artwork “Fishing Village” was featured as the lead image in one of the chapter of the book “River Art”" sponsored by West Shore Gallery and Sunbury Press. Her artworks were exhibited in several countries and had been collected by private collectors local and abroad.

Jing Chung…

Video-URBAN ART

Urban art 08/03/2012 till 31/03/2012. The exhibition launch is on Saturday, 10th March 2012 at 5.30pm.
The exhibition coming in March 2012 is about varieties of art style that relates to cities and city life. It will showcase artworks done by artists who live in or have a passion for city life. To summarize it all it is about visual art forms arising in urban areas and is inspired by urban architecture or thematising urban life style.

Video-Kemelut Zaman

Can you tell us about the sculptures is this series?
The sculptures in this series are a continuation of works from the Rhythm of the 21st Century. In fact some sculptures are based on the sketches that were in rhythm. Although I developed the idea further into new forms, I incorporated bullets into the works to show the continuity.

You said the works are a continuation, yet the sculptures in this series are very different from those in Rhythm of the 21st century. Why is this so?
Well each series of work that I create is different according to the message that I want to convey. To me sculptures are very effective as a means of conveying visual message because you can see and feel them. However they are only effective if their form and mood is right. In rhythm, I had my sculptures made from cut up pieces of metal plates to imitate shrapnel which are pieces of metal left behind as war debris. I had them finished in matt black to give the effect of charred metal left after a bomb blast. Rhythm of the 21st Century is about man, weapons and wars. In my new series, I translate war within a wider scope and I explored new forms of visual language to convey this message.

Can you explain to us the concept of your new works?
The sculptures in Kemelut Zaman are made to symbolize the effect of war in the era we live in. War here is taken in a wider context and include both physical and psychological wars (for example the infiltration and influence of modernity), both of which destroy cultures and traditions and change how people live. They impact our music, the games we play, our lifestyle, our thoughts and behavior. I use bullets to symbolize this battle or peperangan and incorporated other forms such as musical instruments and other traditional objects to symbolize its impact on culture and tradition.

Why is it that you left out bullets in one of the sculptures entitled ‘Khalifah’?
Khalifah is symbolic of the ‘leader’ who despite his own destruction still battles on to free mankind from war and destruction. He symbolizes the savior, the one who brings freedom and peace.

Technically do you find these works challenging to make?
Yes. In this series, each piece is unique. The construction of each piece requires careful thought and planning. I spend a lot of time in details. I want the works to have a fine finish. Technically, these works are more challenging to make than my earlier pieces.

Is that why are there only six pieces?
No. I explored many elements in every piece. Each piece tells a different story. For example in the piece entitled ‘Irama Abad ke 21’, which is translated to mean ‘Music of the 21st Century, I relate the shape of the guitar to the human form and added an image of a parrot at the base to symbolize there are people who speak but do not know what they are saying. There is lot of talk and propaganda but the words uttered are not the wise words of a leader. Instead these words lead to chaos, conflicts, wars and disorder. In Gembala Abad ke 21 (Shepherd of the 21st Century), I place the head of an animal on top of a human face to symbolize how man uses his beastly nature to rule other man. When this happens it is as if man has allowed beasts to rule over man. In the piece entitled ‘Pekaka Abad ke 21 (Pekaka of the 21st Century), the hilt of the keris (a Malay weapon) entwined with bullets is symbolic how the artistry of the keris is destroyed with the coming into existence of modern weapons. In Khalifah (leader), the metal pieces used in the figurative sculpture symbolize a war-torn body while the bird symbolizes freedom and peace. Each piece of sculpture has a meaning and six is enough to convey the message.

The sculptures Raja Shahriman has created in Kemelut Zaman are not only refreshing to look at but are very appropriate in the context of our modern society. In exploring new forms, Raja Shahriman has cleverly transformed musical instruments, cultural and traditional objects into modern, interesting and aesthetic pieces of art that will remain relevant over time. The fine metal finish he has given the works makes the sculptures modern and elegant. Thus despite the few numbers, the sculptures in Kemelut Zaman not only affirm the skill and craftsmanship of Raja Shahriman, but also demonstrate his wittiness as a contemporary artist.

Tengku Elina Aziddin

Participating artists:
Mat Anuar, Prof Ramlan Abdullah, Raja Shahriman, Rosli Zakaria, Prof Norwani, Prof Ruzaika, Prof Hjh Mohainee, Abdul Rahman Amin, Prof Alias Yusof, Jamil Mat Isa, Prof Jalaini Abu Hassan, Aznan Omar, Mohd Daud Rahim, Syed Iskandar, Mohd Azlan Mohd Latib, Suhaimi Fadzir.

17th December 2011:
03.00 pm Art Talk – Artists will deliver short talk about their Artworks, expounding on their ideas, thoughts and processes that they have undergone in creating for Al-Aqsa Exhibition.

04.00 pm Story-telling Session – Wan Ainun Radzi will deliver the session in the form of story-telling, recounting the story of Solat and the significance of al-Aqsa.

The sculptures Raja Shahriman has created in Kemelut Zaman are not only refreshing to look at but are very appropriate in the context of our modern society. In exploring new forms, Raja Shahriman has cleverly transformed musical instruments, cultural and traditional objects into modern, interesting and aesthetic pieces of art that will remain relevant over time. The fine metal finish he has given the works makes the sculptures modern and elegant. Thus despite the few numbers, the sculptures in Kemelut Zaman not only affirm the skill and craftsmanship of Raja Shahriman, but also demonstrate his wittiness as a contemporary artist.

Tengku Elina Aziddin