Bewildered, Once More, the Much Awaited Solo Exhibition by Toon Hian

With Toon Hian’s previous and first solo entitled Bewildered having taken place in 2011, the works in this upcoming show will witness a revisit to familiar subject matters of ghosts, demigods, legends, animals and landscapes, all within the artist’s signature implementation of inks and watercolours.

Employing very deft brushstrokes and fine textures, Toon Hian’s vibrant and vivacious artworks reveal a simplistic naiveté which is reserved only for those who have been able to retain the ability to see things as they are. As a whole, the works to be featured within this upcoming exhibition are an evocation of the artist’s memories of his life in Perak and of incidents which have taken place over the past thirty years. A rekindling of what once was.

Bewildered was received as a truly unexpected, unhindered and curious delight, and Bewildered, Once More promises no less. This time around however, viewers will be greeted by works of a larger format, as opposed to the smaller scaled series previously delivered.

Hailing from a prominent industrialist Chinese family from Ipoh, Toon Hian was schooled in the UK and thereafter came back to live, work and settle in Ipoh, Malaysia. He is a successful businessman who is painfully private and his artworks are his escape away from the realities of this world. To further denote this, Bewildered, Once More will mark Toon Hian’s second ever solo showing throughout his thirty years of practice.

Bewildered, Once More, the much awaited solo exhibition by Toon Hian, at Wei-Ling Contemporary from 21st June to 30th July 2014. More info at http://www.weiling-gallery.com

MALAYSIA’S PROMINENT ARTIST LATIFF MOHIDIN’S 60 YEARS OF INVOLVEMENT APPRECIATION AT NATIONAL VISUAL ARTS GALLERY.

Featuring various forms of artwork produced by the famous painter, Latiff Mohidin, from 1950s until 2000s, the National Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to present the exhibition of Latiff Mohidin 60 Years Retrospective exhibit a total of 344 artworks including drawings, paintings, prints and sculpture in four main BSVN galleries.

During his career, many lives have been touched and impressed by his artwork and poetry writings. As an individual who began his career with a solo exhibition at the age of 11, this is considered as the most important in his artistic journey after completing six decades as an artist.The exhibition of his artworks is accumulated in the 12 series of artworks, nine series of paintings and also other forms artworks. Nine major series of paintings are Pre Berlin (1951 - 1959), Berlin (1960 - 1964), Pago-Pago (1964 - 1969), Mindscape 1 (1974), Langkawi (1976-1980), Mindscape 2 (1982), Waves (1988), Jungle (1997) and Vovage (2001), as well as a series of small paintings and other form or arts.

Latiff Mohidin 60 Years Retrospective Exhibition is divided into three time periods that reflect the level of Latiff Mohidin artistic development in which are Formative Period: time to recognize, learn and explore the world of art, Meditative Period: time to explore the role and responsibility as an artist and Gestural Period: at work, whether art or literary work it shows maturity in terms of aspects theme, composition and technique.

According to the Chairman of the National Visual Arts Development Board, Dato’ Mohd Rozali Isohak in his welcome speech, "This exhibition synthesizes various effects on mood and genre of art that creates dimensional diversity through art appreciation. Latiff Mohidin’s approach focuses on the differences to portray the character of his poetry, painting and his experience." Over 6 decades, Latiff Mohidin’s involvement in local and international visual art had produced many great works that served as points of reference to the next generation. He was always experimenting and improving his ability with various approaches. As a painter and poet, his artworks were produced from his own soul in which he always infuses with natural elements.

Latiff Mohidin 60 Years Retrospective exhibition was initiated by the Honourable Datuk Joseph Salang, Deputy Minister I of the Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture at Balai Seni Visual Negara. In his speech, Joseph Salang said, "This exhibition is very special, because this is the first time a retrospective exhibition that brings together more than 300 works from 28 collectors by a prominent artist of the country. He has received many awards and literary arts organizations nationally and internationally as his personal achievement. Latiff Mohidin has created a period of development and modernization in the visual arts in Malaysia. "

Latiff Mohidin had always produced great work since his childhood and until now after 60 years of involvement in the art industry, he is still looking for something extraordinary to create, that can always be enjoyed by the public in the future. Latiff Mohidin’s 60 Years Retrospective was first opened to the public on 26 December 2012 (December 26 - is the date on which Jones had his first solo exhibition in Singapore 60 years ago) and the exhibition had run until 13 June 2013.Visual documentation, illustration collection of poetry books and other publications by Latiff Mohidin are also presented in this exhibition.In conjunction with the opening of the exhibition Latiff Mohidin 60 years Retrospective, Balai Seni Visual Negara also launched the publication of Latiff Mohidin 60 Years Retrospective exhibiton catalogue that collects the highlights of art experience and background as well as the translation of Latiff Mohidin’s collection of works for 60 years in his artistic journey. 

SOLO EXHIBITION: TRANSFIGURATION BY HASLIN ISMAIL

G13 Gallery proudly presents Transfiguration, artist Haslin Ismail’s latest solo exhibition. A household name for art inspired by fantasy and science fiction, the solo offers a feast for the eyes with imagery of humans transmuting into machines, and characters grappling between technology and nature. The essence of this solo exhibition can be linked to the artist’s previous show, his residency exhibition at Rimbun Dahan, where he was artist-in-residence in 2011.

There are 28 works on display, including large paintings, watercolours on paper, and ink drawings. Key works include the eponymous Transfiguration (2013), a

large fantastical piece of a tree that has come to life, and Dorsiventrality, where the artist has portrayed a human rib cage that is morphing into cogwheels, bolts, and all. Nature played a strong role in that exhibition’s theme, and Haslin has carried this forward into 2013, as Transfiguration covers various topics, such as man and nature versus the machine, love and family, transcendence, and life and death.

Transfiguration marks the graduate of Universiti Teknologi MARA’s second solo exhibition, and the show looks set to solidify Haslin’s name as a unique Malaysian artist whose works are deeply embedded within the realm of fantasy.

“G13 Gallery is very proud to organize Haslin’s second solo exhibition, as this talented man was also the Grand Prize winner in Bakat Muda Sezaman 2011. His artworks have a strong uniqueness about them, and his art doesn’t observe any formalistic or theoretical boundaries. We really believe that this is what makes him different from other artists,” argues Kenny Teng, director of G13 Gallery.

Indeed, supporting successful names like Haslin Ismail is part of G13’s bid to become a household name in the local art scene. Since their official opening in 2011, they have been promoting names many leading and emerging names, and organized cross-country exhibitions, such as Dialogue in 2011.

G13 Gallery’s goal is to continue their wave of monthly exhibitions and increase awareness and promotion of contemporary Malaysian and Southeast Asian art.

Official Opening    : 8pm, 8th June  2013 ( Saturday )

Exhibition period   : 8th June – 30th June 2013

Venue                   :G13 Gallery, GL13,Ground Floor, Block B, Kelana Square, Jalan SS7/26, 47301 Kelana Jaya, Selangor. (behind new Paradigm Mall)

Exhibition hours    : Open daily  : 11am – 5pm ( Closed on Public Holiday ).

Email                    : info@g13gallery.com

Website                : www.g13gallery.com

Facebook             : www.facebook.com/G13gallery