It was a busy June for RogueArt. We’ve been meaning to put up these pictures from our Where Art Happens talks series but the three of us seem to be running relay in and out of KL.

Our series of three Saturday talks was all in all a great success thanks to our wonderful speakers from both Malaysia and abroad, our sponsor Yayasan Sime Darby, media partner Off The Edge, as well as to the fantastic audience, especially those who faithfully came for the full whack. We ourselves were impressed with the turnout, and salute all those who came for their dedication to the issues surrounding art in our community.

Session 1 – Art Spaces: Policies, Agendas and Ways Forward got off the ground with a most venerable panel of speakers – Dr Najib Dawa, Director-General of our National Art Gallery, Ahmad Mashadi, Head of Singapore’s NUS Museum, Hasnul J Saidon, Director of Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah at USM in Penang, and Iqbal Abdul Rahim, Creative Producer for Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery. It was a lesson in the challenges facing institutions dealing with art today, but it would seem that there is a general recognition of changing contexts and a sense of investment, particularly for the university museum-galleries, in developing future generations of audiences. It was particularly exciting to get a peek at the plans for the new Bank Negara museum and gallery which looks extremely impressive, and while it is very much a multi-faceted institution dedicated to more than just art, we’re sure it will make a big impact on our corner of local civilisation.

L-R : Dr Najib Dawa, Hasnul Saidon, Ahmad Mashadi, Iqbal Abdul Rahim & Beverly during a floor discussion

In the afternoon Rifky Effendy an indendent curator from Indonesia who took us on a quick tour of the Indonesian art scene which has changed dramatically since the regional market began to boom a few years ago. Pang Khee Teik, Programme Director of the Annexe Gallery waxed political and philosophical on the dangers of art policy, and the advantages of organic development (complete with arm movements). Simon Soon, a local independent curator, made a sweep of independent and alternative spaces in the region, showing us the breadth and depth of bold and exciting artists’ intitiatives from Malaysia to Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Syed Nabil represented the largest sector of non-institutional spaces in Malaysia – private galleries, telling the story of his own space NN Gallery.

Surprisingly there weren’t many challenges from the floor, although one attendee did comment that it was all a lot to take in….

L-R: Syed Nabil, Simon Soon, Pang Khee Teik, Rifky Effendy & Beverly

Session 2 – Getting Out There: Art in the Community attracted the biggest crowd. It was a pretty international event, with artists Amanda Heng from Singapore and Tran Luong from Hanoi, Reza Asung Afisina & Ardi Yunanto from ruangrupa Jakarta, and Defne Ayas of ArtHub and Performa from Shanghai. From our home corner Hari Azizan talked about various Five Arts projects in the community such as Asian Youths ArtsMall, Lim Kok Yoong talked about the Let Arts Move You project on KTM trains and at KL Sentral Station in 2007, and Yap Sau Bin showed off the brilliant just released DVD of the Contemporary Art in Schools Project at Stella Maris school last year, managing to sell a few copies that day. This session was moderated by Eva McGovern. It was all very inspiring, and we had lots of audience feedback (with some pondering on the age-old question of the role and identity of art), and we hope to see more beautiful art-in-public/public art initiatives in our back yard soon.

L-R: Hari Azizan, Amanda Heng, Eva McGovern & Tran Luong

The crowd catching up with friends during lunch break

L-R: Eva McGovern, Yap Sau Bin, Lim Kok Yoong, Defne Ayas, Reza Asung Afisina & Ardi Yunanto

Session 3 – Feeding Creativity: Art Residencies and Grants had givers (in the morning) and takers (in the afternoon) give their viewpoints on the worthy practice of funding fine art.  Rahel Joseph talked about the two residency programmes she had initiated, for the Australian High Commission (Sydney) and for Galeri Petronas (Beijing), while Angela Hijjas described the RImbun Dahan residency programme(s) updated us on its latest developments, hinting at possible new programmes in Penang and Yogyakarta. Stephanie Yeap talked about the RBS-Malihom AIR programme in Balik Pulau while HOM (House of Matahati) was represented by Bayu Utomo Radjikin who told off many great initiatives by HOM including their residency programme, art competition, artists’ fund and fundraising events. Mella Jaarsma, co-founder of Cemeti Art House came to share her experiences from their Landing Soon residency programme and how Cemeti will expand on this to be a residency-based project space from next year onwards. Marion d’Cruz talked of the good work of the Krsihen Jit-ASTRO fund, and her experience with Artists’ Network Asia (ANA), and noted how there was a positive increasing trend of artists giving to artists.

Marion d’Cruz speaking about 5 Arts Centre

L-R : Angela Hijjas, Mella Jaarsma, Marion d’Cruz, Rahel Joseph, Bayu Utomo Radjikin, Sharon Lai & Stephanie Yeap

By the afternoon, things had got pretty relaxed. The last panel of the series included residency/grant veterans Malaysian artists Ahmad Fuad Osman, Chang Yoong Chia, Ise and Vincent Leong, a handsome young crew who gave eloquent presentations on the ups and downs of residency experiences (80% ups) – not being able to speak Korean, bureaucratic issues in the land under JB, the efficiency of the Taiwanese, the luxury of time and of Rimbun Dahan,freezing in Vermont, partying in Oz. We saw some of the work they did out there, too.

L-R: Roslisham Hashim (Ise), Vincent Leong, Ahmad Fuad Osman & Chang Yoong Chia

We’d just like to say thank you once again to our speakers, our sponsor Yayasan Sime Darby, media partner Off The Edge, and everyone who came and made the talks a worthwhile initiative. We hope to make this a yearly event, addressing different pressing issues for the art community.

We are preparing a fuller report on the talks which we will publish on our Projects page in the near future, so please do post here any comments or feedback on the talks series you feel may be of interest.

Meanwhile, check out our Where Art Happens art map, published in the June edition of Off The Edge, reproduced here.

Opening night

The opening of Personal Effects, our first exhibition project for 2009, on 30 May was a roaring success. We were really happy to see so many of our friends from the art world and beyond come to the show. Thanks all for your support. Thank you especially to the exhibitors for being so forthcoming. I hope in the end they rather enjoyed having their prized possessions on display.

Jalaini Abu Hasan & Jaslena Amir setting up

Hayati Mokhtar, with Attachments

The first floor was a great crowd-pleaser, especially with the younger guests – they really took to Su Ann Wong’s shrine “The Dolphin is My Goddess” and Chang Yoong Chia’s clever shadow play “Shadow of Flora and Fauna”. Wong Hoy Cheong’s “Free Coffee” was also very popular, attracting such luminaries as Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal and his wife Datin Hamidah.

Free Coffee, served in person by Wong Hoy Cheong

Su Ann Wong, The Dolphin is My Goddess

Iqbal Pakhruddin with Shadow of Flora & Fauna

We apologise now for not having many photos of the night – sadly, while the crowd was wonderfully respectful of the fragility and preciousness of the exhibits, my camera went missing at the end of the night. If you came for the opening, please do post any nice images you may have!

For more about the show, and to download the PDF catalogue, go to our Exhibitions Page.

BY

Gosh, weeks have gone by since our last post! May has been a hectic and exciting month for RogueArt. I was away for the first two weeks –in Singapore, Jakarta and then 9 days in Hong Kong to be a part of Asia Art Forum and attend Art HK09, while the second half of the month was spent running around getting ready for our show Personal Effects, which opened on Saturday 30th May. Please check our exhibitions page for our recently uploaded e-catalogue of the show.

To prove that we have been busy, here are some shots from the well reviewed Art HK09 (Hong Kong International Art Fair) held from 14-17 May 2009 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Despite the slowing down art market, N1H1 flu alerts and precautions, Art HK09 has proven itself as Asia’s ‘to-watch’ art fair. The presence of blue-chip galleries such as Gagosian Gallery, White Cube, Lisson Gallery with their stellar artists clearly states Art HK has the edge to give other Asian art fairs a run for their money, and should to be taken very seriously.

Apart from the “Backroom Conversations” hosted by Asia Art Archive during Art HK09, other major corollary events include SCMP | ART FUTURES, a showcase of emerging artists from around the world sponsored by South China Morning Post. Christine Ay Tjoe’s typewriter installation, “Panoroma Without Distance” was selected by a panel of judges and critics as the winner of this year’s showcase.

For reviews about Art HK09, do check here and here. (AO)

Starched shirts installation along the hallway to the convention hall

Julian Opie (Lisson Gallery)

Julian Opie (Lisson Gallery)

Julian Opie’s View of Matsuzaki Bay in the rain, from route 136 (Lisson Gallery)

Winston Roeth, Easy Lover

Bea Valdes’ Longhorn presented by Silverlens Gallery

Asia Art Archive’s Build Your Dream Museum booth

A special presentation of Anthony Gormley’s sculptures by White Cube

Marc Quinn’s Microcosmoss (Victory) (White Cube)

Damien Hirst (White Cube)

Gilbert & George (White Cube)

Gabriel Barredo at Soka Art Center

Konstantin Bessmertny, Monument to Anyone presented by Amelia Johnson Contemporary

Choi So Young (CAIS Gallery)

Tang Gallery booth detail

Tatsuo Miyajima presented by Scai The Bathhouse

Shi Jindian, Osage Gallery booth

Sarah Lucas/Olivier Garbay, LOVE IS A BIRD LOVE IS A BURDEN at Other Criteria

Christine Ay Tjoe’s “Panaroma without Distance”, winner of the SCMP | ART FUTURES section at Art HK09

Richard Lau’s Headlight 1 (The Scream)

Richard Lau, Headlights made with fused plastic

Fabian Tan’s Electrolyte Series made from old computer parts and wire lights

We have been busy working on TLS09 (The Light Show 09) over the past few weeks. This is RogueArt’s first exhibition project for the year and we’re really proud to have had a hand in its making.

The idea for TLS09 was conceived in 2008 and it is the brainchild of Carolyn Lau, Farah Azizan and Lisa Foo, well known architects and designers from Kuala Lumpur. Inspired by the idea of upcycling –transforming discarded materials that socially and aesthetically hold little value into objects of greater use and value, TLS09 is a modest project with strong ambition. It brings together a group of TLSers –architects, artists, designers, theatre lighting designers and film director, in an exhibition centered around lights, light-related objects and installations. This show balances the tactile joy of craft and ‘vocational school work’, an appreciation for aesthetics, beauty and wonder with an underlying aim to be ‘greener’ and to think about the way we live and consume.

Carolyn Lau, Nourishment 4, made from milk and juice cartons

Carolyn Lau Nourishment 1 & 2 made with Yakult bottles and Nourishment 3 made from used cat food tins

Farah Azizan, Short 1, Metal oil drum, old soda bottles, mild steel 40W fluorescent ring

What I love most is the unexpected and inspiring ways in which materials and form have been reinterpreted and re-presented. It is a case of less is more as some of the most successful works in this show are motivated by simple and playful imaginations. Each TLSer brings with him/her a unique flavour to this diverse and colourful palette. From the zen zone of re-experiencing space through light to the longing for the nostalgic past, from the repetitive processes of gathering, cutting and assembling at home to hardcore industrial steel welding and plasma cutting, these works reveal a little about the TLSers distinct sensibilities and temperaments, their predilections and interests. They also encourage us to take a little time out to consider the potential and possibilities of the most mundane objects surrounding our everyday lives.

Opening night was choc-a-block on April 16th at the Annexe Gallery, Central Market as guests from theatreland and beyond showed up in droves to catch TLS09′s stellar line up as well as “SEVEN SKINS”, a dance performance choreographed by the formidable Aida Redza, featuring Anne James, Foo Chi Wei, Hailizan Mahmoon (Aida’s mum who graciously performed the Terinai) Shafirul Azmi Suhaimi, Suhaili Micheline Ahmad Kamil, Sukarji Sriman and Aida’s good self with music by Hardesh Singh.

(from left) Sukarji Sriman, Suhaili Micheline and Shafirul during Seven Skins performance in Loh Kok Man’s installation Light/Thought

Anne James interacting with Lisa Foo’s Lancelets, a headgear and selendang made from PET bottles and LEDs

We apologise for our scarce documentation of SEVEN SKINS as our cameras were blocked by the back of audiences’ heads. To make up for it, Nazim Esa has put together a wonderful video documentation of the dance as part of TLS09. Do check it out if you are keen to watch the performance. (AO)

Zainah Anwar and Carolyn Lau

Richard Lau

Bernard Chauly’s Muzium Lampu installation (detail)

Lisa Foo

Farah Azizan

Ahmad Fuad Osman

Carolyn Lau’s kitchen cabinet installation with Hangovers 1-7 on cabinet top and Tin Kosong inside

Bernard Chauly’s Agar-Agar LED glowing object from Muzium Lampu installation

Fabian Tan, Gu-light 4, Abandoned timber pallet, glass marbles, fluorescent lamp

Mah Su Sim’s Assorted Light Sculptures made with recycled PET bottles

Jazmi in front of his Strawmap interactive projection

TLSers are: Bernard Chauly, Carolyn Lau, Fabian Tan, Farah Azizan, Jazmi Izwan Jamal, Lisa Foo, Loh Kok Man, Mah Su Sim, and Richard Lau.

TLS09 runs from April 16 – May 3, 2009 at The Annexe Gallery, Central Market, Kuala Lumpur

The exhibition continues at Galeri Tenaga from May 7 – May 23, 2009

Galeri Tenaga is located on the Ground Floor of Wisma TNB, 19 Jalan Timur, Petaling Jaya. (Opening times:  10am – 5om Mon To Fri, and 10am – 2pm on Sat). Tel: 03-22966364 or 03-22966682 or 03-22966847

This project is made possible with the support of Krishen Jit-ASTRO Fund

With thanks to Galeri Tenaga, GDP Architects and Balai Seni Lukis Negara

Check out more images of TLS09 here and here

We interrupt this blog to quickly divert your attention to thirtyfour in perspective, an event organised by thirtyfour, a Kuala Lumpur-based design collective, on Tuesday, 18th Nov 2008. As advertised on facebook and in their e-invites, this one-night only event at the historical Chin Woo stadium, located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, showcases their “explorations in skin” over the past 18 months. The result is a collection of hand-made leather accessories –bags, clutches, belts, cuffs, wallets, sandals, slippers, card holders– that has cultivated a niche following, the hip urban audience who are looking to stand apart from mainstream cookie-cutter society. Functional and minimally stylish, thirtyfour’s designs combine bold shapes, lines and contours with unusual textures such as chicken skin among others and daring bursts of colours. While we loved their door gift and went equally glazy-eyed over their designs, it was their “out of the ordinary” installation, created out of scaffolding, bubble wrap and stenciled cardboard boxes, which won a RogueArt thumbs up. Go thirtyfour!

Hooray! RogueArt opened our very first exhibition project on 1st Nov 2008! Gimme Shelter is a special fundraising exhibition with drawings in charcoal by our dear friend, the renowned Malaysian artist Ahmad Zakii Anwar. This exhibition is in aid of Intan Life Zone Welfare Society in Johor Bahru, a home to over 25 men, women and children, the majority of which are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Ahmad Zakii is a co-founder of Life Zone and full proceeds from the sale of this exhibition will go to building an after-care center where former residents will receive training in basic income-generating skills such as gardening, carpentry and car washing. The center will also provide former residents with small business opportunities.

We are happy to announce that all twelve portraits are now sold! The portraits were also produced as limited edition prints, a number of which were picked up by several generous supporters that evening. A big THANK YOU also to all our guests and friends who showed up at the opening, and for so graciously contributing to our donation jars. There are still sets of these beautiful prints available for interested collectors and supporters.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

view of exhibition on opening night

Guest of honour Prof Adeeba, President of the Malaysian AIDS Council and Ahmad Zakii Anwar

Liza and Snow signing in

Hamir and I-Lann

Life Zone outreach worker Fong with his portrait

Prof. Adeeba, Beverly, Ai Lin and Jackie

John, Leonard and Johnni

For those of you who missed the opening, please do visit the exhibition at no. 19 Jalan Berangan (behind Changkat Bukit Bintang), Kuala Lumpur. We are open from 10am – 6pm, Mondays to Saturdays. The exhibition closes on 15th November 2008. Call us at +016 266 7413 if you would like to make an appointment.