The Great Merdeka Bake-off

BAKE-OFF #1
Selamat Datang ke Malaysia,
23 Aug - 15 Sept 2007, Valentine Willie Fine Art
OPENING: THIS WEDNESDAY, 22 AUG, 8PM - come for drinks and celebration!


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BAKE-OFF#2
50 Ways to Live in Malaysia
21 Aug - 30 Sept, Galeri Petronas
GRAND OPENING: MONDAY, 27 AUG, 5 - 7pm



This group exhibition of 50 Malaysian artists addressing the theme of 50 years of living in Malaysia gathers artworks made since 1957 by artists ranging from the pioneering modernists of the 60s to the emerging artists of today, with an emphasis on the works for their own sake and how they relate to the central theme. The exhibition paints a picture of modern Malaysia, inspired by sub-themes like the land, nature, society, communities, religion, politics, gender, architecture, leisure, food and historical events, both local and global, which have contributed to the way we think and feel as Malaysians.

Betta's exhortation: Since I have yet to learn how distasteful it is to blow one's own trumpet - you must go and see this! They requested a previous installation of mine ('Rise, rise, rise') to be in it, and I was quite unhappy at having to remake what I felt to be old (and stale) work - but after I finished installing, and then to see it in this well-curated exhibition, in that beautiful circular gallery, accompanied by works of far greater stature and quality - I am strangely moved, immensely humbled. It is a sentimental reaction to an admittedly rather sentimental show, and maybe that's why it feels special. For the longest time now, I haven't had that feeling that Malaysian art is important or meaningful in a big way - and walking around this exhibition gave me that oddly familiar tingle that I have been missing for so long. Remember to have a look and post me your comments! (Note that Galeri Petronas is closed on Mondays, chickies!) I'll put some images up when I get the chance.
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BAKE-OFF #3
Merdeka 50 - A Celebration of Malaysian Art
2 August 2007 - 16 September 2007
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM)



Perdana Leadership Foundation and Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia are proud to present "Merdeka 50 - A Celebration of Malaysian Art" - a spectacular assembly of sixty-seven Malaysian artists in commemoration of Malaysia's fiftieth year of Independence. Through their works of art in various media, these artists offer us their unique interpretation of "Merdeka" and their perspective of Malaysia's journey and progress as an independent nation.

Haven't seen this, but has a 'blockbuster' feel to it. Zedeck Siew writes his thoughts on the show (he seems somewhat underwhelmed, but tries to be generous) at Kakiseni.com. I will go, especially as I have a soft spot for the Islamic Arts Museum building.
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BAKE OFF#4
Bebas Lah - Malaysia @ 50
23 Aug - 9 Sept, The Annexe @ Central Market

'Lim Kit Siang', by Hishamuddin Rais
Image from kakiseni.com

Take a humourous look at our very earnest country, as four artists bebas (free) our minds by reimagining our favourite politicians, tourist attractions and social mores.

Curated by Valentine Willie, featuring the work of Liew Kung Yu, Eiffel Chong, Saiful Razman and Hishammudin Rais(!) Waitaminute - art can be funny? I will go, to see if they have got 'funny' right, instead of confusing 'humour' with 'cynical and nihilistic sense of irony'.
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BAKE-OFF#5
Ivan Lam: After all these years...
16 Aug - 12 Sept, Wei-Ling Gallery

I'll be the first to say Ivan Lam is personally one of my least favorite Malaysian painters, coming close behind Gan Siong King (I will note here that this is far from a critical assessment. This being my personal blog, I make strong distinctions between my personal tastes and more measured judgment based on art theory, art history and forcing my noodle-brain to actually do critical work, etc); and seeing an image of one the paintings in his latest show that is a sad appropriation of Damien Hirst's dot paintings fairly made me pant with apathy. But I have seen images of other the paintings and in spite of myself I am really intrigued, especially by this one:

'Heaven (Heaven Can't Wait)', 2007
Acrylic on canvas, 48" x 120"
Image from www.weiling-gallery.com

Like Ahmad Fuad Osman's work (also not in my personal tastes), the quality, freshness, and willingness to take a risk can't be denied. By the way, all the paintings are done with Nissan house paints. I will be going to see it, but really, was this sycophantic nonsense necessary when the Kakiseni.com editor put this show on the week's recommended list?: 'RECOMMENDED! Some paint Ivan Lam as an arrogant genius. Ivan Lam paints genius onto canvas. Isn't that what the art world lives for?' *Betta gags*

Also kudos to Wei-Ling Gallery for flying in the face of convention and not succumbing to Merdeka Madness.
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So much art. Feel glad my own show will miss this frenzy. But perhaps by then people will be too tired for anymore soul-searching and critical thinking. I will have to make fun the order of the day. (That's fine by me....)

One last thing, as far removed from Merdeka fever as a quiet cup of tea, so it is not considered a BAKE-OFF: Newty has finished her commissioned painting at last! It's quite gorgeous. Have at look at her latest post.

Betta ober n' out. It's headless chicken time, people....