Where emotion runs deep
Two emerging artists talk about how art challenges stereotypical notions of identity.
NEWCOMER artists Wong Ming Hao and Joy Ng are full of smiles as they introduce the works in their joint show Distant Emotion at the Hom Art Trans gallery in Selangor. All the hard work has certainlu paid off – with 24 works hanging on the walls.
Both have had a busy six months, working in a brand new studio space in Ampang, Selangor. They have been part of the Adopted Residency (A-Res) arts programme, which provides a platform for budding Malaysian artists to focus and hone their artistic talents.
Established in 2008, this residency programme is organised by the Hom Art Trans gallery. In fact, this programme has played host to 14 artists, many of whom have gone on to become successful, including Ruzzeki Harris, Azam Aris, Zelin Seah, Yeoh Choo Kuan and Gan Tee Sheng.
“A-Res goes beyond just offering of a studio space or technical help. Having a platform to showcase their works is just as important to emerging artists as having a conducive space to create,” says Mimie Baharuddin, A-Res residency co-director.
“The residency gives them that as well, as it culminates in an exhibition showcasing the works produced during the six-month period and giving an occasion for art collectors and the wider public to visit and view them,” she adds.
In Distant Emotion, Wong and Ng have produced 12 works each – a substantial number in six months. While both artists have very different styles and methods, both have chosen to work on a similar theme: the exploration of identity. Strikingly, the works of Wong and Ng are mainly figurative, but both apply strong use of abstract concepts in their execution.
Wong’s works, such as Where Are You Now and I Still Don’t Understand, have a distinct look. They all feature paint skins being applied to the main canvas, giving them the impression of layers being peeled away. He talks about soul and mentions these pieces represent going beyond a person’s outward facade, and delving more into how they truly are inside.
“I’m always talking to my friends and people around me, and getting to know their stories. In these talks, there is a lot about (personal) history and the emotions underneath. Some have masks when facing people, but others have (real) stories inside them,” says Wong, 30, a Dasein Academy of Arts graduate from Triang, Pahang.
Ng’s works, on the other hand, are autobiographical, mainly composed of female figures in repose. The young artist, who hails from Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, says she is working on developing her style and own visual language. Many of her works, such as
Tranquil Tumult, Ennui and Circumstribe, feature their subjects with faces obscured, but their hands drawn with a great amount of detail.
Ng wants the viewer to think about “an exploration of perceptions”.
“I easily get affected by naysayers. Outer circumstances can affect me, and cause me to lose my identity. That’s why in most of my paintings, the faces, which are very important to identify someone, are blurred. But the hands are more detailed and in more intense colours. Is my identity defined by what I do, or who I am as a person?” questions Ng, 22, who is also a Dasein graduate.
Both Ng and Wong said the residency had been invaluable in helping them grow as artists.
“The residency helped me focus and keep working on my art. Here, I didn’t have to worry about space, or (art) materials. I could just sit down and finish (my art works),” says Wong.
Ng mentions that the residency has also widened her outlook beyond just making art.
“It was great to get to know so many established artists, who gave me so much guidance and advice. I also enjoyed visiting (other) galleries. Through this residency, I was introduced to gallery owners, managers, curators and collectors, and it was great to widen my connections,” she concludes.
Distant Emotion is showing at Hom Art Trans and Hom Studio, located at 6A and 12B Jalan Cempaka 16, Taman Cempaka, Ampang in Selangor till July 28. The studio is open from 11am-6pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays. Visit: www.homarttrans.com. Call: 03-9286 7004.