Thursday, July 19, 2007

Wooden sculpture


A tripod is an excellent creation, it encompasses stability, precision and deals mostly on technical superiority. However, when an artist were given the liberty to exploit this everyday form, the results sometimes could be startling and even eye candy to some. The understanding of material and processing it into a work of art is no easy task.

Sculpture made of wood wouldnt last and wouldnt stand the test of time, but come to think of it, what other things would?

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

The most visited


(The Clock Tower - built in the late 20th century)


(Victoria Fountain - adjacent to the clock tower)


Both monuments received countless visits from tourists all over and are amongst the most photographed sites in Malacca. The top ranking monument as in the most visited, the most photographed and the most significant - The Santiago Gateway, Porta de Santiago, the remaining gateway of the A Famosa city built in 1512 by Portuguese Admiral Alfonso de Alburqueque.

Yeah! Gems, gems...






Amongst top work found in the exhibition

Monday, July 16, 2007

1st part

Fascinating Melaka - the review


The numbers were staggering, some 60 individual paintings of varying qualities, all denotes some sense of contribution to Malacca. The idea was simple, come up with a thematic artwork that would reflect on Malacca as a fascinating state. Let's talk about several things before we swim deep into the core subject.

The venue:

Bastion House, the space offers great possibilities, high ceiling and all but the display panels were much to be desired for and the overall design of the exhibition seems placid and very homely. Clearly style and flair was never on the exhibitor's mind. The space was not utilised as creatively as one should. It seems like the exhibition was not intended for good curatorial treatment. One would be forgiven if associating this kind of exhibition with the one in Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) where yet another Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) exhibition thrive.

The paintings:

Undeniably, there are some exceptional paintings, like Sham Ahmad's narrative piece (the most bottom pix) on Malacca river reminiscing of Zulkifli Dahalan's style and approach but with a more colourful tongue in cheek presentation. The iconic river and its significance in mapping out most of the adult Malaysians state of mind whenever the subject of Malacca came to question. Inspect it closely and you would be suprised to the detailings via humour that he had manifest through this piece. Another good one was from the veteran Abd Rafiee Abd Rahman (red river) who boldly painted Malacca all over with red, some would say that it was already too late for him to adopt such style at his current bearings but to me, I somehow could feel the rush and excitement from the bloody river.

Where as for the rest, such mediocre outings, it's sad that most of you were pretty occupied to interpret Malacca as JUST some pretty pictures with no soul and lust within it. What you guys were offering can be surmised into one word : FARCICAL. I could not feel anything and also could not cope with the plain insensitive mind who execute their work just for the sake of it.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Let the Bloody River Flow!



As seen the masterpiece displayed above, the River-in-Red, which portrait The Malacca River, a well known seaport, where people fish, trade, travel, get together, party here. Wishing that the "blood" that flow in the vain of The Malacca River, can keep-on flow without obstacle.

So, Let the river flow!

Developments, constructions, civilization, modernization, etc, are such BIG words that reflecting economy, living standard, wealth. BUT... nature, environment, peace, tranquil, can be easily eliminated by those words. The Malacca River began to bleed, the colour become reddish.

And so, let the bloody river flow!

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Fascinating Melaka


Why people tend to be daft and unimaginative is beyond my comprehension. Take, Malacca for example, was this state too sterile? hence lack in culture and historical values?
or was it because the artists assigned to interpret the qualities attributed to malacca were too lazy to think?
These thoughts linger. (click on image to enlarge)

Wednesday, December 31, 1969