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All these, I really could not asked for more and for that, I am thankful, every day of my life. One of the most valuable lesson I have learned in life is to always look towards the positivity in everything, no matter how dreadful it may be. Here’s wishing each and everyone of you a Happy 2021!

This series of paintings depict a perceptive insights in stillness, a state of mental quietude.

When we take time to be still and quiet the mind, we are able to achieve a clear introspection of our own thoughts and emotions.

When our thoughts are free from surrounding chaos, our mind becomes unified and collected and enters into a state of clear consciousness and mindfulness.

EXTRICATE

To be free from entanglement, disengage and extricate our mind from mindlessness.

 23.5×16.5 inches (60x42cm)

140lbs (300gsm) hot pressed Lanaquarelle watercolour paper.

Faber-Castell Polychromos/Caran D’ache Luminance colour pencils.

ALTRUISM

A benevolent state of mind with concern for happiness and valuing of others, be it human beings and/animals.

A determination to act for the benefit of others which in turn, resulting in a quality of life both material and spiritual

23.5×16.5 inches (60x42cm)

140lbs (300gsm) hot pressed Lanaquarelle watercolour paper.

Faber-Castell Polychromos colour pencils.

EQUIPOISE

A balance of forces.

23.5×16.5 inches (60x42cm)

140lbs (300gsm) hot pressed

Art exchange exhibition is a celebration of culturally diverse arts by artists of all ages and nationalities from various countries. There are a total of 46 participating artists from 12 countries, China, France, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, USA, Thailand and Taiwan respectively.

This exhibition is organised by the Yunlin County Vision Development Association with the support of the Yunlin County Government and Yunlin County Cultural Affairs Bureau. Curators of the exhibition and the whole art exchange program are two established Taiwanese artists, Mr. Din Ren-Tong and Mr. Albert Wu with Taiwan’s esteemed print-making master, Professor Bill Chung, as the honourary advisor.

Apart from cultivating and developing cultural exchange and interactions between the local and foreign artists, it is also a great platform for up and coming artists to get greater exposure and recognitions of their artworks.

The exhibition was held at the Cultural Affairs Department Yunlin County Government

Art Exchange is a unique event in the Asian and Europe regions. It is a celebration of culturally diverse arts by artists from various countries.

These exhibition celebrates the rich spectrum of nationalities and culture which populate the local area. Invited artists with various styles of work gathers together in one place, sharing and exchanging ideas and philosophy with talks and workshops.

I am extremely honoured to be amongst the participating artist from my country. There were 49 artists altogether from Australia, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Pakistan, Taiwan and Malaysia. And guess what? I am the only one working with colour pencil!

This is the 5th international art exchange exhibition under the curatorship of Taiwan’s esteemed print-making master, Professor Bill Chung(National Taiwan University of Arts) and three established artists, Mr. Ding, Mr. Albert Wu and Mr. Chang of Taiwan.

This exhibition is not only a

Imago Mundi is a cultural, democratic and global project that looks to the new frontiers of art in the name of coexistence of expressive diversity – Luciano Benetton

Imago Mundi (Image of the world) was founded and strongly supported by Benetton Foundation, Italy.  imagomundiart.com

This idea of this project is to foster positive relation allowing active interaction amongst artists of all ages and levels, art communities and academics.

Inspired by the movement, three South East Asia’s established artists, Abu Jalal Sarimon of Singapore, A.Zaki Hadri of Malaysia and Antonius Kho of Indonesia decided to collaborate and continuing the project in their own country respectively.

With their motto “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something”, they believe via collaboration within these three countries, true progress can be amplified for maximal effect. They hope that this Imago Mundi 3 Nations will move on to a much bigger platform, capturing entire Asia, Europe and beyond.

I

It has been two months since this exhibition but the memories were still fresh in my mind.

This exhibition was initiated by Solmaz Pessian https://www.facebook.com/SolmazArtStudio/  

and

Faramaz https://www.facebook.com/womansartbyfaramas/

both extremely multi-talented Iranian women. They have been residing in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia for several years now.

I was truly honoured to be included in this collaboration.

This is the first exhibition for Solmaz as a colour pencil artist and she is extremely passionate in what she does. Her goal is pretty similar to me, hoping that this medium will be taken seriously and that coloured pencil art is not child’s play.

Faramas is a fashion designer by profession who is gaining vast recognition locally. She has been actively showcasing her fashion works and exhibiting her artworks internationally.

Both Solmaz and Faramas planned and did all the ground work for this exhibition. I was not much of help because I live in Penang, a 4 hours

20th April 2017, will be one of my memorable moment in my art journey because this is my first ever trip to Taiwan, the Republic of China (ROC).
I am truly honoured and humbled to be invited as one of the participating artist in the 2017 Taiwan International Art Exchange Exhibition “Yunlin Art Together”.

This exhibition has gained a success running for three consecutive years and 2017 is their 4th year. The event was curated by the very well known and revered Taiwanese printmaker, Dr. Chung You-Hui, a professor of the National Taiwan University of Arts, with the assistance of Mr. Ting Jen-Tong and Mr. Wu Chiung-Wei, both of whom are established and award winning artists in their country.

This year, a total of 49 artists from 10 countries were invited. They are from Australia, China (HongKong and Macau), Iraq, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Spain, Thailand and Taiwan. Quite a diversity there.

This event was held

Equanimity – calm, composure, presence of mind, serenity, tranquility.

As shown in several of my work, rock/pebbles seems to be one of my favourite subject. I find them very versatile, both in paintings and expressing human feelings metaphorically.  They can be intense yet subtle at the same time.

With this piece, I wish to portray a sense of tranquility yet complex at the same time. At a glance, the whole composition looks calm and serene. But take a closer look, you will see so many muted colours and textures in every individual rocks. Just like us human beings,  we are unique in our own way.

If we as a society are able to practise tolerance, understanding and respect for each other, no matter how different we look or difference in belief and creed, we CAN co-exist peacefully. Imagine a world where everyone look and think alike, scary isn’t it?

The size of this piece is

Pluralism has such vast meanings. In a simple explanation, it means “the condition of being multiple or plural.”  

My interpretation of this painting is based on Sociology, the existence in a society of groups having distinctive ethnic origin, cultural forms, religions, etc.  A condition in which numerous distinct ethnic, religious, or cultural groups are present and tolerated within a society.

In Sociology, “Pluralism” means the existence of groups having distinctive ethnic origin, cultural forms, religions etc., that are present and tolerated within a society yet adds to the “flavour” of the whole.

Individuals, irregardless of race, creed, culture, shapes and sizes, when coexist harmoniously, can turn this world into a beautiful and harmonious place in time of many challenges.

The rock pebbles depicted in my painting is a metaphor of today’s society, multiculturalism. Each rock represent us as individual, some are similar but never quite alike and some are a total opposite but still a rock all

Wabi-sabi represents Japanese aesthetics and a Japanese world view centered on the acceptance  of transience and imperfection . The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent and incomplete”. Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, roughness, simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy and appreciation of the ingenious integrity of natural objects and processes.  – en.wikipedia.org

Now, what made me want to paint this? Many did asked why and what were my thoughts when I chose this particular subject.

I happened to notice this main water valve by accident. This valve is right by the junction to my house that I drove pass every time but I never took any notice until then. It is something that I, like many others took for granted that it is just there.

I was desperately looking for subject/inspiration for the Langkawi Art Biennale 2016. I need a