Lying faces of truth

What say you on the issue below?

FIVE emerging artists from Malaysia and Singapore are exhibiting their latest works at the Galeri Chandan, in Jalan Gelenggang in Bukit Damansara.

Themed “Deceitful Truth”, the exhibition is open till Dec 23 for viewing.

The oxymoronic title, said gallery owner Mohammad Nazli Abdul Aziz was chosen to reflect the imposition of one “truth” over another and that the selected works were chosen because they reflected each artist’s interpretation of what was perceived to be “truth”.

Art in motion: Nurfadilah with her artwork, ‘Confuse’.

“It is not just about the artworks themselves. The artwork is the final product, but the actual story begins a lot earlier. There is a lot of observation and emotional attachment. The typical artist doesn’t just get up in the morning to paint. Some even do a lot of preliminary sketches before they start working on the canvas,” said Mohammed Nazli.

He explained that preliminary studies done by some artists were exhibited to further illustrate the process of executing an artwork.

Art student Nurfadilah Abd Karim, 24, is displaying her works Confuse, Second Thoughts II and Second Thoughts III at the exhibition. All three works on display were executed in oils, depicting double-takes of a girl in motion.

“I got my model to pose and I shot a series of photos to see which actions I want to put into my painting, then I put two images together to see how they fit, before beginning to paint,” said Nurfadilah.

Her fellow exhibitor, Mohd Khairul Izham Md Rashid, 26, said this was his second time exhibiting at the Galeri Chandan and that his interpretation of the theme was to showcase conflict into his exhibited works.

Small don: Mohd Khairul posing next to ‘Si Dollet Gangster’.

Mohd Khairul, who hails from Maran, Pahang, said he wanted to bring out elements of his childhood in the kampung in his paintings.

“I interpreted the theme as conflict. And I also wanted to show elements of kampung life as seen in Don’t Be So Serious Captain. The other boys at the back are smiling, but the lead boy has a serious visage, hence the title.

“For Si Dollet Gangster, it is basically a boy who acts tough and serious on the outside, but is soft-hearted on the inside, which is why he lets the bird perch on his shaved head,” he said.

Three other artists in the exhibition are Azaikamal Ahmad Rashid, Chong Ai Lei and Singaporean Rofizano Zaino.

Galeri Chandan is open Monday to Friday (10am-6pm), and Saturday and Sunday (noon-5pm).