A Malaysian artist with ties to Singapore will be showing visitors the animals inside of them with the Malaysian exhibition he is taken part of. The artist won an art award in Singapore recently, and a Singaporean curator was responsible for organizing the current show.
The artist takes on social, political, philosophical, and religious thoughts and ideas in this particular body of work. Visitors to the exhibit are greeted immediately by a portrait of Plato. A famous quote from Plato questioning what is taught in schools and why those who say the truth are called foolish is included on the wall with the portrait. It’s a thoughtful and remarkable way to start the collection, which has been hung and arranged with care as to the flow of visitors through the space.
From the portrait, the visitor proceeds to a large gray slab. The words inscribed on it belong to author Ayn Rand and the artist. Immediately in front of the slab, though, is another installation of real dirt and a fake crow perched on a hoe. Rand’s writings eschewed the idea of helping people less fortunate, positing that people must provide for themselves by working just as hard as anyone else. Could this juxtaposition of artworks have significance? Only the visitor can decide.
In another vivid, visceral work, a dead, bloodied elephant is slowly dismantled by vultures. The carrion birds circle and swoop from the sky, perching on the elephant in a great feast. It isn’t immediately apparent, through all the blood and activity, what the cause of death of the elephant was. However, since the viewer cannot see tusks anywhere, one might assume that it is the work of poachers that the vultures are cleaning up after.
Another oil painting would be a peaceful scene: a bright sky reflected in a puddle on the ground. Only the puddle on the ground is actually dog urine, and the canine in question is still lifting its leg, looking around to lock eyes with the viewer. It could be a commentary on people and events so ready to tear down the beautiful things of the world just because those things didn’t align with their beliefs or experiences.
But perhaps the show is best described by the trio of paintings depicting three very famous monkeys in their well-known poses: see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil.
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To read more about the works that will be on display at the show, go to https://www.star2.com/culture/2018/02/26/ahmad-fuad-osman-primitive-exhibition-art-matahati_a_works_of_art/.