By EMMA YOUNGER
metro@thestar.com.my
Photos by ROHAIZAT MD DARUS | Feb 3, 2011
UiTM graduates show distinct styles in their sculptures and paintings
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No easy task: Syafiq captured the warped reflection of urban buildings on his canvas.
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Constructing artwork is a unique process for every artist.
For young artists especially, the process of creating and then reconstructing their work is essential to allow their ideas to grow and mature.
Three recent Fine Art graduates from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) — Anniketyni Madian, Hilal Mazlan and Syafiq Hariz — have distinct styles and unique methods of constructing their work which has resulted in striking art pieces featured in a recently-concluded exhibition at White Box Map in Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.
Sculptor Hilal drew inspiration for his wood pieces from his childhood in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, where he grew up living in a traditional home called rumah kutai.
The house was demolished and replaced with a modern house by his uncle when he was eight years old. Back then, he was ecstatic to have the new house but he later realised the implications of the situation.
Concerned that the historic houses he grew up in would be forgotten, Hilal created sculptures that represented their different parts, such as the staircase and roof.
“Lots of people don’t see wood as a modern material but I want to show that it can be used in modern art,” he said.
Like the traditional homes, he created his sculptures by slotting the Chengal wood pieces together, or joining them with pasak (wooden pegs). No metal nails were used.
“I found a carpenter who builds rumah kutai to share their techniques with me,” the 24-year-old said.
Fellow artist, Syafiq, displayed his talents through the paintings and drawings of some significant urban buildings in town.
The 25-year-old’s “Distorted” series depicted the warped images of the buildings as reflected onto his car.
In order to capture the reflection, Syafiq parked his car in front of the buildings and took photos of the images, then transferred them onto canvas with striking colours.
This process of creating visually distorted images is known as anamorphic.
“I am always intrigued by reflections. There is a saying cermin diri sendiri which advises us to reflect on our own actions before criticising others,” he said.
Sculptor Anniketyni, 24, on the other hand, exhibited two spiral-like sculptures reminiscent of winding staircases and a few mathematically inspired mixed media pieces.
Anniketyni drew on her studies in mathematics to inspire her pieces and compose her sculptures.
Her sculptures were made from different lengths of spray-painted wood assembled together into winding spirals.
Anniketyni said she did not find mathematics easy but needed it to create her sculptures.
“I need to learn mathematics to create the spiral by measuring the pieces and the angles,” she said.
The master’s degree student also used the technique assemblage to create her mixed media pieces.
They were constructed from pine wood sprayed red, sea green and black with numbers and figures painted on to create a veritable hotchpotch.
Wire was also strung across the pieces with screws and holes drilled into certain sections.
Images of a skeleton were also transferred on the wood for their association with details and calculations.
White Box is located at MAP, Level G2-01, Block A5, Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1, off Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur.
For details, call 03-6207 9732.
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