This is an ongoing series combining visual art, conceptual art and poetry. This part of the series was exhibited at Zhan Gallery in a group exhibition.
Instructions
Let’s play hide and seek.
There is a Malay poem hidden in each painting.
Match each colour to its letters to read the poem.
我们玩捉迷藏吧。 每幅画中都隐藏着一首马来诗。 把颜色和字母配一配。 探索画中的诗歌。
Mari bermain aci sorok.
Terdapat sajak Melayu tersorok dalam setiap lukisan.
Padankan setiap warna pada hurufnya untuk baca sajaknya.
Ambil pensel dan kertas untuk tafsirkan karya-karya in.
*******
Scroll all the way down for the answers.
The Alphabet Chart (2022)
Acrylic on canvas
Dakapan (2022)
Acrylic on canvas
60 cm x 60 cm
Bawang Putih / Bawang Merah (2022)
Acrylic on canvas
60 cm x 60 cm
Lena (2022)
Acrylic on canvas
60 cm x 60 cm
Artist statement
In this art series, I want to combine visual art, conceptual art and poetry. I want to introduce the concept of “colour-coded poetry”, an interactive art piece which allows the viewer to decipher a poem through coded colours.
I will be collaborating with Jack Malik, a local poet who is part of Projek Rabak, an Ipoh-based art collective. The theme of the poems he will be making is aligned with the nature of the art piece and it will be revolving around themes of “being in hiding”. The title of the project is “Hide & See(k)” because the words in the poetry remain hidden until the viewer seeks it through deciphering and interpreting. In this project, Jack's poetry plays with religious ideas, cultural identity with a hint of humor, longing and melancholy.
Throughout my life, I have always associated numbers with colours. When I see 4, I think about green and when I see 2, I think about blue. When coming up with this project, I was inspired by synesthesia (a condition where people see colour or shapes when hearing music or a word or name) and social interaction through morse codes.
There will be a sheet listing alphabets from A to Z. Distinct, handpicked and unique colours will be assigned to each alphabet. Through the sheet where colours are assigned to each alphabet, the art piece will interact with viewers and put them in a position to go through a journey to decipher and interpret the art. Hence, the art piece is not only a visual artwork, but also a literary artwork.
Process
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