Blogger Wanderosh walks us though some of the outstanding exhibitions from Penang’s word-famous Georgetown Festival.
Art of today: Conversations @50 by Christine Das
Christine Das, a Penang-born artist, enchants visitors with her use of vivid colours and fine strokes to produce graphic-like paintings. This is her fourth solo exhibition since her transition from a graphic designer to a fine artist 10 years ago.
Her style of demarcated tonal colours combined with fluid lines captures the eye – one might be drawn to stop and stare at them in awe. From afar you’d be fooled into thinking these are computer-generated artworks but on closer inspection, you’ll see that these are in fact hand painted brush strokes.
Digital art: Good Morning Digital by Lee Lee Nam
Lee Lee Nam is a prominent Korean digital artist who juxtaposes traditional Asian and European art with modern digital imagery, creating vivid images that look and feel as if dreams and reality have overlapped. What’s interesting is the use of monitors instead of canvases, which gives life to his artwork.
One of his most captivating artworks is the Cartoon Folding Screen where five traditional pieces of Asian art are given a breath of life. This is by far the most entrancing, if not overall best, exhibition I’ve seen at this year’s George Town Festival
Art from around the world: Obscura Festival of Photography
Obscura Festival is all about celebrating photography and photographers – this is its fourth year running. This festival brings together photographers from around Asia and beyond, sharing their work, giving talks and reviewing portfolios. This year’s line- up of exhibitions is nothing short of showstopping.
One of the exhibitions curated by Peter di Campo, Everyday Africa, sees a collection of images shot on mobile phones from across the African continent depicting everyday life. The project attempts to redirect focus away from the common portrayal of the African continent, which are usually images of war and poverty, and focuses on the day-to-day life in Africa.
Art about days gone by: Svay Ken – Grandfather of Cambodian Contemporary Art
For the first time in Malaysia the works of contemporary Cambodian artist Svay Ken is put on display at Base2. A self-taught artist, he has mastered the art of capture emotions perfectly through his paintings. Svay Ken’s paintings, albeit child-like, are powerful and moving.
His paintings capture normal life during the French rule, and the Japanese occupation, right through to surviving the Khmer Rouge regime. The story of his life and his paintings are truly captivating – from a waiter to a painter, living through hardship, its amazing that he and his family survived the tough times of vast political change.
This private collection of Svay Ken’s work will be on display till the end of September.
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