From 1st to 31st October, Galeri Chandan at Publika will be bringing the works of 4 Malaysian and 2 Indonesian artists at the NAFAs Residensi Showcase Cycle One 2012 art exhibition. The residency was established in January this year where it was aimed at discovering the voice of art of Southeast Asia and to further expand the multi-cultural environment of the region.
The exhibition is the result of the respective residencies of the artists who spent some time against the backdrop of Yogyakarta which offers an ideal location for art and culture. The artworks that were produced came from the personal visual expressions of the artists that involved 4 Malaysian artists and another 2 emerging artists from Indonesia who spent either 1, 3 or 6 months in the programme.
Essentially, the works were independent among them and this will be the first cycle of the works that will be featured at Galeri Chandan. Among the artists involved are Shahrul Hisyam, Hirzaq Harris, Anisa Abdullah and Imam Santaso and Mulyo Gunarso where they will be expressing themselves through their personal body of work in themes encircling around religion, pop culture as well as urbanisation and industrialisation, all of which are contemporary themes in their own accord. The artists were required to share their experiences at the end of the programme and they would also share their inspirations drawn and stories that prompted them to produce their artworks.
This first batch of resident artists include Shahrul Hisham whose strong roots as a Malay and Muslim from Malaysia can be seen in his art of a traveller who is continuously searching for new knowledge. Another artist who depicts her life adventure through her art is Anisa Abdullah while Mulyo Gunarso and Imam Santosos works reflect the culture and artistic expressions of the Indonesian art scene.