Malaysia-365 Days of 2008: Nor Azizan Rahman Paiman

14 – 29 May 2009

Wei-Ling Gallery

No 8 Jalan Scott, Brickfields,
Kuala Lumpur.

Open: Monday to Friday 12pm to 7pm; Saturday 10am to 5pm; Sunday: By Appointment

Malaysia-365 days of 2008 is a compilation and documentation of the year 2008, as seen through the analytical mind of the important social / political Malaysian artist Paiman (Nor Azizan Rahman Paiman). Born in Malacca in 1970, Paiman received his art education in both Malaysia and the United Kingdom and attained a MA in Fine Arts from the Manchester Metropolitan University in 2001. Since 1991 he has exhibited widely both in Malaysia and on an international arena, including the 1st Fukuoka Asian Art Trienniale 1999, Japan, and at the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT5), Queensland, Australia in 2007. A selection of Paiman’s distinctive works can also be seen in the collection of the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) in Australia.

Over the years Paiman has made a name for himself with his unique imaginary, caricatures which are juxtaposed against statements by important Malaysian figures  in a witty commentary on  Malaysian life. He has often said that he considers himself a “backdated reporter” and that “everything changes in the world, and more often than not there are issues or incidents that we have forgotten or ignored”.

In this set of works he spent the whole of 2008 going through all the major papers of the country on a daily basis in an arduous task to extract one statement that best reflected the sentiment that day. Armed with this statement, he stenciled the quote onto the corresponding page of an Islamic diary, and then rendered his wonderful fantastical figures over them, ending up over the course of a year with a diary filled with the “essence” of 2008.

The artist aptly says:

“Malaysia-365 days of 2008 is a fragmented arrangement of a particular moment in time as the country came face to face with many difficult situations. I played my part as a Malaysian to record everyday life in a creative way. Provocation has everything to do with perception. Perception is controlled by a world view and world view is controlled by a counter situation.”

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UiTM (Sri Iskandar) students Abdul Azim and Fazleayana.

Eights days a week, Paiman’s recording of socio-political events that happened in 2008.

Wei-Ling Gallery’s graphic designer and photographer Bruneian Nur Khalisah Ahmad, a graduate of Chelsea College of Art and Design.

Balai Seni Lukis director of research and exhibition services Zanita Anuar and Sungai Petani-based Galeri Seni Lukis Moden Dai Ichi’s Tai Keik Hock. Dai Ichi together with Balai Seni Lukis will be organizing an art exhibition of a Chinese watercolour artist.

Paiman’s wife Suhaila Hashim, the artist, Zanita Anuar, Wei-Ling and Tai Keik Hock.

“I swore there were 366 days in 2008,” this gallery visitor must be saying.

More UiTM (Sri Iskandar) students Fadzul Yusof and Sophia Regina.

Former Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Samad and wife Sharizan Abdullah with Michiyo and Leszek Sielecki.

“Who are you (Shahrir) to criticise me? If it weren't for Tun Musa's sister who as the then Johor Baru Wanita chief, who came to my house early in the morning to appeal that you be allowed to return to Umno, you would have become a thorn in Umno's flesh for a longer period.” Shahrir Samad gesturing to Paiman’s work quoting Dr Mahathir Mohamad who said the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister had forgotten how he had left Umno and became an independent candidate to fight against it in a by-election using the key symbol.

“We’ve made it!” Alia and Johan braved the storm for the opening.

Visitors to the gallery.