Shows worth remembering? Shows worth talking about? In the interest of initiating greater volume of discussions on emerging practices in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, ARTERI will take a new approach at featuring more exhibitions as well as artworks in our GALLERY section. This comes with the realisation that we do not have the time to write about all the shows that are being put on in an increasingly active art world. Instead, we want you to do the talking. Tell us if it’s good, so-so or just plain fugly! But most importantly, tell us why! We think our readers are an opinionated bunch. Here’s a good place to air your two-cents! – Eds.

Syafiq Ali’am, Perang Akal – Being Alive Through Mind Devastation (Who Against Who), 2010, Metal, mechanical industrial parts, stainless steel, fiber, strobe light, pendaflour blue light, AC neon, stereo speaker, digital CD player, sound art, tyre & electronic components, dimensions variable (Assistants Hilal and Akhlami; sound by SoSound) , 190 x 87 x 80 cm

THE ENERGY TRAP: Painting & Sculpture
Curated by Suraya Warden
The Annexe Gallery, Central Market
8 – 23 April 2010

The need to be creative heralds the formation of a cellular community, energy moving energy about. It motivates and gathers inspiration, and the end result is an exterior reflection of interior goings-on, albeit abstracted or full of symbolism. Sometimes we forget that art is about energy; personal energy which differs with every individual who tries their hand at being an artist.

Harnessing the spectacular energy of some of Malaysia’s most interesting contemporary artists, Valentine Willie Fine Art (VWFA) presented The Energy Trap: Painting & Sculpture, a fun and dynamic off-site exhibition at The Annexe Gallery. Featuring works by sculptors and painters, including two prominent graffiti artists, The Energy Trap showcases a wide range of artistic approaches in one exhibition.

The artists exhibiting in The Energy Trap were collected together to represent the increasingly assured yet fresh output of current contemporary Malaysian art. Professional and residential proximities and cultural backgrounds unify these artists, but can also serve to highlight their differences and bring to light their unique personalities. Rather than grouping these artists into a singular unit for show, The Energy Trap aims to apply a basic curatorial lens to examine each individual artist in the general context of creative industry, and exhibit them together as a limited cross-section of the local scene. The Energy Trap will give visitors a fun opportunity to focus on participating artists, individual works, or the exhibition as a whole, with emphasis on the notion of art as energy. Visitors will also enjoy the chance to informally contemplate ideas of ‘Contemporary Malaysia’ whilst assessing their own energy and the potential global impact of their personal levels of involvement in local arts and culture.

Latiff Padzali, Labyrinth, 2010, Plastic ties, glass blobe and metal wire, dimensions variable

Azam Aris, Work After and After Mona Lisa, 2010, Mixed media on canvas, 110 x 80 cm

Cheong Tuck Wai, Mythology Series – Chaos. Development. Dawn, 2010, Plaster of paris, silk screen, tempera, charcoal, acrylic, drawing ink, pencil, white glue and varnish on canvas, 120 x 91 cm (each panel – triptych)

Gan Chin Lee, I’m on the Way of Turning Back, 2010, Oil on linen, 46 x 91.5 cm each (panel 1 & 2); 46 x 122 cm (panel 3)

Mohd Safwan Ahmad, Selisih Dua Ombak, 2010, Wood, industrial ink & nails, 183 x 137 x 29 cm

Saiful Razman, Subur, 2010, Cut-out sticker, lightbox, 45 x 45 x 12 cm

Fabian Tan, Love Bug, 2010, Perspex, old book pages, colour pencil & gloss finish, 58 x 80 cm

Hee Chee Way, Road, 2010, Mixed media on paper, 77.5 x 106 cm

Lim Keh Soon, The Landscape, 2010, Acrylic on canvas, 122 x 118 cm

Samsuddin Wahab, Self-Portrait as Wall, 2010, Acrylic and bitumen on canvas, 168 x 137 cm

Low Eng Seng, Kacang Putih, 2010, Watercolour & poster colour on paper, 50 x 70 cm

Tan Chee Hon, Burning Land, 2010, Oil on canvas, 66 x 79 cm

THEY, Susuk Dinding, 2010, Spray paint on wall, 240 x 920 cm

Bibicun, Untitled, 2010, Mixed media on wall, 240 x 800 cm

Lisa Foo, Ocean Abode, 2010, Recycled plastic/ PET bottles (1.5 litres water bottles), wire mesh, nylon string, metallic paint (golden yellow & black metallic) & LED light bulb, 380 x 120 x 70 cm