WANTED: Someone to restore Arteri and give it 2nd life. Interested? Email: mail.sharonchin.com
The Hunter, 2009, Watercolour on paper, 40 x 30 cm
Haslin Ismail: Exorcismus Persona
RA Fine Arts
15 – 30 May 2009
There is a quiet sense of resignation to reality and dissatisfaction with chaos in Haslin Ismail’s recent exhibition Exorcismus Persona at RA Fine Arts. His surrealist approach covers various mediums, from painting, assemblage, mixed media, installations and handmade books.
In the same vein as artists who create fantasy stemming from new media evilism, mystery, science fiction, graphic novels and comic books, Haslin admits to being most at ease with visual rather than verbal communication. His art has always been a way of releasing to the world his own thoughts, sentiments and messages that emerge from the core of his being. They tell stories doused in half-truths with elements of self-fantasy. Formally his paintings are complex compositions. Each mark is symbolic, revealing layer upon layer upon layer of the dreams and confessions of this quiet young artist.
The Lust Spirit, 2009, Mixed media and collage on canvas, 123 x 91 cm
Haslin’s metaphorical approach is to a certain degree a reflection of his influences. A devout fan of writers such as Angela Carter, Neil Gaiman and the Brother Grimm’s collection of authentic unabridged fairytales, he also credits inspiration from first edition cult horror films such as Edison Company’s Frankenstein of 1910 as well as F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu. He believes to purge one’s dark thoughts and secrets are viable only if left with a tangible result of art entirely independent of its own bearing.
Elements of realism, pop art as well as shadowing outlines techniques from the Los Angeles local art scene can also be detected throughout the work on display. Haslin admits to being a fan of Elizabeth McGrath, better known as Bloodbath McGrath of the LA local punk and art scene, whose work is often cited as the perfect balance between states of morbidity and thought provocation. Art inspired by the darker side of life, her sculptures and animation are constantly used as references and guides to his own practice. His frequent use of a single eye, tucked away in most, if not all his pieces represent his tribute to Socialism.
My 8th Dream, 2007, Acrylic on canvas, 140 x 254 cm
His largest art piece, titled My 8th Dream has been painted over ten times, each completion before that of the final one, deemed unable to convey his unspoken thoughts with the precision he seeks. Each painting radically different from the last.
Exorcismus Persona runs till the 30th of May 2009 at R A Fine Arts and would be a shame to miss. Each piece is a visual journey into the mind of an artist happiest in an empty room.
Nightmare, 2009, Acrylic and silk screen on canvas, 175 x 107 cm
(Haseena)
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Very impressive show. Congrats to the artist. Good to see the development of such a young mixed media artist. Wish the write up was longer but do agree with the writer that it would be a shame to miss seeing this show.
His frequent use of a single eye, tucked away in most, if not all his pieces represent his tribute to Socialism.
Interesting. This sentence struck me. Does it signify the all seeing eye of a totalitarian big brother? If so, what kind of tribute is he paying? Does the artist yearn for a socialist future in Malaysia? I’m curious about the choice of symbolism and how it ties in with his vision of socialism.
Twas struck by the eye observation, too. Haseena, did you manage to speak to Haslin about his work at any length?
Farouk : will keep in mind the length suggestion.
Simon & Zedeck : My apologies, I should have provided an explanation and better aided that statement. Socialism was a reply given in a rapid fire conversation while grazing on topic of the eye.
The eye holds two major meanings for the artist. The first being his interpretation of socialist realism during the Stalinist bureaucracy in Russia. This together with proletarian lit suffocated freedom of expression.
The second being the sum of power the eye represented in mythology & Celtic legend – the God Bala had a single fiery eye that could destroy whole armies at a time. Sun & Moon Gods appeared in most early cultures from Mesopotamia to the Americas. The eye has the power to construct human civilization since Egyptian God Ra.
Other eye related influences:
Orcs at the Dark Tower use a red eye as their mark & refer to Sauron as the Great Eye.
Odin, the chief god of Norse Mythology. He loses one eye which reveals his source of power. To Haslin this is of most importance to his eye reasonings.
The artist recommends listening to Dari Kerana Mata by R Azmi if above reasonings are unable to pacify.
* proletarian literature
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ndx_IdlUQU