“Going Gaga Over Madonna” by Raja Lope Rasydidi Raja Rozlan
Whenever a person is described as beautiful, the first that strikes the mind would usually be the physical attributes of the person. The very image of an attractive proportionate figure, chiseled features clothed with impeccable styles by high profile fashion designers inspired by the likes of Hollywood & Bollywood uprising stars come to mind. However, there would be some others who define and perceive “beauty” or “beautiful people” as people who possess admirable skin-deep qualities. As the saying goes, “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”, one will observe & analyze how another‟s perception or definition of “beautiful people” shown through artworks by a group of artists this coming November.
Beautiful People is a group exhibition which gives us a chance to take a look at the artistic side of the term beauty. A collection of 11 artists from the diverse background: abstract to realism, watercolor to oil and imagination to concepts, will converge together to demonstrate their versatile artistic skills on their beliefs of beautiful human figure. A theme specially selected to describe the emotions, perception and influences from the various facets of the society on the concept of beauty. Viewers not only be able to appreciate a wide range artistic works of famous people to people to people whom the artists hold close in their heart but also up to works which points out the social stigma on beauty or showing cynicism towards the proclamation of beauty.
In this show, viewers will get to admire the mind imprinting works of a skillful figure artist depicting the softness and purity of a beautiful woman. Then gradually transcend to another artwork of a meticulous caricaturist; a captured expressions of infamous Lady Gaga tracing the footsteps of Madonna. On the other side, an abstract artist also daringly pulls out the skeletons from the closets of man trying to wear lipsticks and skirts like a beautiful woman. Whilst another veteran conceptual artist intrigues us with the monkey looking face king that looks like an ancient relic, impressing upon this modern world society that material stuffs do not make one more beautiful. Beautiful people is definitely one interesting exhibition that brings out the proof of biodiversity in beauty but also in the artists.
The 11 artists are :Ali Nurazmal, Arif Fauzan, Jayshree, Nizam Abdullah, Ong Oh Hup Hoe, Raja Lope, Shafarin Abdul Ghani, Stephen Menon, Suddin Lappo, Zulkefli Talha, Zulkiflee Zainul Abidin