Works of bold imagination by WOU artists-in-residence
THE Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Malihome Sdn Bhd recently held the final exhibition that was part of their Artists-in-Residence Programme under Wawasan Open University (WOU).
Jalan Jalan by Rie Mandala.
Guests having light refreshments at the launch.
(From left) Andrew Sill, Prof Dr Wong Tat Meng, Rie Mandala, Datuk Seri Yeap Leong Huat and Angela Su Hong.
A total of 34 works by Angela Su Hong from Hong Kong and Rie Mandala from Japan were displayed at RBS House in Lebuh Pantai.
The two artists had participated in the WOU six-month residency programme.
Su's Penang pieces comprised two bodies of works -- botanical drawings and a series of posters.
The original intent was to showcase her drawing style. However, she decided instead to produce a series of works focusing more on the city of George Town and its people, depicting potential events and projects that could one day be created.
Her biggest challenge came from the posters' theme of A Brief History for the Future, which was the imagination and re-imagination of George Town in 2025, as inspired by various individuals she came across during her residency here.
Su, who holds a degree in biochemistry, has wide experience in solo exhibitions across Asia.
She has also been featured in some global exhibitions, including 2009's Urban Spirituality in London and the 17th Biennale of the Sydney Museum of Contemporary Arts in 2010.
The other featured artist, Rie Mandala, is based in Bali but lives a nomadic life whereby her creativity has been enhanced during journeys she made through the East.
Her series entitled Whispers of Life, showcased in this joint exhibition, was an expression of life taken from her Japanese roots.
The abstract composition was a collage of mixed media fused from scrap. Every piece of material that made up the series had been delicately cut by hand into various circles.
Educated in Okinawa University of Fine Arts and Jogjakarta National Art University, Mandala has had several solo and group exhibitions in London, New York City as well as in Taiwan and Canada.
Mandala will be holding another exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, supported by the Japanese Foundation, in March.
Also present at the launch of this final exhibition were RBS managing director Andrew Sill, WOU vice-chancellor Professor Dr Wong Tat Meng, and WOU Education Foundation chairman Datuk Seri Yeap Leong Huat.
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