Friday December 30, 2011

Expressive pieces take centre stage at Young Art Exhibiton

By FAZLEENA AZIZ
fazleena@thestar.com.my
Photos by SHAHRUL FAZRY ISMAIL

IN AN effort to promote talented young artists, RA Fine Arts is holding the Young Art Exhibition at its gallery.

A similar exhibition was held two years ago, which was well received and helped launched many young talents.

About 20 artists with 30 pieces, mostly expressive contemporary works, take centre stage at the exhibition.

Talented ones: Some the artists taking part in the ‘Young Art Exhibition’

RA Fine Arts director Raja Ahmad Aminullah said the gallery had featured new graduates, art students and even beginners.

“I look for artists who are able to express what they feel and think, which affects their work. For great art to emerge they need to sympathise as it is a vocation.

“Most of the pieces are priced below RM2,000. At this price, people should be buying especially art collectors.

“Most people like to wait until the artist gets established before they buy, but by then the pieces will be worth three to four times higher.

Amirfirdaus Ahamad Tarmizi, 23, a graduate of fine art is happy to have this platform as a way to make a name.

Brooding: Raiha Shahanaz Redzuan’s ‘Illusion 2: The Mind’.

He said being part of the exhibition marked the beginning of a journey.

“Art gives me a way to express what I really want and transfer that to the people without any barrier.

“My artworks describe cynical and unusual things that don’t make the news. They feature babies doing odd things like participating in a parade, because usually what you get in the news is about abandoned or killed babies.

“I was born and raised among other children because my family runs a daycare service. So the sadness I feel reading bad news is expressed in the opposite manner,” he said.

Ahmad Farihan Mawardi, 24, who has a diploma in fine art, opines that the exhibition lets young artists exchange ideas and experiences.

He said it was a learning process because works were judged by people not artists themselves.

“I come from a family of artists, it is in my blood, so talent and hard work are important if you want to be an artist.

“My piece on the legendary Tan Sri P. Ramlee gives a different perspective to people because people are used to seeing him entertain them, so I want to convey a moment in life which some might have missed.

“We often overlook that particular part in life, so I try to capture the very essence of the time,” he said.

The exhibition ends in the first week of January 2012.

RA Fine Arts-The Gallery is located at Unit A4-1-3A, Block A4, Solaris Dutamas, No.1, Jalan Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.

For details, call 03-6211 1061 or log on to www.ra-finearts.blogspot.com