INCOMPLETE IS COMPLETE

'Incomplete Is Complete' is a group exhibition by Aminah Abd Rahman, Choo Kok Choon, Shireen Lee and Wee Chiang Lung held from 23 June to 25 July 2014 at University of Malaya Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

The four artists are from different background of art education and practice. Their painting subjects and techniques are obviously different and yet possess similarity in term of contemporary thinking in creating artwork. It is hope that this exhibition could enrich people's perception in viewing paintings besides encouraging the development of local art among younger generation of artists in a diversifying way. 

The title, Incomplete is Complete, came to mind after curator of this exhibition, the late Mr. Tan Tong, passed away before completing his writings and analysis of artworks. Mr. Tan had once said, "A complete painting for one could be incomplete for others. In-completeness is completeness or vice versa." Be it an artwork or a person, none is complete or perfect. We accept incompleteness or imperfection existed in individuals to live to the completeness of perfection of society.

 

 

 

Aminah Abd Rahman, has fascinated in painting watercolour for many years.  Currently she is the Chairman of Malaysian Watercolour Society (MWS). In recent years, she has worked closely with group of Austrian Artists and managed to develop her own new approach in painting watercolour for abstract theme. However, in 2013, she has once again immersed in the romance of flowers.

Choo Kok Choon, living in Johor Bahru, suffers from visual impaired since young. However, He has never given up painting. There are strong influences of German Expressionists and Japanese Pop Culture in his comical and illustration style of painting. Graduated from University of Tasmania with Bachelor of Fine Art, Choo’s art reflects his anxiety, dissatisfaction and sorrow towards life and living in modern society. 

Shireen Lee, graduated with Bachelor in Urban and Regional Planning from UTM, received informal art study from renowned artists who graduated from Singapore, Australia and France respectively. Her new series is a combination of many styles recollecting the tradition and modernity of subtle expressions and compositions. She is now member of several art societies local and aboard. 

Wee Chiang Lung, principal of Wees Fine Arts Academy in Johor Bahru, prefers to use ‘dot’ in his paintings. Graduated with Diploma from Singapore Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and Degree from Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts, Wee has won many awards through his artworks that highlight the human’s fuzziness and misconception to the real life and art. 

From Left : Choo, Shireen, YBhg. Dato' Mahadzir Lokman, Aminah and Wee

Incomplete Puzzle, Complete Arrangement

by Anita Z, Curator, University of Malaya Art Gallery (May 14, 2014)

 I have pleasure in writing a brief appreciation on 'Incomplete Is Complete'; a group exhibition by Aminah Abd Rahman, Choo kok Choon, Shireen Lee and Wee Chiang Lung. Knowing them is like opening a new chapter from the best selling author. It's just grabbed me from page one and refused to let go until i read the last word....The title really make me smile and the first thing that entered my mind is about PUZZLE.

I was reading "Finding Your Way in a Wild New World" by Martha Beck's last night and she talked about finding a metaphor for everything. For some reasons, I started to think about a jigsaw puzzle as a metaphor of life. In the beginning there are so many pieces and it can be hard to figure out where to start. But you create a plan and start the journey. Many people start a puzzle by doing the outside pieces first. Some will sort the pieces into colours; others may sort them into shapes. But no matter how many pieces there are, it all starts when the first piece is in place and the puzzle gets put together one piece at a time. The journey of solving a puzzle sounds a bit like a life journey in that way, doesn't it? Sometimes you're working on a section and can't find the piece to complete that particular section. It can be very frustrating. One thing about a jigsaw puzzle is that it takes time to put it all together. You usually know what the final product is going to look like, but you have to go through the effort of placing each piece into its rightful position. There are no short cuts. One piece at a time, it's always a work in progress right up to the last piece. According to Kendall, Parkes and Spoerer, (2008), "A puzzle is a problem or enigma that tests the ingenuity of the slover. In a basic puzzle, one is intended to put together pieces in a logical way in order to come up with the desired solution."

The same thing applies to the artists. how they complete the puzzle from an incomplete manners it's all up to them. Every piece comes with its own story and history. The elements of surprise remain untouched and the unexpected juxtapositions images lingered for us to see and absorb. It is like a channel for them to tell the world how they interpret and explore the beauty in art. Story, journey and history are combined together to complete the whole picture and creating the harmony for us to enjoy. One thing for sure, their work has its own story and meaning. Their works tell who they are and why they create it from the first place. Together under one roof they make what is incomplete to be complete and this exhibition tells everything about them.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them for this group exhibition and wish them every success in their endeavor. May God shower them with endless blessings and may he continuously be guided to portray the beauty and magnificence of Creation bestowed by the Al-Mighty.   

 

Participating artists presenting artwork as token of appreciation to Guest of Honour, YBhg. Dato; Mahadzir Lokman, who officiated the exhibition. Witnessed and accompanied by curator of University of Malaya Art Gallery, Puan Anita Z (2nd from right).

 

Aminah Abd Rahman posed with Guest of Honour in front of her artwork

'Kembang setaman mawar berduri

Suntingan kalbu mewarnai dihati

Junjungan kaseh buat Mu Ilahi

Berkatilah cinta kaseh abadi'

- Aminah Abd Raman -

Rose Mawati, 56cm x 75cm, watercolour on paper

Rose - Nani, 56cm x 75cm, Watercolour on paper

"Realistic, colourful and delighted study of rose flowers in her latest series of work is different from her past watercolour abstract expressionist period. Flower subject is ideal for woman to paint, as it it is very popular and appreciated by both public as well as aficionados."  --- by  Tan Tong

Shireen Lee explained the concept of her artwork to Guest of Honour

'Painting is a creative process involves art and science, emotion and control, completeness and incompleteness.'

- Shireen Lee - 

 

Above and Beneath the Surface #2, 45.5cm x 60.5cm, Mix media on paper

 

Heaven of Tranquility, 110cm x 180cm, Oil on Canvas

  

"A half self-taught artist with good thinking and good basic prescription. Be it in Japan or Malaysia, she has very good draftsmanship in drawing of nature, Malaysian landscape and the flora and fauna, the birds, fishes, lotus, scenery and others. Shireen has the essential for continued growth in the art. All the artistic of producing good and better works with disciplinary approach both in subjects and technique."  --- by  Tan Tong

Wee Chiang Lung shared his thought in painting with Guest of Honour

'The beauty is in nature, art can make you discover it.'

- Wee Chiang Lung -

Butterfly No.1, 60cm x 60cm, Acrylic on canvas

Butterfly No.5, 60cm x 60cm, Acrylic on canvas

"Wee's series study of butterfly in metamorphosis, in geometries of triangle, circle etc. As seen through a cabin hole or key hole. The symbolic circle shape represents metamorphosis of butterfly in four stages. This series is geometrical overlapping shapes of triangles, dots and of man-made representing organic and nature. A strong expression of emotions of colours of forms which are provocative inner power of life and elements about dead and reincarnation. Work reveal mixed feeling of sorrow, anger, calmness, discontent and being resentful."  --- by  Tan Tong

Guest of Honour praised Choo Kok Choon for his explosive energy and colours in artwork

'Agony is the only power and motivation to create....Everything is unfair.'
- Choo Kok Choon -

Crying Man, 51cm x 76cm, Oil on canvas

Heartbreak, 76cm x 91cm, Oil on canvas

"Face to face, a dramatic spirit is to be challenged by a technique. Fully explosive energy and semi abstract expressionist. Choo's art has a variety of reference, landscapes to individual wired, original moments and expression of personal conflict, producing an expression of creativity."  --- by  Tan Tong

The exhibition was officiated by YBhg. Dato' Mahadzir Lokman, Chairman of Board of Visual Art Development Malaysia, on 28 June 2014.