There is a heartwarming video shared by street artist FriTillDea on his Instagram account that shows him lovingly giving his wheelchair-bound father a tour of his first major solo art exhibition Kriau at a skatepark warehouse in Gombak, Selangor.
It is one of the show’s many proud highlights for the affable Gombak-raised FriTillDea (born Mohd Anuar Mustapha, or also known as Black), who has come full circle with this “homecoming” exhibit which is happening at the Vans Lot 19 Skate Space, Gombak until Dec 26.
In a space of a few weeks, FriTillDea transformed the skatepark with a colourful blast of illustrations, graffiti work and intricate doodles.
The Skate Space is also presenting activities to give visual arts lovers and skateboarders the opportunity to experience the Kriau exhibition in an immersive way. Visitors are encouraged pick up a spray can and contribute to the exhibition. There will also be a live performance series and deejay sets to coincide with the show's activities this weekend.
“Gombak is where I come from. It’s my home. I don’t know, but people often say Gombak has a certain notoriety. It can be a little over the top, a bit kecoh. So as local kids we had this one word we used to describe the place, which is kriau.
"The word means ‘noisy’ or over the top... it's street lingo, people in the area know it. I wanted to reclaim and update kriau in a positive and fun manner. I also wanted that sense of connectedness. It's a perfect way to introduce my exhibition and Gombak to the masses,” says FriTillDea (which means Friends Till Death), a self-taught artist who started out with detailed black and white illustrations before expanding into street art and mixed media work in the past 10 years.
“It’s what we (the street art and skateboarding community) have always wanted in an art exhibition - a safe space where we can have fun because it’s in a skatepark, you can view the artworks displayed in a familiar setting and also contribute to the exhibition,” he adds.
After two quiet years of the pandemic, FriTillDea is eager to kick ahead. He also explains that it’s time for street artists, or individuals outside the art gallery circuit, to get more creative and try the unconventional route.
At Kriau, the venue has been used as a blank canvas. It's a "gallery" with a street edge.
The exhibit features FriTillDea’s signature style adorning walls as murals, skateboard obstacles fully doodled and spray painted by hand, a skating installation as well as projection mapping; the artist’s foray in digital illustration - while maintaining Gombak as his main subject matter. Each work, including a series of framed selections, details his personal journey as an artist.
“Kriau is different from your normal gallery exhibitions. We let you skate at the show,” says FriTillDea.
“I wanted to create a welcoming environment for the masses. You can be an art enthusiast, a skateboarder, or just somebody who is curious to find out more about this show... the door is open. I’m a positive person and I want to continue making art that creates a positive impact on people," he adds.
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