Visitors admire Leong Wan Kok's (aka 1000 Tentacles) illustrations of 'Insect Kaiju' (left) and 'Fur Kaiju' (right) at the Ride for Art exhibition. Photo The Star/M. Irsyad
Shafiq Nordin, Michael Chuah, Leong Wan Kok (known for 1000 Tentacles Studio), and Janggutbear are Malaysian artists from diverse fields – fine art, comics, toy design, and digital art – who, just a few years ago, would not have been seen together in the same gallery.
However, these artists have now found common ground at a pop culture art exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.
They are part of the inaugural exhibition, Ride For Art: A Celebration Of Art And Skate Culture, at the newly opened A4A Gallery (Art4All) in the GMBB creative mall in Kuala Lumpur.
The exhibition, with free admission, runs until Jan 21. Featuring 13 local and Asian illustrators - Shinichiro Kato (Japan), 517Toy (Taiwan), TU!! (Thailand) and Graphic Airlines (Hong Kong) - the show invites artists to reimagine these iconic beings in fresh, contemporary ways, showcased on prints and skate decks.
A visitor examines the illustrations and toys by Thai artist 'TU!!' (left) and Kuala Lumpur digital illustrator James Lee (right). Photo The Star/M. Irsyad
For added thrills and colour, Ride For Art also pays tribute to the legendary Kaiju monsters – colossal creatures in Japanese culture that have captivated imaginations for generations.
"I think we've managed to capture the attention of visitors with our debut exhibition – people walk in and are immediately drawn to the skater vibes and the giant Japanese monsters," says Ng Si Juan, also known as Si Juan, one of the gallery founders and curator of the show.
"Once they step through the door, they realise the diversity of the artists featured and the exciting potential of seeing such artworks in a gallery space," adds Si Juan.
For some visitors, seeing skate decks adorned with colourful art may be a novel sight, but skate culture and other aspects of pop culture have long been regular fixtures in galleries abroad.
A closer look at the works by KL-based collective Kamaboko, inspired by the Japanese film genre of Kaiju, showcased at the 'Ride For Art' exhibition at the A4 Art Gallery, GMBB. Photo The Star/M. Irsyad
"Ride The Art bridges the bold creativity of art with the rebellious spirit of skate culture," says Si Juan.
Printed on premium Hahnemuhle FineArt paper, the artworks at Ride The Art transform skate decks into unique canvases, celebrating individuality and the fusion of movement and art.
Si Juan, with over 30 years of experience in the art, design, and toy scenes in the region, having curated events like KL Design Week, KL Illustration Fair, Supertoy Fest, and Asia Creators Fest, is a strong advocate for the fusion of cultures.
In addition to the artworks, a series of toys and figurines by the artists are on display for visitors to play with (if asked politely), highlighting the many art forms skateboards often inspire.
"Just as skateboarding transforms urban spaces into playgrounds of movement and style, this exhibition reimagines art as a medium for limitless possibilities," concludes Si Juan.
