THE namesake of the Medium Weight group exhibition at G13 Gallery exhibition, featuring Azrin Mohammad, Fairuz Paisan, Nizam Rahmat, Zaim Durulaman and Yusri Sulaiman, bears no relation to size.
It’s the conveyance of thoughts through different media. Layers of discarded fabrics speak of Yusri’s relationship with man’s best friend while woodwork reasserts Fairuz’s determination to head a young family.
Plastic forms of ammunition reveals Azrin’s heartfelt longing for peace and children rendered in sepia-toned bitumen take the audience back to Zaim’s childhood.
United in their goal to present essays of reality in visual form, the main message is that compassion has become less prevalent in today’s society and together with it, a diminished sense of dignity.
Nizam, known for framing his work with used flight boxes, challenges critics to prove him wrong.
“Just look at how we are using social media to upload all manner of smut. Case in point is the person who took the video of the Petaling Street stripper. Was there a need for the video to be uploaded?” he asked.
The sum of what Nizam thinks of modern society is seen in his works — “Never Mind”, “Stairway to Heaven” and “Queen Bee” — simulacrums of rock band album covers done with acrylic, ink and bitumen on polyurethane canvas.
“We claim to be scrambling towards the ideal but we seem to be chasing after it without care for others. It is not bad to strive for a living but it must be regarded as a journey of the soul. My work aims to remind the audience to count their blessings,” said Nizam.
The problem, says Fairuz, is we are too quick to judge.
In “Me & Myself”, he hopes to make the audience reflect on themselves before coming to a decision on others. In this piece, the skull is symbolic of past experiences. Flesh represents the present.
“Take for example a work scenario when the boss is seen as fussy. Has it not crossed the mind that it might be the worker who is not performing instead?” he asked.
However, no one should play the role of pushover.
In “Boyo” (Buaya), the tenacious hold of one’s principles is represented by a crocodile. The personal personification of a ferocious predator inadvertently symbolises his role as a family man.
“This ferocity symbolises the requirement for sternness and discipline as a parent and full-time artist. If need be, I will separate myself from a situation if it is negative to guarantee my survival,” said Fairuz in reference to why the tail is presented in the flesh while the rest of the body is in the form of a skeleton.
In life, ideologies abound, Azrin said and in his “Art of War” series, a clear message rings.
“In the end, we all want peace. Why then do we choose to go to war in the first place?” he asked.
What is to be done when in doubt is to look back into one’s childhood memories, evoking the lessons of our elders.
Though he has no children, Zaim who owns Tadika Seni dan Kreatif in Cheras, is at any one time surrounded by 30 preschoolers who call him ‘Papa’.
For this Unisel lecturer, the first lesson on humanity is good will always triumph over evil. This is seen in “Unforgettable” a 16-piece composition where each child is presented next to a comic superhero.
“The four superheroes I looked up to were Ultraman, Batman, Spiderman and Superman. They were all good guys,” said Zaim who took the opportunity to show off his illustrative talents here.
However, it is “Talking To A Cow” which evokes the strongest feeling of compassion. In the drawing, a child is seen persuading a cow scheduled for slaughter not to be afraid as it will go to heaven.
In conclusion, a collection of ideas from a group of middle-aged artists best sums up the show’s theme.
Medium Weight runs until May 30 at G13 Gallery at Kelana Square from Monday to Saturdays 11am to 5pm. Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
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