Metro

Saturday August 26, 2006

He has got his life carved out

By GEETHA KRISHNAN
geetha@thestar.com.my
Photos by LOW LAY PHON

PASSING by the National Art Gallery (NAG) this month, you might see a suitcase with legs seemingly clambering up the wall.

The public sculpture, the size of a Kancil, is the work of artist Nuriman Amri Abdul Manap.

It is an interesting combination of metal and zinc that have been salvaged from parts of the NAG roof that came tumbling down during a recent thunderstorm.

The National Art Gallery Cafe is also a place for artists to display their works that may be appreciated while enthusiasts enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.
“When the NAG curator asked me if I wanted the sheets, I immediately accepted them and hired a lorry to transport the sheets,” said the artist.

Nuriman's sculpture is part of the Experiencing Impression art-themed ode to the Merdeka month.

Nuriman putting together the public sculpture that would grace a small part of the wall of the National Art Gallery throughout this month.
It is a project extending to the NAG Cafe where more of the young artist's works are on display until National Day.

The display is part of the Public Art Installation @ NAG Cafe by the NAG in collaboration with the MTDC Multimedia Academy.

It comes after the academy's recent collaboration with Galeri Petronas and Motorola for the City Strips Art Installation @ KLCC Park under the Urbanscape Art Programme from Aug 4 to 8.

At the NAG Cafe, art enthusiasts may gain an insight into Nuriman Amri's simple life through 19 artwork blocks featuring his personal effects.

It is also Nuriman's second solo exhibition after a first, featuring mirror sculptures at the MTDC Multimedia Academy Gallery in Serdang.

Nuriman, who is always clad in a round-necked cotton white T-shirt, naturally chose the article of clothing as one of his subjects. A re-conditioned bicycle that he has been using to get to places over the years since 1998 also gets its share of the spotlight.

Other essentials include scissors, slippers, the compressor he uses for work and even, his feet.

“The way I see it, Experiencing Impression is about self-realisation. Objects I use every day reflect my personality and my expectations in life.

“Furthermore, each moment has been captured during a certain emotion I experience.

“My memory of that experience is also captured within a timeframe,” he said.

Nuriman used a technique called marbling for all his works at the exhibition and also experimented with other techniques.

“Age and time inspires me so I used oil and Chinese ink on canvas because the ink fades after several years.

Using a technique called marbling, Nuriman produced 19 artworks for Experiencing Impression.
“Fading is precisely why other artists are reluctant to work with Chinese ink but, for me, it gives the desired effect.

“In working with the MTDC Multimedia Academy, my intention is also to get the multimedia to reflect within themselves and to transfer their feelings and emotions onto canvas. An artist goes through many stages in his life that influence his work one way or another,” he said.

Of the public sculpture featuring the suitcase, Nuriman said it was designed as a teaser for more public sculptures to follow in the future.

Experiencing Impression will be on at the NAG Cafe, National Art Gallery, 2, Jalan Temerloh, off Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur until Aug 31. For more details, call 03-4025 4990.

From the NAG Cafe, the Urbanscape Art Programme moves to another exhibition entitled Merdeka Screaming!: Red, Blue, Yellow, White at the MTDC Multimedia Academy Gallery in Serdang until Sept 18.

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