The 'Sunyi' exhibition in Langkawi, Kedah, features emerging talents from the 2024 Young Contemporaries Residency Programme. Photo: National Art Gallery
The Sunyi exhibition (Silence), which is currently showing at the Old Kuah Hospital in Langkawi, Kedah, invites visitors to explore silence through visual art, delving into questions of social and environmental significance.
Showcasing young talents under the 2024 Young Contemporaries Residency Programme, the exhibition serves as a platform for the young artists to develop their talent in contemporary art.
The National Art Gallery in a statement said the exhibition, which runs until Nov 24 from 5pm to 10pm, seeks to portray "silence" through the natural beauty of Langkawi and a more tranquil lifestyle, far removed from the bustling chaos of big cities.
"In this context, ‘silence’ is viewed positively, offering a space for reflection and appreciation of higher values in life, akin to the celebration of ‘Nyepi’ in Bali, Indonesia, which is observed in silence and imbued with profound spiritual meaning,” the statement said.
The exhibition features 11 young artists who are active in creating site-specific art installations, including Alvin Lau, Arikwibowo Amril, Azam Aris, Fauzan Fuad, Hannah Moujing, Khabir Roslan, Ng Yi Kee, Ryan Tang, Sim Hoi Ling, Teo Wey Yinn and Ahmad Rajaie.
Officiated by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) secretary-general Datuk Roslan Abdul Rahman on Nov 16, the event was also attended by National Art Gallery director-general Amerrudin Ahmad as well as members of the arts community.
Also launched was the Bakat Muda Sezaman 2024 symposium, held over two days in Langkawi. The symposium discussed the direction of the Young Contemporaries Residency Programme and the importance of understanding site-specific and community art concepts.
"The symposium aims to inspire young artists to produce relevant works of art that align with the designated themes in preparation for the upcoming Young Contemporaries Competition,” the statement added.
The symposium also brought together expert panelists, including curators and artists such as Azzad Diah Ahmad Zabidi, Wong Hoy Cheong, Moelyono, Dr Tisna Sanjaya and Muhammad Hazrin Abdul Malek @ Moktar, who is also the director of the National Art Gallery Langkawi. - Bernama
