Eye for art: Sense with his Kopi Jackfruit Monkey series of works, which will be exhibited as part of this year’s George Town Festival.
Aussie artist Nigel Sense finds the extraordinary in the everyday
GEORGE TOWN: What seems mundane to a local can be rather fascinating to a foreigner – especially when one’s an adventurous and intuitive artist like Nigel Sense, an Australian who currently calls Penang home.
He and his wife enjoy travelling around the world. They stop at inspirational locations for short periods so he can paint, before moving onto their next adventure.
Sense’s time here has resulted in a series of unique works that will be showcased in an exhibition titled Kopi Jackfruit Monkey as part of George Town Festival 2024.
“Every new sight and experience of living in Penang for the first time finds its way onto my canvases.
“Each painting reflects the joy, vibrancy and rhythm of urban everyday life. I see them as more than visual references; they’re invitations to delve into new experiences, to embrace the unknown, and to find beauty in the everyday moments,” he shared.
The prime source of inspiration for the series is the Swee Kong coffeeshop in Pulau Tikus. Being close to his residence, he frequents the kopitiam regularly.
“I love sitting in one of the booths with a hot, unsweetened coffee. It’s strong and thick, a nice kick in the teeth for inspiration and imagery to come to me.
“The place feels like a step back in time where people still talk to each other.
“The way the hot coffee comes in a beautiful cup and saucer is charming. The best part is there’s always coffee spilled everywhere, and I’ve even learnt to slurp it from the saucer now.
“When friends come over from overseas, we explain that this is normal, because in Australia, you would probably send the cup back.
“To me, the kopitiam represents old-school Asia, which is gradually being replaced by shinier and more modern alternatives.
“While I do love the trendy cafes in Penang, it’s nice to have the choice of both,” said Sense, a native of Wollongong in New South Wales.
Sense describes his idiosyncratic style as “visual overstimulation”, symbolic of modern times where people are constantly bombarded with information and stimuli.
His process is primal and instinctive – with fast and bright brush strokes, often with music playing, the television on, or even a book open.
Drawing inspiration from the likes of Basquiat, Warhol, Pollock and Schnable, he embraces imperfections and considers them celebrations of spontaneity and authenticity.
“This reflects how everything becomes amplified when I travel. There’s an overwhelming influx of new experiences and insights. And to make sense of it all, I channel it onto the canvas,” he added.
Sense’s works are often selected for major awards. Among recent ones, he was a finalist of the Salon De Refuses 2019 and 2020, the Mosman Art Prize in 2018 and 2017, as well the Black Swan Art Prize in 2017.
The Kopi Jackfruit Monkey exhibition will be held at Fiesta by Beverly Chill, a cafe located in Noordin Street in George Town.
It will be open for viewing from 1pm to 8pm daily from July 19 to 28.
For details, visit www.georgetownfestival.com
