If the 4K UHD displays and curved computer monitors of today are any indication, we take true-to-life images and immersive experiences very seriously. But the Nature Nurtured Exhibition at the Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery (BNMMAG) is a pleasant reminder that we don’t always need tech to experience truly moving images. Walking through the spacious exhibition space, which doesn’t burden itself with interactive touch screens, one can’t help but be awestrucked by hand-painted and hand-drawn images that are so life like, they look like the animals could leap out of the frame at any moment.
Cloudy by Monica Lee (2016)Listen to the Falling Leaf – Crested Wood-Partridge by Tew Yew Kiang (2016)A reflective corner of the gallery.
Upon entering the gallery, visitors are first greeted by the sounds of nature in the background, which sets the tone for the visual treat on display. The exhibition showcases 79 artworks in the prevailing genre of realism and is divided into five sections. It begins with the Earth’s three vital elements – Land, Water and Sky, which highlight the local flora and fauna that inhabit these realms. This is followed by the Corporate and Creative section, which showcases the Central Bank’s support of its staff’s creative spirit. And at the end, an activity area where children can colour, make green pledges, watch an informative video and admire Ramlan Abdullah’s whimsical sculpture entitled “Running Forest”.
Fifteen artists have taken part in the exhibition, sharing a mission to appreciate Malaysia’s greatest asset. They are: Abd Rasid Yusof, Adrian Ho, Charles Mawan, Choo Beng Teong, Dr. Neoh Chin Boon, Jaafar Taib, Johan Marjunid, Latif Maulan, Monica Lee, Moy Siew Ting, Ong Soo Keat, Sazri Russalan, Teh Yew Kiang, Yeap Tho Seng and Zaharuddin Sarbini.
And as the Central Bank has always been a strong supporter of the Malaysian Art industry, art appreciation among Bank staff is not a new phenomenon either. In the case of this exhibition, there is more than nature to be nurtured — there is also some nurturing of creative talent. Thirteen members of staff from different departments in the Bank have contributed 25 artworks displaying the marvels of Mother Nature.
The staff, namely Abdul Muid Latif, Muhammad Herman Rawi, Ikhwanizam Ibrahim, Kamisah Abd Kadir, Khairulzamani Hamzah,Mohd Faizal Abdul Latif,Mohd Ubaidillah Daud,Myrzela Sabtu,Nurul Fatin Shakira Helmi, Rebecca Choong Shu Wen,Rina Abd Rahim, Shahril Nizam Abdollah and Tan Mei Yueh, display much energy and creativity in their work, which are generally less realist than the professional artists in the exhibition.
In conclusion, the exhibition is a comprehensive account of the involvement of Malaysian artists in preserving the fragile balance of nature. Through their eyes and efforts, we have a highly personalised record of Malaysia’s ever-changing environment. And while ‘Nature Nurtured’ seeks to commemorate the natural marvels of Malaysia, as depicted by selected contemporary artists, visitors will instantly marvel at the natural talent that these artists possess. Furthermore, the works on display encourage us to ponder on nature’s wealth in biodiversity and inspiration, as well as the importance of both nurturing the environment and nurturing a love for the environment within ourselves.
The Nature Nurtured Exhibition is open for public viewing at the Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery from 19 January to 18 June 2017. The BNMMAG is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm and admission is free.
Finally after 4 years, Asian award winning artist Ch’ng Huck Theng, presented his final bronze sculpture ‘Pahlawan’ (Warrior in English) in his series ‘IMPerfect Creation’ in PinkGuy Gallery KL. Guest of Honor was Minister of Transport Dato’ Seri Liow Tiong Lai together with Datuk Dr. Wong Lai Sum, Dato’ TS Yong, collectors and friends from the art scene. Dato’ Seri Liow praised the artist for his endeavor for creating a Malay sculpture from the inspiration of legendary heroes such as Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Lekir, Hang Kesturi with the intention to remind fellow Malaysians that there is always a need to have a common ‘hero’ or a common ideology to unite the different races. A beautiful limited edition hard cover book ‘IMPerfect Creation’ was launched during the evening.
Critically praised by The Huffington Post as “Ecstatic & Enjoyably Old-Fashioned”, Disney’s Aladdin The Hit Broadway Musical is one of the most popular musical productions the world has seen. Its armfuls of accolades – totaling 52 major awards – include the Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “A Whole New World” at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes.
Released in November 1992, the Disney Feature Animation was No. 1 movie of the year with over $530M gross (almost $1B in today’s dollars). It sold more than 25 million VHS/DVD units and well over 2 million soundtracks.
The pop version of the song also won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and is the first and only song from a Disney animated film to reach No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100.
Although this theatricality was at the core of the animated classic through its music, the beloved film is almost more of an action/adventure in its final form. The task of returning it to its original theatrical roots fell to a team of some of the most remarkable artists working on Broadway today.
Casey Nicholaw, director and choreographer, is best known for his Tony Award-winning direction of “The Book of Mormon”, as well as hits such as “The Drowsy Chaperone and Spamalot“.
被著名的赫芬顿邮报赞誉为 “最令人欣喜若狂和愉快的古老经典”，迪斯尼的阿拉丁热门百老汇音乐是世界上最流行的音乐制作之一。除了夺得最佳配乐和最佳原创歌曲，“A Whole New World” 在奥斯卡颁奖典礼和金球奖大放异彩，共拿下共计52项大奖。
这部 “阿拉丁” 是在1992年11月由迪斯尼动画制作发行，也是首部电影在当年总票房超过530万元(几乎相等于今天10亿元)。至于录像带与 DVD 销售量超过2500万，还有逾200万的原声带销售。
“For me, I want to nurture young artists so that 10 years from now, we will have many more good artists to showcase impressive art works”
With a long list of solo and group exhibitions, locally and internationally, in his belt and multiple awards, Bayu Utomo Radjikin is no stranger in the art industry. The Sabahan, who has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, is particularly well known for his solo exhibition featuring mainly skulls in his paintings two years ago called “Ada Apa Dengan Tengkorak”.
“There is a future yet for the art industry here and I am sure that one day, our artists will be able to bring this industry up to finally catch up with our neighbouring countries.”
After a break of two years, when he worked on his latest masterpieces, Bayu Utomo launched a solo of his abstract works in “Gejolak” this year at G13 Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. “It is more of an abstract form that is fluid and different from my more figurative works like Tengkorak,” he said about his latest work. He also plans to work on more abstract forms in his future pieces.
“I want to do something that’s different from my previous styles and I enjoyed doing this so I am looking forward to creating more abstract pieces like in Gejolak,” he shared. Gejolak is Bayu’s interpretation of the feelings and emotions that swirled endlessly within humans. He said the strokes represented the strength and weakness along with the imbalances of feelings inside humans. Gejolak is his 10th solo exhibition since he launched his very first solo in 1996 at the National Art Gallery.
Other than his own work, the 46-year-old is intent on helping budding artists to succeed in an industry that is wrought with challenges. Bayu is the director of HOM Art Trans, an independent art space dedicated towards cultivating young and new artists. The organisation has three main programmes, The Residency, The Art Fund and The Art Award, to nurture, help and promote young talented Malaysian artists.
“There is a future yet for the art industry here and I am sure that one day, our artists will be able to bring this industry up to finally catch up with our neighbouring countries.”
“It is important to nurture these young artists by providing them with the means and space, otherwise it is difficult for them to flourish,” he said. He said these young artists are really talented, including those who graduated with fine art degrees. However, there were no avenue for them to flourish and succeed so many would easily give up. He recently organised group exhibitions for the young artists in Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
“Of course, all these exhibitions mean that we also needed a supportive audience to keep them motivated but unfortunately, we don’t get a lot of people who understands,” he said. The art industry in Malaysia is still growing and it will take time for the audience to really appreciate fine art like paintings and sculptures.
Bayu has been in the art industry for over 25 years and he believed that though the art industry is still growing, it is heading in the right direction. “We are still lagging behind compared to Indonesia and Manila,” he said. Art is still considered unimportant and not a priority for most people. It is not something corporations will support and many still assumed that exhibitions can only be held by those who have the money to do so.
“For me, I wanted to nurture young artists so that 10 years from now, we will have many more good artists to showcase impressive art works,” he said. With great masterpieces, he believed it will lead to progress for the art industry in Malaysia. He is also nurturing one of his children who has shown an interest in drawing.
“There is a future yet for the art industry here and I am sure that one day, our artists will be able to bring this industry up to finally catch up with our neighbouring countries,” he said. Bayu is now working on his next project, more abstract art works, and has plans to hold another solo exhibition in the near future.
在成功举办了国内外一系列个人和集体展览会，创造无数艺术话题和荣获许多奖项，Bayu Utomo Radjikin 绝对是艺术行业并不陌生的名字。这名拥有美术学士学位的沙巴人，两年前以别具一格的骷髅颅骨主题 ：“Ada Apa Dengan Tengkorak”的个人展览而知名。
In celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the House of Dior, one of the most prestigious couture houses in the world, the National Gallery of Victoria is set to present the never-before-seen exhibition The House of Dior : Seventy Years of Haute Couture at NGV International from 27 August to 7 November, 2017.
Exclusive to Melbourne, the exhibition is a collaboration between the NGV and the House of Dior and will feature a sumptuous display of over 140 garments from Christian Dior Couture designed from 1947 to 2017.
Considered as Dior’s first complete collection to be shown outside of Paris, the exhibition’s highlights include examples from Christian Dior’s iconic Spring 1947 ‘New Look’ collection, magnificent displays of Dior’s signature ballgowns and evening dresses, as well as current contemporary designs from the House’s first female head designer, Maria Grazia Chiuri.
配合迪奥之家(House of Dior)70周年纪念，维多利亚国家美术馆(NGV)为这家世界上极负盛名的时装店之一，策划前所未有的展览 “The House of Dior : 70年高级定制时装”，自2017年8月27日至11月7日，在NGV国际馆展出。
An Interview with Dr. Mohamed Saleem (M.Sc Haematology, PhD Genetics), Genetics Laboratory Manager, GenomixLAB™
Can you tell us more about GenomixLAB™ and NIPT?
GenomixLAB™ focuses on chromosome evaluations and gene sequencing. Our laboratory is equipped with a complete bench of the latest state-of-the-art Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) machines including ION S5 XL Semiconductor Sequencer, Personal Genome Machine (PGMTM) and Ion-Chef from Thermo Fischer Scientific. In fact, we are the first company in this region to deploy ION S5 XL machine.
Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) marketed as Non-invasive Chromosome Evaluation (NiCE™) is a chromosomal test offered by GenomixLAB™ to study
the presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes (aneuploidy) in the foetus of a pregnant mother. We offer NiCE™ testing in three formats. That is you can choose to test only the three most common chromosomal abnormalities including trisomy chromosome 21 (Down’s syndrome), trisomy 13 (Patau’s syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edward’s syndrome) and sex chromosome aberrations; or one can choose to test for aneuploidy in all the 23 pair of chromosomes. These two modes of testing can also be complemented with a third option of screening for 8 or 20 microdeletion syndromes in the foetus, including DiGeorge, Prader_Willi and Angelman to name few.
What type of sample is needed for NiCE™ testing and how long does it take for reports to be available?
We require about 10mL of blood from the expecting mother at 10 weeks gestation collected into special blood collecting tube provided by the GenomixLAB™. Since samples are analysed locally here in Malaysian without the need to sent to overseas for testing, results will be available in not more than 10 calendar days. NiCE™ test is more than 99% accurate.
Apart from NIPT, what else do you all do?
In addition to the NIPT test, we also perform other genetic tests, such as BRCA 1 and 2 genes testing for early onset breast cancers risk assessment, Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) for chromosome and genetic disorder screening on IVF embryos, and many more.
If this is only a screening test and claimed to be more than 99% accurate, why then do one need to do a diagnostic test such as Amniocentesis or CVS in the unlikely situation where the NIPT result turns out to be positive?
Although the NiCE™ test is 99% accurate, all NIPT tests in the market remain screening test for clinical purposes. Therefore, before any intervention is decided on a positive NIPT results, a repeat chromosomal aneuploidy testing on an amniocentesis or CVS (Chorionic Villous Sample) is required to confirm the foetal diagnosis.
Does GenomixLAB™ offer the confirmatory testing on amniocentesis or CVS?
Yes GenomixLAB™ offers this service for our NiCE™ screen positive patients and for other referred patients as well.
You mentioned something about sex chromosomes earlier. Does this mean that you can assist the parents to determine the gender of the baby? Yes we can! NiCE™ test will determine the presence of the Y chromosome. If Y-chromosome was detected, the foetal gender will be regarded as male, whereas its absence denotes the baby is a female. Females carry two X chromosomes and lacks Y chromosome, whereas males carry both X and Y chromosomes.
How do you see this trend in Malaysia?
In Singapore, we were told that 80% of pregnant mothers are opting for NIPT today to avoid any future problems. In certain other countries, it had been included in the antenatal screening panel to carry out such tests as compared to the more conventional triple tests.
In Malaysia, the awareness of NIPT has not reach to a level where people can openly accept it. This is largely due to affordability of the test as well. Just like cord blood stem cell banking when it first started, the awareness is very low and not many people could appreciate the importance of keeping their precious baby’s cord blood stem cells. Today, almost all private hospitals carry out this procedure as it only takes 5 minutes to do this.
Similarly, NIPT is non-invasive and 100% safe for both the mother and her precious baby.It gives the mother the peace of mind knowing the status of her baby as early as 10 weeks into her pregnancy. It is our yearn to see that this service that we are offering can come down to a level of affordability to all pregnant mothers one day as more and more pregnant mothers decide to choose this screening test. Like most services, as the volume of test goes up, the cost of screening will go down. Right now, many players are sending the samples to laboratories in overseas but we hope that they can trust our service as we do not compromise on the level of quality and standards since we benchmarked our service to those laboratories in Taiwan where they have a reputation of high standards in genetic testing.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION
TEL : (+6) 03 6157 2299 • FAX : (+6) 03 6157 2223 • EMAIL : enquiry@genomixlab.com
ADDRESS : No. 47-3A, Level 3, Jalan PJU 5/12, Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara,
47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor DE, Malaysia http://www.genomixlab.com
Radiologist & Nuclear Medical Physician
MBBS (Delhi), M. Rad (UM), F’ship in Nuc Med Imaging (IAEA)
Clinical Indications
Detection of skeletal metastases for Initial Staging, Disease extent and assess Response to treatment
Stress injuries and fractures
Bone viability after surgery or trauma
Complications of joint prostheses, bone graft viability, fracture nonunion
Osteonecrosis of femoral head and mandible
Metabolic bone diseases like Osteoporosis, Renal osteodystrophy, Paget`s disease
Osteomyelitis
Bones not only support the body structure, but are also important in producing blood cells and storing minerals. Diseases or conditions which involve the bones such as tumours, degenerative diseases, infections and injuries can therefore affect these functions.
Various imaging techniques can be used for imaging bones, including X-rays, CT scans and MRI. Besides these, nuclear medicine imaging using radioactive isotopes such as Technetium have been used for many years. With the invention of the PET-CT scanner, combining both PET and CT technology in a single scanner, new and more advanced imaging techniques are now available toassess bony involvement in diseases.
Sodium Fluoride PET-CT (NaF PET-CT) is a new imaging service offered at Loh Guan Lye Specialists Centre from July 2016, providing significantly improved quality and definition compared to other nuclear medicine bone imaging techniques.
The most common indication for the NaF PET-CT scan is in various cancers that may involve the bones, not only to detect spread of cancer to the bones, but also to assess the degree of bony involvement as well as to monitor the response to treatment.
Other indications include the detection of stress injuries and fractures as well as assessment of bone viability after surgery and also to detect complications related to bone implants.
Various clinical indications for NaF PET-CT Scan
This scan uses radioactive Fluoride bonded to sodium, which is then injected into the body and is taken up by areas of increased bone activity. Images of the whole body are then obtained on a PETCT scanner after 45-60 minutes, providing a detailed map of normal and abnormal bone activity in various conditions.
NaF PET-CT images showing tumour involving multiple bonesNaF PET-CT in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis showing active disease at multiple joints.Marathon runner with bilateral leg and foot pain. NaF PET-CT image shows bilateral stress injuries at the tibiae and feet.
Compared to other bone scanning techniques using radioactive Technetium, NaF PET-CT is more sensitive and specific in detecting bony lesions (tumour involvement of the bones). Not only does NaF PET-CT detect up to 45 % more lesions, it has other advantages over older bone scanning methods as well. The preparation for this scan is less inconvenient for patients, with no specific restrictions related to diet, medications and lifestyle.
The waiting time and scanning time is significantly less, while image quality is significantly better than older bone scanning techniques. Fusion of PET images with CT images allows precise localisation of lesions and better assessment without the extra expense and inconvenience of having to perform another examination to assess bone lesions found on the Technetium scans.
Interpretation of PET-CT images is done by trained specialists working on dedicated workstations to assess the images. Other clinical and investigative findings are taken into account when reporting the scans to obtain as much information as possible in order to provide the best treatment to the patient.
Loh Guan Lye Specialists Centre is proud to be the first centre in the country to provide NaF PET-CT imaging services, consistent with our commitment to providing the best treatment using the latest technology.
Comparison between conventional bone scan using Technetium (left) and NaF PET-CT (right) in two patients with tumour involving the bones showing significantly better image quality of the NaF PETCT scan with more areas of bone involvement seen compared to the Technetium scan.
When I first stepped foot in Beijing 20 years ago, it was a big city with a perfect blue sky and most of its inhabitants did not know how to drive. Traffic was pleasant with the exception of thousands of bicycles either on roads or parked like sardines in open spaces near offices or metro stations.
I still remember my customer then Mr. Jia Wujun (贾武军) who had come to pick me up from the airport. While it was a perfectly normal day for me, it was his first day behind the wheels. He was as stiff as a stick as he handled the steering wheel with full concentration moving at the speed of a snail. He and his five brothers were farmers before but decided to take a leap of faith to dabble in a small seafood business when China opened its doors to the international market.
Today, Jia is one of the leading seafood importers in China who owns a factory in Thailand importing big volumes from all over the world in order to satisfy huge local demands. Not remotely a surprise, considering his connection with Thailand, he took me to one of the three Thai restaurants he now proudly owns. Thai Mei (泰美) is a new venture that serves authentic yet not-too-spicy Thai cuisine.
The Chinese have become a lot more well-off although the capital of China today is choke up with traffic jams and hazardous environment where sometimes one will find it difficult to see and breathe. If one would prefer to spend some quality time with fresh air and a ‘peace’ of mind, then award winning hotel Sunrise Kempinski Beijing where I was invited to speak in the China’s Business Family Heritage Forum 2016 (2016中国家族企业传承) would definitely be a good choice to stay. Although the Chinese wealth is exploding and with the expectation of its second generation to continue this fairy tale, many families are facing issues of successions as children inheriting the family business face difficulties in differing cultural upbringing and being raised in a total comfort and well-protected environment. The forum’s primary focus was to bring together foreign companies that have succeeded in passing the baton through generations; to share researches done by local academics; and to explore the success stories of Chinese companies that have performed well in both domestic and international platforms.
Although distantly located away from the city, the hotel offers a near perfect environment for those who wanted to be free from noise and air pollution as described by hotel manager Sebastian Thomas. Its interior has an impressive architectural design served with immaculate facilities especially the fitness centre and the hotel pool. The breakfast menu provides a delicious spread of choice ranging from the East to the West. The hot Chinese soup noodles and healthy yogurt were simply my choice to start the day. One should also try the signature in-house grilled fish and the braised sea cucumber with rice (小米煮辽参) in the Magnolia Chinese restaurant. The double-boiled hasma in papaya (木瓜炖雪蛤) dessert would be an excellent choice to call it a day. The welcoming dessert presentation in my room, I must say, was the best I have seen so far.
Beijing is a big city conveniently connected by its subway system taking away most travellers’ nightmare of being stuck in traffic. Walking around Wangfujing, this famous shopping area no longer gave me the feeling of old China that it once used to be, but rather disappointingly modern Western brand outlets now occupy the traditional Chinese buildings. Perhaps one of the most interesting scenes for tourists is the street food where exotic creatures such as live scorpions, sea horses, centipedes and worms are offered as snacks to those with strong stomachs. There is also another pedestrian shopping area in close proximity to Tiananmen Square: Beijing Qianmen Street located directly behind Zhenyangmen offers visitors a glimpse of buildings from the late Qing dynasty. Although the main street is filled with typical big brands one could find in any city, restaurants located at the side lanes provide an interesting selection of, said to be, old, traditional and authentic Chinese food.
Mary Goh, manager of the hotel and also a Singaporean, is not only capable but also full of experience from spending most of her adult life in the hospitality industry in China. When we met for lunch, I must admit that I was a little sceptical when the restaurant served us Peking duck especially after tasting the Signature Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant (全聚德）the night before. However I was pleased to congratulate Mary that the roast duck served at her restaurant was nothing but exceptional. The duck meat was not fatty and the crispy skin was simply delicious especially when the meat is wrapped with freshly made soft pancakes. Another interesting dish immaculately presented and nicely cooked was their God Mother’s Traditional Fried Rice (老干妈炒饭).
Although the Temple of Confucius located on Guozijian Street may not be as popular as the other sites such as the Imperial Palace, nonetheless, it is a well preserved heritage site that pays tribute to the greatest scholar and philosopher of China – Confucius. It is interesting to know a little more on how Confucius influenced the world through his teachings and are still very much respected to this very day. Furthermore, one can just walk over to the Beijing Imperial Academy located next to the temple where some of the top officials were educated in the olden days. Wu Dao Ying Hu Tong (五道营胡同) nearby, typically known for its small lane is popular for its interesting curio and coffee shops.
Within walking distance is the newly built Overseas Chinese History Museum of China. It is a museum dedicated to collecting and showcasing the history and current status of Chinese immigrants. The museum provides important information about the Chinese people who are scattered all over the world contributing to the politics and economies in countries where they now live in.
Hunting for antiques in China used to be an exciting affair. Nowadays, genuine Chinese antique pieces are scarce and predominantly either too common or new reproductions that are purposely made to look old. Beijing Curio City (北京古玩城), covering an area of 5.8 acres, is Asia’s largest antique trading centre and also probably the best place to venture if you are looking to add to your antique collection. Within walking distance is the famous Panjiayuan Antique Market where most sellers display items for sale on the ground. A typical Chinese visitor will not only have certain knowledge of what he/she is buying but also exceptional skills in bargaining. Nevertheless, this is an interesting place to be where one will find life-sized Buddha, porcelain, books, paintings, stones, jade and many more. Don’t be anxious or stressed if you’ve bought pieces that are not within the period claimed by the sellers. One must remember the saying of ‘Good things do not come cheap!’
The 798 Art District would be a perfect choice if one wishes to dab in modern and contemporary creations and innovations. Formerly an industrial site that housed many state-owned factories, this area was eventually converted into a place for artists and cultural organisations in 2002. Today, 798 is a holy place for art and cultural lovers where museums, art galleries, cultural centres, themed cafes and boutique restaurants are housed under one single roof.
Beijing is a large city with limitless attractions. While its biggest attraction such as the Great Wall and the Imperial Palace remain the stars of the city, there is a sense that the original attitude, experience and culture of the Chinese people are gradually diminishing. Hopefully it will not end up as a Chinese body with Western souls.
Swedish-born contemporary artist Thomas Broomé has been actively exhibiting his three-dimensional text art since 2006. Using 3D printing technology and power of calligrams to create drawings and sculptures, text is transformed into key furniture pieces from Hermès. His installation at Hermès Liat Towers, Singapore, connecting the visual and visceral, is inspired from the concept of ‘home’ and objects from the Hermès home universe. Viewers get to engage in a cosy apartment consists wholly of words that draw, shape and describe in rather deranged repetitive detail of each object.
Hermès’ signature Pippa folding chair has the word “CHAIR” repeatedly printed on it, while the Hermès home valet has the word “VALET” encircling its outline – creating an atmospheric between the real and the false and multi-layered visual play with the eye. Other items including the steps and carpets are divided into two and three dimensions. ModernMantra (Hermès Home) turns our observation into fine line tickling the visual sense between words, visual engagement and reality.
“It is about the perception and the difference between what we know and what we see – and how sometimes the two are confused in our perception of things,” – Broomé.
ModernMantra (Hermès Home) continues the series of windows specially commissioned from guest artists around the world, which will be on display at Hermès store at 541 Orchard Road, Liat Towers, Singapore.
Thomas Broomé，这名瑞典的当代艺术家，以3D文字展现流动婉转的艺术。自2006年开始，他利用3D打印技术和图形诗的优美成像力量创作图纸和雕塑，使文字箴言转化为爱马仕（Hermès）的家具配件主导设计。而灵感来自“家”的概念和爱马仕万有家园定义，他在新加坡 Liat Towers的爱马仕精品店内独具匠心的创作，撼动人们观感与内心。参观者可从舒适的空间观赏到由文字单词绘制、塑造和描述的每个物件，显得繁琐且重复细节。
When the moon and stars are aligned, the perfect night is created and in this case, an IMPerfect night of art, wine and friends.
The ‘IMPerfect Creation’ was held in Melbourne’s SpACE@Collins gallery recently featuring award-winning Asian contemporary sculptor Ch’ng Huck Theng’s bronze sculpture creations. Pronounced as “I am perfect”, it was his first solo exhibition in Australia and successfully sold seven out of the 11 pieces on display. The 11 interesting artwork pieces carries its unique story, meaning and philosophy inspired by different people and happenings around the artist.
The opening night was officiated by Rupert Myer, Chair of the Australian Council of the Arts and was attended by more than 150 people, all who were the artist’s close network of friends.
In Myer’s speech, he said:“This new perspective that Ch’ng introduces is the concept of beauty and ugly – in which beauty cannot be seen if one cannot see ugliness. Ch’ng strikes me as not just a business man, he’s an artist and editor with an inquisitive mind. I know this as he interviewed me for his magazine, Essenze, where he seemed to understand my full story even though the interview was just a short one. Rupert continued by comparing Ch’ng’s concepts and philosophy with Australia’s great including artist Arthur Boyd and Albert Tucker. He is a brilliant and talented man.”
The evening was catered by Humbling Eats, one of Melbourne’s finest caterers for fine cocktails.
“The sculptures show us social behaviour that we encounter daily, or that we ourselves act out consciously or unconsciously. Each piece tells a deep story and most are from my experience too,” said Ch’ng.
Some of the pieces are more personal to him. “Princess Liberty for example, depicts the time when my daughter went to study in university in Australia. So she’s riding a horse which also represents the plane, but I named it Princess Liberty because even though she’s away from home and grown up, she’s still daddy’s little princess.
I hope that my art will make us look deeper into our own hearts when faced with issues and problems,” Ch’ng said.
It takes Ch’ng almost six months to create one sculpture and the heaviest piece named “Angel of Love”, weighs more than 100kg.
Ch’ng is currently one of the leading artists and sculptors in Malaysia as this year marks the artist’s 22 years in art. His works are collected not only in Malaysia but around the world by respected institutions that include the National Visual Art Gallery Malaysia, Singapore Art Museum, Hong Kong University Museum & Gallery, Shanghai Art Museum and Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (ENSBA) in Paris.
An Interview with Dr. Mohamed Saleem (M.Sc Haematology, PhD Genetics), Genetics Laboratory Manager, GenomixLAB™
EZ MALAYSIA.NEWS 