Sa Sa Art Project, Sàn Art, The Art People Gallery etc.
By Andari Suherlan and Vivyan Yeo

Presented in two parts, A&M’s July round-up features 10 new exhibitions following the gradual easing of restrictions across Southeast Asia. Even as galleries are harnessing the power of connecting with audiences through online initiatives, there is a yearning to return to physical spaces to experience art in person. Here is Part 2 of our round-up, where we have picked out online offerings that allow us to continue appreciating art in the comfort of our own homes. For physical shows and gallery re-openings, take a look at Part 1 of our round-up.

Mech Choulay & Mech Sereyrath, ‘Mother of River 5’, 2020, Digital C-Print, 50 x 75 cm. Image courtesy of Sa Sa Art Projects.

Elements

Available both online and in Sa Sa Art Project’s gallery space, this collaborative exhibition by artist sisters Mech Choulay and Mech Sereyrath illuminates nature’s hardiness against the pernicious effects of human intervention. ‘Elements’ includes photographs and videos that engage with issues such as deforestation, wildlife hunting and the destruction caused by hydropower dams. The works were inspired by the artists’ travels to Anlong Veng, the last territory seized by the Khmer Rouge, and the Mekong River, which is fast declining from over-fishing. By performing and interacting with nature, the artists spotlight the beauty of the earth and urge for the preservation of our endangered biosphere.

Sa Sa Art Projects 12 June to 7 August 2020

Time Lapse

This show features eight circular, mixed media works by Thai-born artist Pannaphan Yodmanee. With unorthodox materials such as precious stones, gold leaf and cement, the tactile canvases in ‘Time Lapse’ survey the pertinence of Buddhist philosophy in contemporary times. Through the marriage of traditional Thai motifs with universal themes of suffering and karma, the works simultaneously unveil microscopic and macroscopic visions of religious cosmology. The physical exhibition is held at La Lanta Fine Art’s gallery space alongside an online showcase on the gallery’s website.

La Lanta Fine Art 6 June to 29 July 2020

Võ An Khánh, ‘Mobile Military Medical Clinic’, 1970 (2020), inkjet print on archival paper. Image courtesy of Sàn Art.

Masked Force

This solo exhibition features a collection of ethereal photographs by Võ An Khánh. Entitled ‘Masked Force’, it displays journalistic snapshots that reveal the haunting struggles and disquieting narratives experienced during the Vietnam War. While historical photographs tend to be static and factual in nature, the wartime images of the artist stretch far beyond empirical data. Instead, they carry a transient spirit that challenges pre-existing modes of ideology and history.

Sàn Art 2 June to 8 August 2020

Liew Kwai Fei, ‘Water_10’, 2019, acrylic on paper, 17 x 11 cm. Image courtesy of The Back Room KL.

Fish in Pure Water 水至清则无鱼

With 20 paintings by Malaysia-born artist Liew Kwai Fei, this online exhibition is framed by the Chinese phrase ‘水至清则无鱼’, which translates as ‘water that is too clear has few fish’. This warning against sterility and exactness encapsulates Fei’s cerebral, yet unfettered synthesis of art historical references from the East and West. Accompanying ‘Fish in Pure Water’ is an experimental text written by Ellen Lee that narrates a fictional censorship debate centring on Liew’s works. Inspired by Socratic discourse, the text situates Liew’s paintings in an imaginative, political context.

The Back Room KL 10 April to end of July 2020

Nicholas Choong, ‘Recede, Diminish, Return’, 2020, acrylic on found materials on canvas, 20 x 60 cm. Image Courtesy of The Art People Gallery.

A Rip in the Fabric of Time

Malaysian artist Nicholas Choong honours the practice of inquiry and reflection in art. While the pandemic has negatively impacted our world, it has also given many the time to look inward and go beyond the line of familiarity. Featuring two series of paintings, ‘The Membrane’ and ‘Terra Firma’, ‘A Rip in the Fabric of Time’ is a manifestation of Choong’s spiritual painting practice, which gave utterance to his intuition and curiosity. The exhibition by The Art People Gallery is held on Artsy’s digital platform alongside a virtual reality room on Artsteps’s web-based environment.

The Art People Gallery 6 June to 6 July 2020

Click here to read Part 1 of our July Round-up, which features gallery re-openings and physical shows taking place throughout Southeast Asia.