It has been quite a whirlwind year for me in many fronts, in a good way. I haven’t blogged for a while but thought I will put this up here as a milestone since it crosses from 2023 to 2024, literally. Two of my works are now in Venice, going to be part of Contemporary Venice 13th Edition. Never did I expect my art to be exhibited outside of Singapore just 2 years as an artist. What more, all the way to Italy, Venice! Although I am not going to be there in person, as much as I will like to be part of the opening with the buzz and excitement, I am feeling the excitement here in Singapore as I count down to the opening! Ooohooo!!
In fact, this whole journey as an artist is totally unexpected. Only possible by the hand of God.
My name and art work is not mentioned in Contemporary Venice – 13th Edition press release and I do not expect it to be. I am including it here for you to have more information and also part of my journal of God’s grace and the favour from people whom I have never met or known before.
CONTEMPORARY VENICE – 13TH EDITION
December 15, 2023 – January 05, 2024
Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, Venice
ITSLIQUID Group, in collaboration with ACIT Venice – Italian-German Cultural Association,
is pleased to announce the opening of the 13th edition of CONTEMPORARY VENICE
2023 which will take place in Venice at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello from December 15, 2023
to January 05, 2024.
CONTEMPORARY VENICE analyzes the relationship between body and space, and the
hybridization between identities and cultural/physical/social/urban settings in contemporary
times, through two main sections: MIXING IDENTITIES and FUTURE LANDSCAPES.
MIXING IDENTITIES analyzes the hidden parts of our identities, through an immersive
experience inside the fascinating universe of the complex labyrinths of our consciousness.
The human body is a changing system that connects us with other bodies and spaces to
perceive the surrounding reality; a strong communication system with its language and
infinite ways of expression.
FUTURE LANDSCAPES are abstract, infinite and conceptual, associated with a sense of
freedom and infinite extension. Primarily experienced with the mind, spaces redefine their
limits and borders, transforming surfaces into an open flow of pure ideas. This section
focuses on the concept of the borders and the structures between body, mind and soul,
the human identity and the city, the space and the ground.
Faderera Wahab’s artistic exploration in mixed media aligns seamlessly with the concept of MIXING IDENTITIES intertwining themes of pattern design, nostalgia, and storytelling in her vibrant works. Drawing inspiration from her environment, she uses materials like Ankara and Adire alongside acrylics, oils, and photography to create pieces that reflect her Yoruba heritage. The fabrics in her works act as a map of her cultural roots, exploring the duality of their meaning: through her art, Wahab will invite viewers to explore the interplay between memory, emotion, and the enduring elements of daily life.
Vojtěch Čapek emerged from the vibrant world of graffiti and street art, subsequently evolving into abstract representation. His current focus lies in the meticulous composition of colored surfaces, showcasing flawless gradients that aim to stir profound emotions in
the observer. With precision in transitions, Čapek’s paintings exhibit a delicate mastery of color blends, imbuing his abstractions with a profound sense of fullness. Whether portraying vivid blue skies, the fiery reflections of a summer sun, or the soft pink hues of
dawn, his works resonate with a captivating intensity. Ambitiously shaping modern visual culture, Čapek’s art aspires to enhance corporate and residential interiors, pushing the
boundaries of convention in his distinctive and original style.
For the French artist Jacqueline Galy, painting serves as a tool to express her history and her emotions: her creations act as mirrors, resonating with her evolution. Galy’s artistic choices reflect a deep appreciation for the multifaceted nature of natural elements, embodying grace, beauty, and purity: her works become a visual exploration of life itself, echoing the significance of these natural elements as a life forces, and creating a visual dialogue that transcends the canvas, engaging with the timeless elements of life and love. Following the same path of art as an “inner self-exploration” tool, Aferdita Murtaj, commitment is immersed in a continuous exploration of color, form, and dimensions. Murtaj’s work faces emotional depth, reflecting inner security and dexterity in her artistic process: while nuanced and rooted in nature, her compositions transcend the obvious, serving a higher purpose of form and harmony.
The Italian landscape photographer Andrea Sagui perfectly matches the FUTURE LANDSCAPES topic. Andrea’s desire to explore and discover unseen places in the mountains led him to embark on extended adventures: this exploration fueled his enthusiasm to photograph the most beautiful moments of his journeys. Through his lens, the photographer shares the profound connection he feels with the natural world, trying to make viewers embark on this journey of quiet revelation. Paul Scott Malone’s artistic
journey evolved from writing to painting, embracing abstraction influenced by Southern Arizona’s landscapes. Despite facing personal challenges, his recent works exhibited in major cities, depict an original artistic vigor, exploring large abstracts and portraiture series and reflecting a narrative of triumph over adversity and unwavering commitment to artistic evolution.
In this realm where spaces are experienced primarily with the mind and redefine their limits, Sebastian Wehrle’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage becomes a metaphor for the evolving borders and structures. The German artist exhibits his meticulous technical prowess in his exploration of Radolfzell’s cultural heritage: his intricate detailing of the traditional costume reflects not only a visual representation but also the overpassing of the physical boundaries of the traditional costume, transforming
surfaces into an open flow of pure ideas.
Drawing from personal experiences and influenced by a desire to understand trauma-induced memory gaps, Ayesha Ahmad conduits her exploration to the Irish landscape. Her meditative journey adopts diverse mediums such as polaroid emulsion lifts, anthotypes, cyanotypes, and liquid light, echoing the diverse states of matter and their connection to memory. This body of work, an expansion of her graduate show project, uncovers the profound intertwining of landscape, water, and memory, providing a tangible link to the past while contemplating the nature of photography and self-discovery.
The exhibition will be enriched by the performance of Kamila Olesińska, a versatile dancer and choreographer, who intricately weaves stories through movement, constantly exploring new forms of expression. Fascinated by the concept of ‘body language,’ Olesińska delves into the profound impact of language on our understanding of the world, viewing both movement and spoken word as prisms that shape meaning.
