MEAA 2023 Awards
Pulitzer Prize winning visual art critic, Jerry Saltz, once stated that “every work of art is an experiment.”
This simple observation is rarely more poignant than when it is applied to a collection of young, talented and highly motivated visual artists while they remain unburdened by the weight of the world, those youthful and dedicated craftspersons whose passion and energy is focused on exploring boundless opportunities as they unfold. In many cases, this is most prominent before their exuberance is dampened by the pressures of life-building when responsibilities encroach upon their freedom to express themselves through their art. In essence, it's the same race many aspiring creators attempt to conquer before begin forced to succumb to that dreaded “real job.”
One such group is the thirteen artists chosen for the 2023 Malaysia Emerging Artist Award (MEAA). The works of Amsyar Ramly, Afiq Romi, Noor Zahran, Syazwan Rahim, Syahmi Jamaluddin, Efi Syafiq, Aza Ikmal, Putra Nazri, Wen Pinga Ong, Faris Ridzwan, Izzuddin Basiron, Lim Ton Xin, and Amar Shahid are currently being showcased at Linkokwing University in Cyberjaya in an event co-sponsored by the gracious hosts, MEA Management, and CIMB. With perserverance and dedication to their craft, the members of this inspiring group seem destined to achieve the ultimate goal: life centered around a labour of love.
Conceived over a decade ago by HOM Art Trans and Galeri Chandan, the biennial competition has grown to encompass the support and patronage of the academic, cultural, and corporate worlds. The original goal remains the same, as stated by HOM: “to recognize the country’s top emerging artistic talents and give them the opportunity to break into local and international art scenes.” Beyond the prestige of being selected by a panel of renowned jurors, winners also receive cash awards, generous art supplies, an international art-related excursion with other winners, workshop sessions with luminaries in the field, and opportunities to exhibit their work in local establishments.
Applications for MEAA are nationwide. Contestants are not limited to any institutional affiliation, and their academic backgrounds are as diverse as the artwork itself. Some are already represented by commercial galleries, others form part of artist-run co-ops. Also of note is that no attempts are made by the jury to curate based upon a specific overarching theme for the exhibition, unlike other competitions where subjectivity leans toward a specific aesthetic, thereby playing an over-sized role in the selection process since the primary goal is not necessarily to cull the best from the rest. Conversely for MEAA, the rubric is simple: select a group of artists who best represent a combination of talent, uniqueness, passion and determination, in other words, artists who are serious about building rewarding professional careers in the visual arts and can readily demonstrate their talent and potential to fulfill such a lofty dream.
In open competitions such as this, it is difficult to draw comparisons between the works of thirteen diverse artists. Nevertheless, certain generalities or overall impressions will inevitably surface. In this case, some might simply be a function of the artists sharing a single nationality, a similar cultural reference base, and the same age group.
Upon first viewing, one could easily title this exhibition “Bursting with Hope: A Journey through the Colorful Canvas of Youth,” or something to that effect. Indeed, the enchanting tapestry of vibrant palettes, confident application, witty approaches, and direct narratives are consistent, as are the unjaded outlooks and constant probing that have come to exemplify a generation that demands to influence how their world will be shaped and expects to participate directly in that process.
These young artists seem to envision a future brimming with possibilities unburdened by the constraints of the present. Their vibrant compositions serve as a reminder that amidst the complexities of life, hope has the power to transcend boundaries and inspire change. Through their artwork, they invite the audience to embrace the promise of tomorrow, reminding us that optimism is a vital force that propels us forward.
Youthfulness is infused with invigorating energy, with art being used as the conduit to reflect upon personal journeys while capturing the essence of our formative years. The stories are unfiltered and sincere. Through the work, light is shed on universal experiences of love, dreams, and self-discovery as the artists invite the audience to embark on an introspective journey by their side. With a playful and imaginative spirit, they break free from conventional norms, daring to experiment and challenge the boundaries of artistic expression.
Several narratives have dominated my personal interpretation of the current SE Asian contemporary art scene over the past three years. The first element I’ve noticed was pride of one’s place coupled with questions about self-identification in a diverse, evolving society as well as the never-ending struggle to formulate comfort zones together with those who are similarly minded. I don’t dare speak of inclusion for inclusion’s sake, rather a search for the most appropriate spaces to maximize one’s satisfaction. In terms of the art, this mindset leads to work that tends to be positive, tolerant, and less abrasive. Without doubt, protest art does exist in this market, but as a generalization it is less pronounced than in other regions, for example Latin America, Africa, the hubs of environmental art, and urban areas worldwide that have battled abject poverty and civil unrest for decades.
Third, and probably the most important aspect as it applies to the works in MEAA 2023, is a set of characteristics related to techniques, choices, and approaches employed consistently throughout the region and specifically by this group of young artists. I refer to the precision, the calculation, the foreplanning, and the methodical application of materials during the formation of deliberate stories as opposed to the creation of art on a raw, visceral level that relies predominantly on emotionally charged gestural spontaneity, such as what we commonly find in the works of decades of abstract expressionists as well as previous generations of Malaysian abstract painters, including Awang Damit Ahmad and Yusof Ghani. Each approach has its own impact and merits, but it is clear that the overwhelming messaging, pictoral imagery and "brightness" is so prevalent in contemporary society that it remains front and center in the minds of young Malaysian artists, and rightfully so. This more than anything is their world. Above all, they need to speak to and for it.
The artworks in MEAA 2023 are precise and refined while maintaining refreshing doses of youthful exuberance with important connections to the period in which they are created. For many, it seems errors tend to be avoided rather than incorporated. Indeed, less commonly will you hear regional artists discuss the effects and benefits of mistakes or chance in their work. For the most part, they devise a plan, rehearse it and stick to it throughout the painstaking elaboration process, thereby accentuating the importance of their initial concepts and technical skills. Alas, this dovetails perfectly with the original mandate of the organizers to uncover new talent who demonstrate crystalline vision and technical prowess. I'm excited to see what comes next for all of these artists.
If you haven’t done so already, I strongly recommend visiting the MEAA 2023 Showcase at Limkokwing University before the show concludes on the 16th of July. Even if you can’t afford to purchase artworks, there are catalogues and merchandise available at the gallery to support both the venue and these emerging award-winning contemporary artists.
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