G13 celebrates 13th anniversary
For their thirteenth anniversary, G13 Gallery called upon thirty-five artists to participate in a celebration of their past and present, most with whom they’ve worked intimately since the gallery’s foundation. Inaugurated on the 27th of May, the sprawling exhibition featuring over sixty diverse works runs through the 10th of June at the Petaling Jaya location.
While this presentation format typically lacks the in-depth study of any particular artist, G13@13 more than makes up for this with its breadth and quality of coverage. A significant number of contemporary trends, styles and techniques are dutifully represented in a kaleidoscope of captivating works. This in itself serves as a testament to G13’s ability to develop relationships over the years across the entire spectrum of Southeast Asian visual art in terms of both genres and the career trajectories of the artists it selects to represent.
Awang Damit “Payarama Baru ‘Saksi Semusim…’’ 170x170cm Mixed Media, 2016 (Image by AF@G13 6/23)
The notable participants in G13@13 were Adam Phong, Amy Nazira, Anisa Abdullah, Awang Damit, Cheong Tuck Wai, David Lee, Fadilah Karim, Faizal Suhif, Faris Ridzwan, Gan Sze Hooi, Gan Tee Sheng, Haziq Syawal, Hisyamudddin Abdullah, Hug Yin Wan, James Seet, Juhari Said, Khairudin Zainudin, Khairul Arshad, Kow Leong Kiang, Kraisak Chirachaisakul, Najib Bamadhaj , Nik M Shazmie, Nik Mohd Shahfiz, Ping, Raduan Man, Rafiee Ghani, Shafiq Nordin, Sharifah Fatimah, Sittiphon Lochaisong, Suzlee Ibrahim, Syed Fakaruddin, Tajuddin Ismail, Wong Ming Hao, and Yuki Tham.
Most of the artists contributed two to three pieces each for the show. While this makes curating toward any particular coherent theme impossible, what you do get is a clear understanding of G13’s relentless goal to concentrate on artists with talent and a clear aesthetic purpose regardless of genre, as well as the unwavering dedication to advance both through their careers. A downloadable pdf catalogue featuring all of the works plus an introduction is available from the G13 website.
The works on display when we visited the exhibition a few days after its inaugural private viewing varied slightly from the works in the catalogue. A sampling of the show’s highlights on the day we attended follows.
G13 has a long history representing the powerful abstracts of Awang Damit. Included for this show was a 2016 work of particular note. Also noteworthy were recent Faizal Suhif’s frottage work in the form of charcoal & ink mixed-media drawings, as well as the whimsical worlds of stuffed animals by David Lee, the lyrical realism of Fadilah Karim, strong examples of Haziq Syawal’s insect, fish & flower pieces on jute, James Seet’s neck-bending ceramics, and the intricate drawings of Khairudin Zainudin. Others that caught our eye were the ever-popular abstracts of Suzlee Ibrahim, a pair of small but bold abstracts by Tajuddin Ismail, and the glow pigment works of Sittiphon Lochaisong, first seen by Artfronts at the CIMB Artober Hotel Art Fair held last October, 2022.
Steeped in thematic depth and skillful execution, the G3@13 showcase exudes a stellar amalgamation of ingenuity and introspection. It seamlessly intertwines divergent artistic mediums resulting in a fluid dialogue between time, space, and perception as they relate to the gallery’s growth and the artists’ leading role in projecting Malaysian and regional art to ever-expanding audiences. The works for the most part appear fresh, calculated and precise rather than being driven by raw physicality or spontaneous emotion. In so doing, they demonstrate an exceptional grasp of technique and focus.
Indeed, whereas many artists worldwide remain mired in navel gazing due to cultural shackles or inner voices they’ve been unable to escape as they progress through their careers, for the most part G13@13 features works that transcend self-identification or inclusion-seeking by creating art that relates not only to the artist and the viewer but also maintains discourse with broader theories and global movements; in other words, unique art that can still speak fluently to other art, art that represents specific visual solutions for questions explored by the artist, and art that speaks for itself with or without overt messaging.
G13 Gallery's 13th anniversary exhibition stands as a testament to the institution's unwavering commitment to promoting finely crafted, thought-provoking contemporary art. I recommend visiting the gallery in person. For more information about opening hours, please visit the G13 website.