| James Kon |
LOCAL artist Yasmin binti Jaidin has done the country proud by showing her work at the Sunshower 2017 exhibition at the National Art Center in Tokyo, Japan.
The exhibition, which concludes on October 23, 2017, is held in conjunction with the 50-year anniversary of the formation of Asean, and is spread over two locations of The National Art Center and Mori Art Museum.
In an interview, Yasmin expressed her pride of being selected to represent Brunei in the exhibition “as it gives exhibition visitors an insight into the art industry of our country”, adding that she hopes “that my participation has also inspired our local talents to challenge themselves and [showcase] their creative works in the international market”.
A BA Fine Art graduate of Goldsmiths, University of London and also holding a MA in Fine Art from Chelsea College, University of the Arts London, Yasmin explained further about her creation – a series of sculptures which took five months to complete.
“The sculptures which I had received funding to create for the exhibition were created entirely of sugar, water and string,” the showcasing artist said. “The form of each sculpture is based on various items found around my house – some valuable and some items I would deem as ‘rubbish’ but have been kept for sentimental value.
“I then covered each of these items in cloth and wrapped them with string to conceal their identities from the viewer. The act of doing this (was meant to create) a paradox of putting personal items on display yet denying the viewer knowledge of exactly what these items were by concealing them in wrapped cotton.
“The beauty in this paradox is in how it leaves the viewer with having to appreciate each item as it appears before them without actually knowing what is hidden behind the cloak – this reflects the concept of modesty.”
The finished wrapped objects were then molded, casted and reproduced in solid sugar. “The end result surprised me as the original items which were once personal to me suddenly became mere objects; this allowed me to let go of these materialistic items, no matter how important or emotionally valuable they once were to me,” said Yasmin.
The artist also commented that she managed to draw invaluable knowledge from other participating artists during the exhibition.
“While attending the setting up of the exhibition I got to know a few neighbouring artists and curators. They explained to me how the Southeast Asian art scene is on the rise and how important it is to challenge our artists to really push their creativity and individuality out (on the international stage),” she said.
The arts has fascinated Yasmin ever since a tender age. “I had always been interested in expressing my creativity through drawing but was never given the opportunity to study the subject until my ‘A’ Levels. It was not until my years in Goldsmiths that I truly understood that artists express so much more in their work beyond the visuals,” she commented.
“It is only by studying alongside peers from different parts of the world with different backgrounds can we see how complex each individual is – how they perceive life and their society – and make you realise things that have never crossed your mind before, all through a piece of art.”
Speaking further on her works at the exhibition, she said: “Time spent working in the studios at a university renowned for producing conceptual artists pushed me into where my current practice truly lies – an appreciation of working with organic materials and making my viewers realise that there is a complexity in materials which tend to be overlooked yet surrounds us on an everyday basis; items that I have worked with such as plain flour, sugar and grass.”
The artist thanking the team of organisers and curators said, “The organising team was accommodating and helpful with my participation in the exhibition and the preparation of my artworks. They’ve also provided many opportunities for me to meet with fellow artists and key individuals from the industry. I cannot express enough gratitude towards the Japan Foundation, curators, researchers and friends I have made during this exhibition.”
Yasmin said she is currently working on an add-on to the series of sculptures featured at the Sunshower exhibition that will lean towards the ‘life and death of an art object’ concept.
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