\n<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA –\u00a0Media OutReach<\/a>\u00a0– 14 December 2021 –\u00a0Art
\u00a0<\/p>\n In her
\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite
\u00a0<\/p>\n Nori
\u00a0<\/p>\n “As an art lover, I’ve been so fortunate to have attended many shows; we
\u00a0<\/p>\n A striking
\u00a0<\/p>\n Mulaika
\u00a0<\/p>\n There has
\u00a0<\/p>\n The youth
\u00a0<\/p>\n Mulaika’s
\u00a0<\/p>\n “I Know
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nexhibition “I Know You’re Somewhere So Far<\/i>” comprising of 63 works of
\nart completed in four years by one of Malaysia’s leading young abstract artists,
\nMulaika Nordin, was officially launched by Nori Abdullah Badawi at KEN Gallery
\nin Kuala Lumpur. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\nsecond solo exhibition, Mulaika explores concepts of disconnect and isolation
\nfrom the lens of an empathic teenage artist as she navigated a constantly
\nchanging environment culminating in the period of the global COVID-19 pandemic
\nin 2020 and 2021. The young artist, who turns 18 in the middle of the show, paid
\nhomage to her teenage years as she enters adulthood and begins to venture into
\nthe real world.<\/p>\n
\nthe show’s overarching dark themes, it acts as an ode and a closure to
\nMulaika’s childhood, creating an optimistic nod towards the experiences from
\nthis chapter of her life. <\/p>\n
\nAbdullah Badawi said, “I hope everyone takes something away from the show;
\ngive yourselves permission to feel. Maybe ask yourself what would these
\nsituations look like for you if you could paint? What is ‘Semangat<\/i>‘ to
\nyou? What about darkness in this pandemic? Take the time to feel \u2013 after all it
\nis all of Mulaika’s feelings that have brought all of this to life. Now it’s
\nyour turn.”<\/p>\n
\nhave such captivating, stunning and heart-stirring works right here in
\nMalaysia, a country continuing (though sometimes only just about), but
\nnevertheless continuing, to embrace its DNA of diversity. From the roots of its
\npeople all the way to the mix of just about anything you can think of today,
\nour differences have brought difficulty, but more importantly richness, beauty,
\nand growth,” stated Nori, when speaking at the launch. <\/p>\n
\ncomponent of this exhibition is how Mulaika depicts the light and dark side of
\nhuman nature and modern-day society in Asia. The works provide an insight into
\nnot only the young artists’ thoughts on the matter at hand but is the output of
\nthe collective consciousness that rings true on a societal level especially as
\nCOVID-19 has impacted how society deals with issues. <\/p>\n
\nsaid, “I Know You’re Somewhere So Far <\/i>is a mirror. I made these works as
\na way to express myself but also as an observation of the world around me.”<\/p>\n
\nbeen a dramatic increase of the prevalence of mental health and psychosocial
\nproblems globally since the COVID-19 pandemic started, due to many reasons
\nincluding lockdowns causing physical disconnect and isolation, on top of the
\nemotional strains caused by financial and economic problems. This especially paints
\nthe current socio-economic landscape of Asia.<\/p>\n
\ntoday, remains highly connected over social media, which juxtaposes the way the
\npandemic is dealt with \u2013 to physically isolate people as a shield from the
\nvirus \u2013 that naturally creates a disconnect and the unfortunate consequence of
\nsuicide. This highlights the importance of conversations, awareness and
\nresolutions surrounding this topic, especially to remove the stigma and taboo
\naround mental health and suicide in many Asian societies.<\/p>\n
\nartwork expresses issues of mental health, with works such as ‘Every 40
\nSeconds<\/i>‘, which is a commentary on suicide rates; and ‘Homosapiens<\/i>‘
\nand ‘Slave of the 21st Century<\/i>‘ that touches on the realities of the
\nsociety as we know it today.<\/p>\n
\nYou’re Somewhere So Far<\/i>” exhibition is hosted by the Malaysia Global
\nBusiness Forum (MGBF) and runs until 19 December 2021 at the KEN Gallery in Taman
\nTun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. Admission is free. For more information visit www.mulaika.com<\/a><\/p>\n