Artist and sculptor Alice Chang’s latest showcase pays homage to Malaysia’s determination and community spirit, which she created specially in conjunction with the country’s 64th National Day and the upcoming Malaysia Day. The sculptures are currently being exhibited in the lobby of the Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown until 30th September 2021. The art exhibition is part of Four Points’ campaign to “Celebrate Malaysia” through colours, creativity and culture featuring local artists Alice Chang, Dato’ Luciano Mirri and Janet Lee.
Chang calls the work – an ensemble of three female statues – the 3 Graces of Malaysia: “They are Siti, Ah Lian and Shanti and they represent new beginnings, rebirth and the continuity of life.”
During the pandemic, Chang’s work as an artist had been impacted. But more than this, she was affected by how the coronavirus had torn families apart, and had broken the spirits of many.
“With the 3 Graces, I have used old, broken, discarded pieces of ceramic and tiles to rebuild something, and give it a new life. In my childhood, my grandmother would often reuse material. From old clothes, she would make blankets, and it is from back then that I learnt how to reuse, repurpose and recycle material. This has always been evident in my art,” says Chang.
Chang said that this was a special project for her. “These are tough times and many artists have had our livelihoods halted. Working on the 3 Graces was a way out for me from all this doom and gloom. It brought me hope. From brokenness and cracked objects, something beautiful was able to emerge”.
“Similarly, I believe that we can all rise from what is broken, and create a new beginning for our beloved country.”
Watch the video here of Alice Chang’s interpretation of her marble sculptures of the 3 Graces of Malaysia.
On Sunday, Sept 5, the Ambassador of Italy to Malaysia, H.E. Cristiano Maggipinto, and his wife, Tamara Hardikar Maggipinto, visited Chang’s exhibition. Maggipinto showed keen interest in Chang’s work, commenting that it “represented the harmony, unity and diversity of Malaysia.”
Painter and architect Dato’ Luciano Mirri’s “Colour, Light & Hope in 2021” collection features geometric designs painted in acrylic on canvas. Dato’ Luciano Mirri’s art in architecture and painting has almost always dealt with geometry. His intensely personal language has a profoundly poetic style that reveals an artistic intellectual work that transfigures the perception of things and events from their real aspect, transferring the compositional calligraphy in an evocative and symbolic dimension.
Lee is a differently-abled artist with communication challenges who loves to explore colours while her mum Joyce discovers new opportunities for her to showcase #artbeyondthecanvas.
For more information about the exhibition at Four Points Sheraton, DM or WhatsApp +6012 507 3327 (Four Points). After the exhibition, the 3 Graces sculptures will be exhibited at Lai Lai Art Studio, No 2, Lorong Awan 3, Kuala Ampang, 68000 Ampang, Selangor. For more information, call 012-371 6479.