Fenomena

"FENOMENA" 
12 pieces, 3m x 2.05m
Chinese ink and acrylic on cloth
For the Singapore Biennale, 2013

"The work focuses on the subject of the Malay identity and its impact on the personal landscape. It addresses the concerns surrounding the potential loss of this ethnic identity due to the adverse effects of globalisation. Using signifiers of Malay identity along with the artist's invented icons, the work visually narrates his impression of the current position of being Malay as a result of Western and Eastern influences, existing on the fine line between cultural hegemony and subservience. By employing a mix of cultural signifiers in the work, the artist creates a reflection of what he thinks to be the state of the contemporary Malay identity, while questioning the current positioning of the Malays and ethnic identities in general."

It's currently on view at the National Library as part of the Singapore Biennale from now till the 16th of February 2014.