the observatory

  Maurizio Cattelan, America, 2017 Marcel Duchamp, The Fountain, 1917

Taming the Untamable -  Trying to control something massive, wild, emotional, or beyond your understanding — like raw passion, trauma, genius, or chaos. Exploiting Power -  Taking something majestic or primal and using it for spectacle or profit — echoing how King Kong was taken from his island and paraded in chains. Colonial or  Cultural Domination-  A metaphor for colonizing or suppressing indigenous power, beauty, or resistance — often read as commentary on race, power, or exoticism. Tragic Hubris -  The illusion of dominance over nature or fate, only to be undone by your own ambition (a modern Icarus or Frankenstein theme).

curator notes : the poorer the better. 

after years dedicating myself to various humanitarian missions, i decided to take a complete break from it ( maybe or partially taken a toll to my health ), it took me awhile to see where im going next. As i'm so used of seeing visuals consists of destruction, flood, mud, mineral waters and sick people - my mind peel the hidden meaning and lessons behind it.  been called Abang Alonso   Sure the disaster was miserable and unspeakable - if we look again, we Malaysians bound together stronger when disaster happens. We turned united, the disaster call center ( which turn into our home base ) is filled with donations and yes food supplies.    once a Bangladeshi with his motorbike came in to sell his ice-cream, together we purchase everything ( except him and his bike ). All the volunteers in the center took a break to finish their Cornetto. Packs of rice, sugar, tea, chicken ( etc ) piled up so high, coffee served 24/7, we are linked with laughter and true enough its har...

Q - Bro, what is your definition of art? A - the question is so wide.....how can i start la..... These sort of question appear when we ( close friends ) meet up, complemented with teh tarik, our conversations will range from the latest film, latest MACC victims, on what and how our Ringgit drops, to MARS, and then we will turn back unfortunately unto......."art" I always answer that artists should give something for me to experience, ponder and best of all something memorable. Normally i will not attend the opening exhibit but will choose one day to come and savour the offering. Now dont get me wrong, i always walk pass the wall text to seek the most arresting visuals who can command my attention. I will avoid glancing the 50KG exhibit catalogue as it's too heavy.  I need a work that able to transport me to somewhere.....bring me to a place, or at least make me forget the traffic jam, list of bills i have to pay and what not.....   exhibition opening at 7:30pm on Monday I...

Q - How and Why could three people buy the banana? A - In this case, you aren’t actually buying the work itself—it’s a banana. It’s going to rot. What are you buying, then? The certificate of art. Essentially you bought the idea rather than the object. When the banana goes bad, the owner can replace it , according to the artist’s instructions. It will still be considered a Cattelan. Q - Who is Cattelan  A - Cattelan is an Italian artist and an absurdist—in 2016 he replaced a toilet at the Guggenheim with a fully functioning gold one. He called the artwork America . Gee, anyone can do this. But did you?

Aura is a quality integral to an artwork that cannot be communicated through mechanical reproduction techniques – such as photography. The term was used by Walter Benjamin in his influential 1936 essay The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.H.O.O.Q. put it simply, when you exposed to anything via secondary reading, class, lectures, rituals, gossips, rumors and notoriously the media - all these will construct a "mystical" aura or at least "an impression" towards the featured subject. Just like how Tun M reinventing himself as the saviour ( hero aura ) to beat the corrupted Najib's and his goons. But his aura soon dissipated unto thin air after series of successful failures and U-Turns. Just like how a "corrupted" politician found guilty to all his charges, you can see his 'loyal' followers still kissing his hands. Mind you - It can be a dangerous game questioning elements of aura. In order...

For Contextual and Criticism class. Its unfortunate for us as we unable to meet up as ive been looking forward to view your works you developed. No thanks to the idiotic flip flop CMCO - it is proven that the govt doesnt able to handle the notorious COVID - as we continue to register thousands of new cases.  Anyway - here are my closing remarks after i viewed your essays and spending time with you guys for couple of weeks. Most of you are independent and able to manage your workload well enough. So i dont see you guys having issues to graduate.   Most importantly - be decisive . When you are decisive, it helps everyone. Second - if you guys have any DOUBTS, simply ask. Dont assume. Shit always happen when people assume - worst make decisions for others before investigating and getting the right answer. Fine Arts is a vocation where you simply learn how to express yourself visually. Rather than answering to others, you simply learn new curves on how to be yourself – ulti...