Art provokes, questions, mystifies, disturbs, rebels, frees, captivates, challenges, whispers, stirs, stills, comforts.

100 by 140 cm
Samping fabric (made in Malaysia), Sarung fabric (made in Indonesia), acrylic, canvas, cotton, flax
It is Singapore Art Week. We made a family outing to Gilman Barracks which hosts several events. One of these is an exhibition of Ash Ghazali‘s Volume Eleven.
In Volume Eleven, Ghazali unveils his ‘Cut Paintings’ series which combines geometric abstraction with traditional fabrics from the Malay ethnic groups of Indonesia and Malaysia. Cutting into fabrics from traditional costumes, typically used in festive and religious ceremonies, and also painted canvases, Ghazali arranges these cut pieces in a series of folds and layers …
Underlyingly, it reaches into the unconscious to reveal personal meaning for Ghazali within his ethno-political conflict for diasporic identity. As such, the body of work serves as a cathartic process for Ghazali as a conduit to seek balance between anarchy and peace.
Richard Koh Fine Art

100 by 140 cm
Prayer Mat (made in Turkey), Flax, Cotton, Canvas, Linen, Acrylic
I am particularly taken by this collection: I love fabric, and this artistic treatment of special & commonplace textiles tugs at something inside. I feel them embracing me. And I want to hug back. A happy space.

100 by 120cm’
Sarung fabric (made in Indonesia), Malay Samping fabric (made in Malaysia), cotton, canvas, acrylic
Reading your Joyful Posts brings me to my happy place. I hope having them in one place makes it easier for you to find when you need a bit of happy therapy, too.
If you would like to join in, ping back to this post and I will include you next week.
- Betsy Kerekes‘ Frog Caught Your Heart: regales you with a wistful yet humorous tale involving a stuffed animal frog
- Gary Wilson‘s Reprising an Encouraging Story for 2021: reprises a touching and inspiring encounter
- Laurie Graves‘ A January Kind of Day & Friday Favourites: enjoys a crisp clear January day through her husband, and relishes scenes from the much awaited inauguration
- Little Pieces of Me‘s Grateful Fridays: gives thanks for several outings, and a new President & Vice-President
- Nancy Loderick’s Hang in there!: sends happy thoughts via Sir Angus, Toby & Sir Oliver
- Natalie the Explorer‘s The Prince’s Gate: basks in the sunshine as she cycles around the stunning Prince’s Gate
- Thistles and Kiwis’ This Week’s Small Pleasures: shares spectacular costumes at the World of Wearable Art exhibition at Te Papa, the national museum
- Trent’s World‘s The Weekly Smile: cooks up a pot of chilli
That exhibit looks fantastic! Would love to see it. Thanks for the mention.
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I agree with Laurie – looks like a really interesting exhibition. And thanks for the mention of course too!
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A lovely thing to do wuth the family
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We enjoy outings like these! The weather held for us and ice cream too!
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What bold and lovely works of art! We also visited an art exhibit this week which made it into my weekly gratitude….it must have been that kind of a week 🙂
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Indeed! I am so grateful, too, that we have access to places which show beauty & loveliness.
What kind of exhibition was yours?
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It was an interesting and odd light display in the woods. I plan to share some photos I go while visiting, although at this rate they may be wrapped up into my “Changing Season” post at the end of the week.
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Looking forward to seeing these photos – will look out for them in Changing Seasons!
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Thank goodness for art! I love stumbling across wonderful exhibits like this 🙂
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I love it too – unexpectedly chancing upon gems! I think that’s why I love street art – it’s turning that corner and voila! there it is.
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🥰
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enjoyed this art share – a lot!
and enjoyed reading about the artists aims and connections to the medium
the photos are great but i bet this fabric feels even better in person
and the photos of the art might change the feeling – but each piece did not imbue “comfort” in my take – it was a bit cold, quiet, introspective, strong, ordered, and a bit deep!
The Malay Boy one also had a Mondrian vibe with the red blue and yellow -☀️😊
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I wanted to hug the artwork; but I did managed to restrain myself.
You’re absolutely right about photos of artwork – I often wonder what I am seeing in photo image would look like in person!
Thank you for sharing your response to the photos. I hear you.
Doesn’t the Malay Boy feel Mondrian? I thought so too.
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oh you are so wonderful to share that you wanted to hug the artwork
how cool
and I understand it now more – I get what you meant!!
even tho photos do not depict it all I have a fuller photo
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Thanks for taking the time to understand where I am coming from. And you’re absolutely right – photos never do enough justice for artwork.
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yes photos of art can be so tricky – when i taught art (feels like a lifetime ago) we took photos of student art and sometimes a photo made the art look better and sometimes the photo did not do the price justice – but it reminded me how a photo can vary in its depiction
and even when i visit museums – sometimes i like a piece “less” after seeing it but then other times i like a piece i half liked – i like it more after seeing and feeling the piece in person
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That’s right, you were an art teacher. Goodness! I can imagine the challenge taking photos of student art.
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well we did not ha e to take too many photos of their works so that was not too bad – now storing the art was a challenge – ha!
but it did amaze me how pieces looked so different – and as you know – it is fun to view art close up – then back a few feet and then from like 12 feet – it can help us see space and form and all that
kind of like the way you g a us the many views of that sculpture – i think it was the third photo when i really got a feel for the piece
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The joy of viewing art …. the wandering & the pondering!
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hi again – quick question – are you running a challenge? this is the second time i saw you mention you like seeing joy posts ?
just curious for a little more info – thanks
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Hi Yvette. Thanks for asking – I compile joyful posts that I come across once a week; but it is informal. I would love if you would link your post and I could post it on Sundays.
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Okay – I would love to do that – thx for the invite and so when I have one that connects to that uplifting or joyful vibe I will link up – ((and good idea by the way))
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Fabulous! 🙂 🙂
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Thanks for popping in to share in my joy!
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