IT’S a dream come true for up and coming artist Yap Ley Min as she proudly holds her first solo exhibition from Feb 1 till March 3, after winning the ‘Spotlight 2018′ art competition last September.
Born in Butterworth, the 21-year-old who graduated from Equator College last year, said she was hoping to get into a joint exhibition or a solo exhibition. When she was a student, she had done three or four joint exhibitions at the Performing Arts Centre of Penang (Penangpac).
“I’m grateful to be given this chance. I aspire to be a full-time artist although I know the challenges ahead are tough,” Ley Min, as she is better known, said.
“After winning the ‘Spotlight 2018’ art contest, I was aiming to do a group or solo exhibition in Penang or in Malaysia. When I was given the chance to do solo, I was very excited. At the same time, I was also nervous and unsure how I could communicate properly in English.
“I’m still experimenting with new styles. I like to observe the interactions between humans. They give me the opportunity to see the beauty and imperfections of their world. And when I paint, I bring their impressions back into ‘play’ by memory.”
Ley Min emerged as the grand prize winner in the ‘Spotlight 2018’ art competition organised for the first time by Penang Art District (PAD). There were 50 submissions from young artists below the age of 30 from across the country.
The exhibition, aptly titled ‘The Human Form’ as quite a number of her 15 artworks portray ordinary human folks, is being held at the Hin Bus Depot in Jalan Gurdwara, George Town.
It includes works from different mediums, including oil paintings, acrylic, pastel and mixed media.
Nine of her 15 artworks are fresh ones created during a three-month mentorship under Dr Tetriana Ahmed Fauzi, the chairperson of the Fine Art Department at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
They include paintings like ‘Scene on a Ferry’, ‘Morning Market’, ‘Fun At Hin Bus’ and ‘A Walk to Balathanayuthapani Temple’ which is the biggest of all the paintings measuring 48 x 72 inches.
Speaking at the exhibition before it was officially opened by state Tourism Development, Art, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, Dr Tetriana described Ley Min as a very talented artist, saying her style is ‘one of a kind’.
“Mentoring Ley Min I can say is effortless. She is practising like a full grown artist. She has a distinct style of painting which she has acquired at a young age. Which for some artists will take years,” said Dr Tetriana.
“She seems to have an introverted personality but her creative spirit is strong and confident. She knows what she wants and her authority for creativity is admirable. To carry this style and expression takes a creatively courageous artist.
“Ley Min’s method of painting involves observation of her daily surrounding. She sees the ordinary as beautiful and according to her an ‘ugly imperfection’.
“She reminds me that it is a very important to be true to oneself in terms of style and creativity. It is not always the case when a student stand by her ‘different’ style. In certain art institutions, you will be subjected to scrutiny and condemn. For that, I salute her.”
Yeoh said the state government encourages platforms that magnify the voices of young artists as they are the ones who speak for the next generation and tell their stories for generations to come.
“This further proves that there is a demand for platforms that would help young Malaysians to express and develop their creativity. When given the opportunity to learn and grow, they can achieve wonders,” Yeoh said.
“It also delights me to see a collaboration between Penang Art District (PAD) and Hin Bus Depot. This art space privately-run by Mr Tan Shih Thoe is five years old this year and has grown tremendously with a tight-knitted community of artists.
“With an active art gallery and consistent weekend markets fuelled with interactive community programmes, Hin Bus Depot has created a space for the local community from all walks of life to spend time with friends and family while appreciating arts.”
Also present the opening ceremony were Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi, Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) chief executive officer Ashwin Gunasekeran, Penang State Art Gallery chairman Lee Khai (who is also the Penang Art District advisor), Equator College principal and founder Datuk Chuah Kooi Yong, Hin Bus Depot founder Tan Shih Thoe and Ley Min’s parents, Yap Guan Eng and Ng Sew Kim.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
