Malaysian painter Phuan Thai Meng presents his first solo at Valentine Willie Fine Art Singapore: Mapping the Homeland: We Are Proud of You (?_?). Already established within the Malaysian art world as an artist, educator and founding member of artist collective Rumah Air Panas, Thai Meng showcases a signature brand of photorealist painting laced with local socio-political commentaries that consider the (dis)functionality of a Nation.
Highly conceptual in nature, his skilful illusions purposefully articulate the artifice and cracks of nationalism propagated by cultural campaigns and political gesturing. Texturing his observations with installation and performance, he reveals the constantly changing game of Malaysian politics whose outcomes sometimes lead to less than glorious results.
Rejecting the enduring Malaysian dilemma of race, class and religion Thai Meng instead looks at a more abstracted version of the Malaysian nation and ideas of Government bound by a responsibility towards its people but riddled with weakness and contradiction.
For the exhibition, he lifts and translates images from the media: state run newspapers, social marketing campaigns as well as national unity schemes such as the prevalent but vaguely defined 1 Malaysia scheme to develop entry points into the Malaysian condition. His network of images bring together faceless politicians gesturing during tokenistic publicity appearances for social regeneration campaigns, designed posters for cleaning up water supply systems and monumental billboards that reveal dreams of national aspirations.
More of a mapping of ideology than physical landscapes, Phuan Thai Meng nevertheless creates a visual representation of Malaysia through a series of loaded signs and symbols that reflect his personal vision on the status of the country. Although his photorealist surfaces are laden with the weight of social commentary importantly, his work is not without humour or light hearted kitsch. Through his use of wry and knowing titles, text and language he presents a Malaysian comedy of errors filled with tragedy and farce that consider the relationship between home and country.
About the Artist
Phuan Thai Meng is a full time artist, arts educator and founding member of the artist collective Rumah Air Panas (RAP). He received his Diploma in Fine Art majoring in painting from the Malaysian Institute of Art in 1996.
Thai Meng has been exhibiting regularly since 1995. His solo exhibitions include: The WE Project, Richard Koh Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, 2010 and Made in Malaysia, Valentine Willie Fine Art Kuala Lumpur, 2009.
Group exhibitions and projects include: Al Kesah/Once Upon a Time in Malaysia, White Box, Map KL, 2010; Contemporary Rhetoric, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, 2010; Headlights 2009, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, 2009; Tenggara, Southeast Asian Contemporary Art at Novas Contemporary Urban Centre (CUC) in Liverpool (UK) and Tukar Ganti at VWFA Singapore in 2008, Curator team of ‘R.A.P. Project – Walk In or Walk Out’ at Notthatbalai Art Festival in Lost Generation Art Space (KL) in 2007, Production Manager for KPS (Koletif Pembangun Seni - Collective Art Developer) Let Arts Move You project with KTM commuter trains, Mind, Body & Soul, 2006 at Wei-Ling Gallery, Crowds at Reka Art Space and Artist resident in Conversation: Malaysia in 2005 and 3 Young Contemporaries, 2004 at VWFA Kuala Lumpur.
Thai Meng was a finalist in the 2006 Sovereign Asian Art Prize, Hong Kong, and won an Honourable Mention Award in 2003 as well as the Juror's Choice Award in 2000 from the Philip Morris Malaysia - ASEAN Art Awards.
