Through this new series of art works, Jumaldi Alfi tries to recall the proverb, experientia docet, experience is the best teacher. He portrays life experiences as a verb, the actions of the artist as he reminisces and remembers. Thus, the life that he has lived and experienced from the past to the present, later re-emerges again as random sequences in his works. These are woven memories, which are continuously being constructed.

Not only that, Alfi’s latest body of work also demonstrates the manner in which he has incorporated his knowledge of fine art history as a part of his experience and learning process.  The words and sentences presented are borrowed from a number of artists whom he admires (from Joseph Beuys, Martin Kippenberger, Ed Ruscha, to the lyrics of Pink Floyd songs). These borrowed quotes and words become a form of playful word association game as he connects with his own personal experiences.  Like a student who casually erases words left on a class blackboard, Alfi mischievously erases one or two letters or blurs a certain word, creating shifts and ruptures in the original meanings, deliberately steering our readings off course.

The main “blackboard” paintings and an installation—of a skeleton on a wooden boat combined with two more paintings and a video projection—can be seen as an integrated presentation. Each work represents the different self-contained rooms that eventually form a house. We see Alfi deliberately employing theatrical elements in this show, supplying just enough fresh air in the exhibition space for the artworks to breathe freely with the audience.