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| Mulaika Nordin, young abstract artist, 17, poses in front of her artwork titled “Anonymous”. |
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- Art exhibition “I Know You’re Somewhere So Far” comprising of 63 works of art completed in four years by one of Malaysia’s leading young abstract artists, Mulaika Nordin, was officially launched by Nori Abdullah Badawi at KEN Gallery in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
In her second solo exhibition, Mulaika explores concepts of disconnect and isolation from the lens of an empathic teenage artist as she navigated a constantly changing environment culminating in the period of the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The young artist, who turns 18 in the middle of the show, paid homage to her teenage years as she enters adulthood and begins to venture into the real world.
Despite the show's overarching dark themes, it acts as an ode and a closure to Mulaika's childhood, creating an optimistic nod towards the experiences from this chapter of her life.
Nori Abdullah Badawi said, “I hope everyone takes something away from the show; give yourselves permission to feel. Maybe ask yourself what would these situations look like for you if you could paint? What is ‘Semangat’ to you? What about darkness in this pandemic? Take the time to feel – after all it is all of Mulaika’s feelings that have brought all of this to life. Now it’s your turn.”
“There has always been a sensitivity about her – a remarkable ability to see and feel more. Now that she’s bigger and the world is slowly having a better understanding of those who aren’t typical, we know she’s an empath. I believe that this fact, all these things that hit Mulaika – too much at times – causing waves and explosions, to quote Mulaika herself, have surely made her the artist that she is today,” stated Nori, when speaking at the launch.
A striking component of this exhibition is how Mulaika depicts the light and dark side of human nature and modern-day society. The works provide an insight into not only the young artists’ thoughts on the matter at hand but is the output of the collective consciousness that rings true on a societal level.
Mulaika said, “I Know You’re Somewhere So Far is a mirror. I made these works as a way to express myself but also as an observation of the world around me.”
There has been a dramatic increase of the prevalence of mental health and psychosocial problems globally since the COVID-19 pandemic started, due to many reasons including lockdowns causing physical disconnect and isolation, on top of the emotional strains caused by financial and economic problems.
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