3 x 3

Art Residency & Group Exhibition

Art residencies allow artists to live and work outside of their usual environments to explore new locations and different cultures. However, during the pandemic, artists are enduring a difficult time without all of the creativity and inspiration provided by these programmes. The George Town Festival’s “3 x 3” art residency and group exhibition offers an opportunity for homegrown creative talents to be supported while remaining in their studios/workspaces safely, allowing them to create when lockdown restrictions are in place this July. Themed “Home”, the stay-at-home art residency and group exhibition provides a platform for the local artists to unleash their imagination to express what their homes mean to them while encouraging innovation and experimentation in their artistic creations.

“3 x 3” is accompanied by two main components: a one-month-long art residency programme and a physical group exhibition. The stay-at-home art residency programme will fund emerging visual artists who are currently based in Malaysia to create an artwork that can be fitted into a space measuring only 3 metres x 3 metres. Meanwhile, the physical group exhibition showcasing the residency artists’ artworks created during the residency period will be held in George Town, Penang in 2021.

Group Exhibition

There have been many art exhibitions, but not quite like this. Happening from 26 to 28 November 2021 at Bangunan U.A.B, the “3 x 3” group exhibition features artworks by “3 x 3” residency artists created when lockdown restrictions were in place! Confined in their studios/workspaces in a one-month-long art residency programme and devoid of new locations and different cultures offered by a traditional art residency, they explored, reflected, and interrogated what their homes meant to them. Expect to see the artworks by Cassie Wong Mun Yew, Harold Reagan Eswar, Ivan Alexander Francis Gabriel, Lee Lai Queen, Liu Yong Sean, Muhamat Ammar Bin Idris, Norfatihah Binti Yusof, and Putri Intan Sari Binti Amrizal, all fitted into a space measuring only 3 metres x 3 metres – an absolute feast for the eyes.

* Only those who are fully vaccinated (having received the second dose of vaccine after 14 days, or after 28 days for single-dose vaccines) are allowed to enter.

* Only children aged 13 years and above are allowed to enter.

About the Artists

Cassie Wong Mun Yew

Cassielelolea is a self-taught, full-time artist who began her artistic journey in body movements as a ballet dancer. The mass communication graduate reckons that her love for visual arts and design grew organically through her involvement in graphics, product designs, and wearable handmade pieces throughout her career. Cassielelolea’s works of art exhibit a certain dreaminess melded with an ethereal reality. Her favourite subject matters are humans and animals. She finds them vibrantly alive, and their diverse expressions fuel her passion and inspire her to paint from her soul. Her arts continually evolve with her moods and experiences, and it is a learning curve which she meanders through every day. Cassielelolea has exhibited her works in numerous group exhibitions in Malaysia and has been awarded “Most Imaginative Artwork” at the Art Salon 2018.

 

Harold Reagan Eswar

Harold Reagan Eswar is a 41-year-old Borneo-based visual artist whose approach to art combines architectural training and social commentary and is rooted in his surroundings – where he grew up, studied, and is currently working. He also incorporates the traditional spiritual beliefs of Sabahan’s ancestors into his practice. From time to time, Eswar collaborates with other individuals and communities with similar objectives. He graduated with a Diploma in Architectural Design from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Eswar is a two-time winner of the Sabah Governor’s award. In 2015, he was selected by the Japan Foundation to participate in the foundation’s curator’s workshop, which resulted in his first curated art exhibition held in Sabah. Eswar was also a finalist in the inaugural Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize.

 

Ivan Alexander Francis Gabriel

Ivan Alexander Francis Gabriel, or Ivan Gabriel, is a multi-disciplinary artist who prides himself on being a teller of tales. He loves exploring different techniques and mediums not only as a way to stretch his artistry but also to internalise these techniques to build an expansive visual vocabulary. While he uses various mediums and processes in each project, his methodology has always remained consistent. His research and learning continuously led him to new areas of interest, and in return, an ever-changing body of work. Since 2015, he has participated in numerous group exhibitions in Penang, where he is currently based, and across Malaysia, including “ROAR”, an art auction for WWF and The Malayan Tiger Project, and “Banana Leaf”, a celebration of Malaysian Indian arts and culture, both in Kuala Lumpur. While abroad, he was part of “INTERMISSIONS” in London, United Kingdom, and “Into the Forest” touring art installations in New Jersey, USA. Outside of visual arts, Ivan is also active in the local theatre scene. Currently, he is trying to find a balance between his love for the performing arts and visual arts.

 

Lee Lai Queen

Queen is an art worker and visual artist who grew up in Penang. After graduating from INTEC college with a Diploma in Fine Art, she worked as a kindergarten tutor for six years before she founded the Chai Diam Ma arts and crafts cafe in George Town. After ten years in the local arts and crafts scene, she slowly transitioned as a full-time art and craft bazaar organiser. In recent years, she has participated in the Publika’s art and craft market in 2017, joined the 108 by GMBB art project, organised a mini solo exhibition at Lunabar cafe, and held exhibitions at the Sungai Besi art space in Kuala Lumpur as well as at the 11F art space in Johor.

 

Liu Yong Sean

Born in 1985, Liu is a familiar face in the dance, theatre, installation arts, and fashion scenes. After graduating from Korea National University of Arts and ASWARA, he travelled across Asia and Europe to dance professionally. Liu constantly invites international dance companies to exchange cultures through cross-cultural seminars, conferences, and international performances. Liu has attended various festivals and has taught workshops in Korea, the United States, France, Belgium, Italy, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, and more. He had also performed in the Korea Dance Association Top 4 Repertoire. Liu is the co-founder of Euphoria Penang Modern Dance Ensemble, a state-owned dance company with more than 20 dancers. He also has his own dance company, Pexstret Dance Theater (P.D.T), where he is the artistic director.

 

Muhamat Ammar Bin Idris

Ammar Idris is a multi-disciplinary artist who explores alternative thinking and making arts; most of his works have specific themes and subjects such as medical and nostalgia that reflect his experiential learning and personal life. Although he was born into a family of medical practitioners, the 22-year-old Kedahah decided to pursue his true passion; the arts. He graduated from the National Academy of Arts Culture and Heritage (ASWARA) in 2020 with a Diploma of Visual Communication Design. Shortly after graduating, he was invited by the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC) in Thailand to participate in the “Young Artist Talent #11” residency and workshop. Currently, Ammar is the gallery manager at the Creative Art Hub by ASWARA in Kuala Lumpur and is still an active art practitioner.

 

Norfatihah Binti Yusof

Twenty-six-year-old Norfatihah Yusof from Malaysia practices analogue developing and printing techniques as well as historical photographic processes while incorporating drawing and sculpture into her masterpieces. She graduated from Universiti Sains Malaysia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree at the same university.

 

Putri Intan Sari Binti Amrizal

Putri Amrizal is a process-based and mixed media visual artist. The 35-year-old Indonesian artist focuses on exploring materiality and examining the meaning materials hold and their connection to humans and environments. Her ideas and concepts are translated into various mediums, including papers, plastics, ceramics, and textiles. She is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.

Open Call for Art Residency

We are seeking visual artists aged 18 years old and above who are currently based in Malaysia for the art residency programme which will run for one month. The selected residency artists are required to complete an artwork that can be fitted into a space measuring 3 metres x 3 metres revolving around the theme “Home” this July. It will culminate in a physical group exhibition which will be held in George Town, Penang in 2021, showcasing the residency artists’ artworks. Each applicant may choose to participate in the programme as an individual or a group. Each participant/group will be awarded a RM2,000 (Two Thousand Ringgit Malaysia Only) stipend. Apply by 20 June 2021 at 11.59pm (GMT+8).

July 2021

Dates:

26 - 28 November 2021

Time:

10.00am - 6.00pm

Venue:

Bangunan U.A.B, George Town, Penang

Ticket Prices:

RM90, RM288

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