milk画画天地

Design for Curtain Wall Project by Lisa Foo & Fabian Tan, 2009

THE LIVING ROOM: Artistic Designs by Artistic Couples
Design Exhibition
Fri 27 Mar to Sun 12 Apr, 11am to 7pm
Presented by Jendela KL,
in association with The Annexe Gallery,
in conjunction with KL Design Week 2009
Admission Free

Bringing the art gallery into the domestic sphere.

When we think of home, we think of it as our comfort zone, our hideaway from the bustling world outside. Within our abode, we humanise our interiors with objects that are not just functional but that also reflect our attitude to life as well as inspire introspection. It's not unreasonable to say that the home is an artistic installation of our personality and aspirations.

In recognition of this special relationship between home interiors and personal aesthetics, Jendela KL in association with The Annexe Gallery is proud to present The Living Room, a project that brings the domestic space into the art gallery and vice versa. The Living Room is happening in conjunction with KL Design Week 2009.

The Living Room will feature prototypes of six original designs by six real-life artist designer couples including:

1.Azliza Ayob & Kojek,
2.Ili Farhana & Bebe,
3.Johanna Varghese & Simon Keogh,
4.Lisa Foo & Fabian Tan,
5.Tsuji & Yeoh Lian Heng, and
6.Wong Min Lik & Wong Eng Leong.

All the works are drawn from the artists' domestic experiences in their investigation of the special relationship between home interiors and personal aesthetics to develop viable products that marry form and function.

This exhibition is in honour of the RM50,000 sponsorship by Jendela KL toward The Annexe Gallery's Grant For Grabs, which helps fund community arts projects by artists.

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

LISA FOO & FABIAN TAN
ARCHITECTS

A self-proclaimed Yin and Yang, 33-year-old Lisa and 34-year-old Fabian have taken it upon themselves to “create something enlightened” using her functionally aesthetic architectural approach and his fresh and cheeky visions.

As innovative crafters of spatial dimensions, the curious couple persists in pushing the definition of art beyond its limitations by revealing a different perspective on the mundane.

Cruising through the residential neighbourhoods of modern Kuala Lumpur, they couldn’t help but notice the glare of rows and rows of bland glass windows. The exposed drab lining of draped cloth curtains belie the potentially lively internal composition of a home’s decorations and symbolically restrain the idea of a curtain as a purely utilitarian object used to protect privacy and beat the heat.

“We wanted to demonstrate the proof of life with our work,” shares Lisa.

“The boring construction of curtains – truly nasty! – doesn’t give a meaningful impression of what a home feels like on the inside as seen from the outside,” adds Fabian.

With the development of the Curtain Wall installation, Lisa and Fabian offer a means of expression that surpasses the usual 2-dimensional plane of the curtain. By uniting its external and internal nature, the couple have conceptualised the curtain as an interactive sculptural piece. Accordion-like with its folds and cords, the Curtain Wall invites creative manipulation of its freeform shape according to the inhabitant’s imagination. The visual appeal of the traditional curtain is enhanced by the dual play on its shape and decoration. Using Jendela KL’s seasonal colour palette, the Curtain Wall injects a playful yet sophisticated energy into the home environment.

Through their work, Lisa and Fabian seek to realise the transformation of the expected into art and beyond. When asked how to define their work, Lisa and Fabian look at one another and laugh, “sculptural!” With their redefinition of space and perspective, that neatly sums up their philosophy.

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TSUJI LAM & YEOH LIAN HENG
GRAPHIC DESIGNER & DIRECTOR, LOST GENERATION SPACE

coffee_table_design1
Design for Coffee Table Project by Tsuji Lam & Yeoh Lian Heng, 2009

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ILI FARHANA NORHAYAT & SULAEMAN AKBAR
MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER & PERFORMANCE ARTIST

Strengthening their relationship and building a family are the number one priorities for 28-year-old Ili Farhana and 33-year-old Akbar aka Bebe. Destiny brought Ili Farhana to Jogjakarta to participate in a visiting artists’ program; it was there she would meet the man who would follow her back to Kuala Lumpur to be with her. Four years and two delightful children later, the couple still blissfully remember their meeting.

“Through our marriage we have learned different sides of how relationships work,” shares Ili Farhana.

“How different individuals join together to emerge as one and make something new.”

“We also recognised how important it is to have private space, even among family,” continues Bebe. “That way we can keep harmony!”

Drawing inspiration from their experiences and understanding the realities of a domestic arrangement, the insightful couple mused over the notion of creating a multi-functional space from one area. They wanted to avoid constructing a permanent division that would isolate family members, opting instead for a transient setup.

Integrating Bebe’s spatial awareness from his performance art background with Ili Farhana’s painting skills, they developed the idea of creating a hanging patchwork room divider made of varied and textured cloths sewn together.

Inspired by Jendela KL’s Nature collection with its patterned stitches, charming lines and shapes, and natural earth tones, the patchwork piece will create a warm atmosphere of peace. With its beading and tactile fabrics, it invokes a spirit of love and interaction instead of building a harsh division between a relationship as one knows the patchwork can always be drawn back to unite the family when the time is right.

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WONG MIN LIK & WONG ENG LEONG
OIL PAINTER & INSTALLATION ARTIST

As endearing and adorable as their creation – if not more so! – 27-year-old Min Lik and 29-year-old Eng Leong have put their heads and hands together for the first time to turn fantasy into reality.

Dainty in size and disposition, Min Lik cheerfully explains that the couple wished to make their first collaboration special. They wanted to integrate their personal strengths as artists to build a meaningful piece they would be proud to share. With long black hair tucked casually behind his ears, Pink Floyd enthusiast Eng Leong agreed that in order for their joint project to succeed they needed to find a compromise.

The young couple first settled on what they would not do – being boring was not an option! They decided to take the ordinary sofa set and transform it into a veritable playground of colours and characters. As the installation artist, Eng Leong constructed the shape of the revamped sofa while his petite partner applied her skills as an oil painter to design a decorative personality that would enliven the setup.

Cleverly shaped like a blooming flower, the sofa collection is composed of beanbags and cushions artfully arranged around a central coffee table.

“We wanted the set to be cute and happy!” smiles Min Lik. “It is something that would make a room feel cheerful and make people want to use it.”

Both Min Lik and Eng Leong agree that it is important to be surrounded by things that encourage joy. As founding members of the artist collective FINDARS (pronounced find arts), the couple believe in incorporating artistic expression in day-to-day living. Through The Living Room program sponsored by Jendela KL, they can share their creative fantasies while fulfilling a utilitarian purpose.

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JOHANNA VARGHESE & SIMON KEOGH
ARCHITECTS & VISUAL ARTISTS

Guided by the fundamental Socratic mantra, “an unexamined life is not worth living”, Johanna and Simon make quite a pair. Architects by profession, the inquisitive pair dive into short-story writing, teaching and yoga with equal fervour while running their multidisciplinary design practice in Dublin, Ireland – a brilliant setting for Johanna’s urban fairy tales!

Despite the distance and having worked in London, New York and Vancouver, the couple’s history and connection with the Malaysian design and art scene remains strong. Since launching his architecture practice in Malaysia almost 15 years ago, Simon has maintained a strong affinity with the nation. Being in love with a local also helps!

Johanna and Simon first worked together on the critically-acclaimed Bank Negara Recovery Centre in Shah Alam. With The Living Room project, they have the opportunity to once again blend their ideas.
Like most of their work, the boat-shaped structure invites interpretation and curiosity. Whether creating furniture, towns or buildings, Johanna and Simon encourage viewers to experience design beyond mere function by presenting an inquiry into the relationship between the dimensions of space and the physical construction of materials.

With Simon’s works previously exhibited at The Annexe Gallery at Central Market, KLPac, D’Space in Penang, and the National Gallery and with Johanna playing the lead female role in the well-received Lightbulbs drama, they are more than happy to share their examination of life with KL again and again!

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ABOUT JENDELA KL

A homegrown brand synonymous with impeccable quality – intertwining fashion, art and aesthetic delivery – Jendela KL continues its tradition of indulging connoisseurs of luxury living with their classic and contemporary lifestyle lines in the form of Jendela Bespoke, Jendela Living and Jendela Batik. Jendela KL; a Malaysian Icon, an Asian Product with Universal Appeal!

The Jendela Living Showroom is located at 07-G-07 at Cap Square.
Jendela KL is located on the Explore Floor of Starhill Gallery. Tel: 03-2144 9189.
For further information, please contact Jendela KL’s publicist at +6 012 315 3002 (Sophie).