Nature in all its glory

Nature in all its glory

Dennis Chua
Oct 15

THE Artseni Gallery at Starhill Gallery in Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, is presenting “Nature In Golden Construction”, an exhibition of artist Shahrul Anuar Shaari’s works, till Nov 5. The exhibition began today (Oct 15)

Shahrul is a fine art graduate from Universiti Teknologi Mara in Shah Alam, Selangor. Graduating in 1998, he subsequently pursued a Master’s degree in art education at the Sultan Idris Education University in Tanjung Malim, Perak, in 2003.

He has held exhibitions around Malaysia, as well as in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, since 1998. He also won the Philip Morris Art Award in 2002.

Shahrul’s abstract expressionist paintings reveal profound knowledge and understanding of nature and its value, as well as the relationship between humans and nature. He explores complex emotional and philosophical narratives, and depicts them with layers of various textures on canvas, coupled with finely-drawn lines.

The exhibition features his latest art works, after a visit to Jakarta, Indonesia this year.

Its theme is the importance of saving and sustaining Mother Nature, and striving for a balance between development and the environment. It depicts the human being as one who has become “apart” from nature and manipulates, controls and exploits it.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) lecturer Mohammad Khizal Mohamed Saat describes the exhibition as an interpretation of nature which is full of colours.

Shahrul’s works combine various bright colours to express his concern about the well-being of the natural environment. He aims to share with viewers and fellow artists the need for everyone to ensure that nature is not ravaged in the name of development.