Malaysian Artist for the Malaysia-Australia Visual Artists’ Residency 2012
Azam Tajol Aris is Rimbun Dahan’s Malaysian year-long artist-in-residence. He graduated in Fine Arts from Universiti Institut Teknologi Malaysia, in 2007. Born in Perak in 1985, and growing up into the digital age of internet technology, it is the popular-culture world of graphic novels, anime and internet ‘ready-made’ third-hand or regurgitated information that informs Azam Tajol Aris’ art practice. In the current state of information saturation, a threat that ‘all is rumour’ requiring a challenging critical response is what seems to push Azam towards the satirical in his work in a light-hearted social commentary.
Azam’s current work at Rimbun Dahan is in three-dimensional form. It is the first step in a slight shift in direction. He has made multiple plaster casts of a male figure resembling a soldier to create an army of ‘clones’. There is also a cast plaster figure of one clone-member who must be the general, his mouth in an ugly gape, shouting out an order for conformity. Instead of a helmet though, the clones all have their hair gathered into a peak at the top, a cross between a headgear found on ancient Ramayanawayang kulit characters and a popular latter day hair style.
As ‘puppet master’ or dalang, Azam himself acts as a conduit for the rapid re-processing and disseminating of information. Gathering a patchwork of data, he re-creates ‘still-life’ mute scenarios or vignettes in three-dimensions. The germ for Azam’s three-dimensional ‘stories’ is information that had already been pre-processed and then re-processed and re-translated. Azam completes the mythologizing process by re-packaging the pieces of information into a critique.
- Azam Tajol Aris in his studio at Rimbun Dahan with some of his army of clones.
- Azam Tajol Aris in his studio at Rimbun Dahan with some of his army of clones.
- Azam Tajol Aris in his studio at Rimbun Dahan with some of his army of clones.
CV
Born 15 December 1983, Taiping Perak.
Address Studio Sebiji Padi, 19A Jalan Unyang, Taman Alam Megah, Seksyen 27, 40000 Shah Alam.
Contact 0125785405, Azam_aris@yahoo.com.
Education
2005 – 2007 | BFA (hons.), UiTM Shah Alam. |
2004 – 2005 | Skim Latihan Graduan, PESDC, Tronoh Perak – MMU Cyberjaya, 7 Month Training in Video. |
2001 – 2004 | Diploma in Fine Art, UiTM Sri Iskandar. |
Solo Exhibitions
2010 | ‘PARANOIA’ R.A Gallery, Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. |
2008 | ‘FLOAT’ House Of Matahati, Taman Cempaka, KL |
Selected Group Exhibitions
2011 | Vertical-Horizontal, House of Matahati, Kuala Lumpur. |
2010 | The Young Contemporaries Competition, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur. Art Triangle, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur. BAD@MAP, Solaris, Kuala Lumpur. |
2009 | Malaysian Contemporary, Conpenhangen, Denmark. MEA Award, Sokka Gakai Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. B.A.C.A , R.A Gallery |
2008 | Young n New part 1, HOM KL. |
2007 | Degree Show, TNZ Galeri, UiTM Shah Alam |
Awards
2010 | Juror Award, Young Contemporaries 2010, National Art Gallery, KL. |
2008 | Artist in Resident, House Of Matahati. |
2007 | 8th Prize, SCHENKER, Future Transportation Competition. |
- Republic Sulap, 2013, acrylic & electronic motor.
- Republic Sula 3, 2013, acrylic & electronic motor, 105cm circle.
- Republic Sulap by Tony Q Rastafara, 2013, acrylic & rotary motor, 80cm diameter.
- 1951 N Ray 2, 2012, ink on canvas, 280 x 180cm.
- Kapal Angkasa, 2012, ink on canvas, 280 x 180cm.
- N Ray, 2012, ink on canvas, 280 x 180cm.