Recent paintings

Victor Chin, Pulau Perhentian No 25 (detail), 2005, acrylics on canvas, 85×120cm

This abstract image, filled with refracted yellow light of tropical waters, suggests a vibrant marine life surrounding the islands of the East Coast of Malaysia, where Pulau Perhentian, is just one of them. In this visual construction there are many different brush marks, lines and shapes, all pointing to the varieties of colourful fishes, sea shells, jelly fishes with their long tentacles etc.

One of the ways to enjoy this work, is to get really close to the surface of the painting and squinting your eye, gradually make out, from your our experience, some of your own memories of being in the undersea world. Your own recollection, will no doubt, add to the deeper pleasures of looking at a work of art like this one.

Could it be an oriental calm or turbulence or both? Its hard to tell.

8-3-08 Malaysian Dissent Day

The sovereign peoples of Malaysia, 49% of the 7.9 million, who went to the polls during the 12 general election on 8-3-08, voted for the opposition parties. Only 51% voted for the national coalition parties and they now rule the country by a simple majority, not with the 2/3 majority as they enjoyed before.

This is a victory for the Malaysians who dared to register their vote of dissent to the politicians in power for the last 51 years and this act of objection deserved our gratitude and praise. This ought to be a date in Malaysian history as a Malaysian Dissent Day (MDD) and ought to be celebrated annually from now on.

Politically MDD  will remind all the politicians, in power or otherwise, the peoples of the nation is the authority. And there is still the next task to get the rest, 50% of the population of 27 million, who didn’t register to vote to do so for the next election. This is a vote by the different peoples, for the peoples of the country and not for politicians to misuse it for their own personal or party’s benefit.

MDD will alert its electorates about the social and cultural racist practices that existed in the country and learn how this concept of a ’superior race’ is used, not just in Malaysia but world wide, as a tool to divide and subjugate its citizens and make them miserable and downtrodden.

The sovereign peoples of Malaysia deserved to live in freedom, dignity and fraternity. Long live the voice of dissent. Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

Dominic at the KLPac

Dominic is ten and he is in standard four in a Chinese school in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. His mother, Lim Siew Chong, is blind due to a car accident when she was twenty-one, in Ipoh. A few years back, both of them moved to live in Brickfields where she could train as a masseur at the Malaysian Association of the Blind (MAB) and then later work as a blind masseur in that area. There is a small community of both the blind and the deaf in this part of the city.

Dominic and his mother are both members of the harmonica music group from the MAB. This group of seven part-time musicians was invited to perform at the Sunday lunch party organized by Victor Chin and his friends at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Center (KLPac) on the 24 February.

On that day, after lunch, Dominic together with about 20 people, young and old, some with disabilities, were invited by Nala Nantha, from the KLPac, to join her in an hour of theatre-based activities and games. The following day Nala contacted Victor and told him that she was impressed by Dominic’s natural ability and focus during the session and said that she would like to offer a semester of free classes to Dominic.

When Victor contacted Dominic’s mother and told her about Nala’s offer, she was not vary sure at first, but she agreed to come with Dominic to meet Nala the next Sunday at the KLPac. After the meeting and also getting a sense of the place and the activities at the KLPac  Siew Chong was a bit more assured. But she finally consented when Victor Chin and Nala assured her that Dominic will be safe and will be provided with transportation and food as well on the Sundays when he has classes.

After his first class Dominic said to Nala that he really enjoyed the session and also he was pleased to meet with many new friends outside his normal group of pals.

Sunday lunch in video

 

 

Victor Chin’s Sunday lunch party on the 24 of February at the KLPac is now in video. The video footages were shot by several people on that day including Lucian, Numpueng and Victor. However this short presentation was edited by Victor and this is his first video in youtube.

This recording brings together some of the faces, the families and friends, the food and drinks, the music, the conversations and fun meetings and also some of Victor Chin’s photographs on exhibition at the KLPac. Enjoy.

The next host

Victor Chin’s exhibition In the Face of Disability ended on the 29 Feb at the KLPac and it was its third home. The collection is now waiting to continue its tour to the next host. It started on 14 Jan. and within the 46 days that the display was on at the KLPac, the photographs had attracted numerous remarks and comments and here is a selection taken from Victor’s visitor’s book and press cuttings.

‘Inspired work and inspiring.’ Joan Russell

‘Humbling, inspirational, glorious…’ Joe Hasham & Faridah Merican

‘I’m v. happy to see you progress from one neglected aspect of KL to its ‘neglected’ people, and you’ve taken in your embrace more than just KL people. Remember how we once tried to save “Court Hill”? Well done! ’ Wan Hulaimi

‘These photographs are vary sensitive & beautiful – I especially like the group shots (swimmers) – very poignant.’ Gabrielle Bates

‘Wow! Moved me to tears. Thank you for reminding me about courage.’ Shahnaz.

‘Your exhibition is a good concept and it makes all disable people proud’ Lim Anuar

‘Beautiful. U made me realize the other part of what life is about. Thank U.’ Kee Nyap

‘…The images are simple and stark, making no attempt to hide or mask the disability that it photographs. Yet, the vitality and the verve of his subjects make that very disability almost disappear as it is cloaked by the grandeur and strength of the spirit it embodies…’ Anandhi Gopinath, The Sun.

This is a word of thanks to everyone who had visited, helped out and wrote about the show.

Sunday lunch party

On 24 Sunday February , Victor Chin invited about 70 friends to a lunch party at the KLPac, where his photo exhibition is still on till 29 this month. This special occasion was for some of Victor’s friends and some of Victor’s friends’ buddies to socialise, meet and talk with each other, some for the first time, others meeting again after many years.

The lunch was co-hosted by two old chums, Dato’ Faridah Marican and Victor Chin, who both wanted to share the cost for the party. Marge Chew made some delicious chocolate muffins and another old mate Heah Hock Heng and his friends did the aromatic ‘nasi kunit’, chicken curry and ice cream. All the food, drinks and goodies were assembled into paper bags on that morning by Numpueng, May, Lucian, Chong Ang, Ai Mee, Maureen, Felix, Dani and a team of friends. Renita was the guest MC and Ah Seng was the guest photographer.

Some visitors were taken on a tour of the KLPac by Ian Chow, others went to look at the Koi fish and Japanese gardens. Wairah Marzuki brought her companions and set up the painting and drawing group. Nala conducted a fun movement session with 20 different disabled bodies. Lucy Lim and Ean Lee brought their pals from the deaf club and Dr Shamsul came with his family and a few fellow paralympic athletes. Chee Keong invited his close blogging friend Peter Tan (read more) and they both come with their family members.

The music through the afternoon was provided by the Harmonica music group from the Malaysian Association of the Blind led by Godfrey Ooi.

There was a lot of music, food and fun for both the abled and the disabled, the young and the old and hopefully everyone had a good time.