In March/April2010, Wei-Ling Gallery brings you ‘Heads UP’. As the title suggests, this exhibition serves up a smorgasbord of heads and faces although not always on a platter!

For centuries artists have been fascinated with the human face, with many commissioned to paint portraits of their wealthy patrons over the course of time. With the onset of photography, portraiture was largely displaced, but artists around the world have continued to create representations of the human countenance for the face is intrinsically a reflection of one’s feelings and expresses our thoughts and emotions.

Just as art is a reflection of the soul, portrayals of the face is mankind’s way of capturing the essence of itself. In this way, it can be said that portrait painting is the art of art, and the portrait painter is the artist of artists. In striving to accomplish in representation what many artists strive for in abstraction, the portrait artist embodies the struggle of all art to define the meaning of self.

We are all fascinated by how we are portrayed by people -be it a young child, friend, stranger or artist. In this way we can begin to understand the unique appeal of portraits  and the insight and beauty that it can bring to the occupation of self-exploration.

For this exhibition, we bring you heads up on a selection of Malaysian artists who draw inspiration from the enchantment of the human face/head. Each artist has a unique approach to the subject and delivers an individualistic point of view, both technically and intellectually.

The artists participating in this exhibition are Chong Choon Woon, Ng Bee, Kim Ng, Marvin Chan, Mohd Al-Khuzairie Ali, Chee Eng Hong.

‘Heads UP’ features at Wei-Ling Gallery from the 29th March 2010-28th April 2010. Wei-ling Gallery is located at No.8 Jalan Scott, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, 50470, Malaysia

Wei-Ling Gallery is Open Mon-Fri,12-7pm, Sat 10-5pm.Closed Sundays. Admission is free.

Ng Bee                                                                                     Ng Bee

Adolescence                                                                             Man

219cm x 194cm                                                                        148cm x 158cm

Oil on canvas, 2010                                                                   Oil on canvas, 2010

Kim Ng                                                                                        Kim Ng

The portrair of Jor                                                                         The portrait of Xian

Waterbased paint, acrylic, pencil, coloured thread,                          Waterbased paint, acrylic, pencil, coloured thread,

varnish with graphite powder                                                          varnish with graphite powder

92cm x 73cm, 2010                                                                      92cm x 73cm, 2010

Chong Choon Woon                                                                   Chong Choon Woon

Face I                                                                                       Face II

124cm x 120cm                                                                         124cm x 120cm

Oil on canvas, 2010                                                                    Oil on canvas, 2010

Chee Eng Hong                                                                          Chee Eng Hong

Gian                                                                                          Stepson

186cm x 134cm                                                                          186cm x 134cm

Mixed media on canvas, 2009                                                      Mixed media on canvas, 2009

Each day there are people who do ordinary things in the most extra-ordinary way, in a seemingly devout manner. They are a mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister or friend. Every person harboring their own special reason, a unique life experience that encapsulates a story that is summarized on their face. These are paintings of ordinary people who are beautiful, not for what they are able to achieve, but for who they are for those whom they care for. A hero. Which makes them far from being ordinary, under that ordinary facade, away from the social barometer of success and achievement, beauty resides.       Marvin Chan

Marvin Chan

Beauty in the ordinary VII

Oil on canvas

49cm x 49cm, 2010

Marvin Chan                                              Marvin Chan                                               Marvin Chan

Beauty in the ordinary I                              Beauty in the ordinary II                               Beauty in the ordinary III

Oil on canvas,                                           Oil on Canvas                                             Oil on canvas

49cm x 49cm, 2010                                  49cm x 49cm, 2010                                     49cm x 49cm, 2010

Marvin Chan                                              Marvin Chan                                               Marvin Chan

Beauty in the ordinary IV                            Beauty in the ordinary V                             Beauty in the ordinary VI

Oil on canvas                                            Oil on Canvas                                            Oil on canvas

49cm x 49cm, 2010                                   49cm x 49cm, 2010                                    49cm x 49cm, 2010

Marvin Chan                                              Marvin Chan                                               Marvin Chan

Beauty in the ordinary VIII                          Beauty in the ordinary IX                              Beauty in the ordinary X

Oil on canvas                                            Oil on Canvas                                             Oil on canvas

49cm x 49cm, 2010                                   49cm x 49cm, 2010                                    49cm x 49cm, 2010

Mohd Al-Khuzairie Ali                                                                              Mohd Al-Khuzairie Ali

The Guard Series III : Maskman                                                               The Guard Series IV : Maskman
Stoneware, Mechanical Part, Wire Cable, nut and screw                            Stoneware, Mechanical Part, Wire Cable, nut and screw
49 x 30 x 27 cm, 2010                                                                             48 x 31 x 30 cm, 2010

View hanging at the gallery