In August 2011, Anurendra Jegadeva, one of the country’s leading contemporary artists presents ‘Finding Graceland’ a poignant series of 20 Malaysian landscapes which document places, people and events which resonate with all of us, yet possess a strong autobiographical undertone. Finding Graceland is the result of numerous road-trips and train rides with his father through their family’s home state of Perak. With this latest exhibition, the artist presents the traditional landscape as contemporary art objects, drawing inspiration from family stories, familiar myths, official histories, current events and of course, the iconic settings that define the Land of Grace.

It has been a year since his blockbuster exhibition ‘My God is my Truck’ and this body of smaller, poetic works were born of a car journey that Anurendra Jegadeva took with his father to the provincial towns in the North of Malaysia, where his father grew up. Although he has labeled them landscape paintings, the works are born of a strong juxtaposition of stories and events which have affected or touched all our lives. Each piece has been made in a small format and all 20 artworks will be the same size. This is a deliberate attempt by the artist to take us all closer to the canvas to look at the artwork.

Anurendra Jegadeva is a narrative artist, a painter of stories. He believes in the enduring power of the painted image, and has worked consistently to forge an effective narrative approach to contemporary and historical themes. His works stem from a personal response to or experience of his subject – whether the post-colonial realities of multi-cultural Malaysia, Asian immigrant life in Australia or the war in Iraq on his TV screen, weaving an autobiographical layer into the complex reality he seeks to capture.

In the process Anurendra employs a panoply of narrative tools – recurring motifs, colour symbolism, the framing devices of temple carvers and stain-glass makers and comic book artists – the vocabulary of a multifarious existence.

Finding Graceland by Anurendra Jegadeva features at Wei-Ling Contemporary from the 9th August-30th August 2011.

For media inquiries, contact +603 2260 1106 or weilingart@gmail.com

www.weiling-gallery.com

Dedication

"Finding Graceland" is a collaborative work with my father"........J.Anu

Over the last three months, my father and I drove or took the train through our family’s home state of Perak on a weekly basis. He regaled me with many stories about his childhood, his family, his courtship with my mother, early working life and later – while working in Kuala Lumpur – described his anticipation when coming home to Perak for the holidays, with his own family in tow.
His stories awakened in me my own memories of weddings, funerals, school holidays inevitably set against the constant backdrop of an iconic Perak, resplendent with her rich histories, big traffic lights, quirky legends and peculiar landscape
Finding Graceland – 22 precious rectangles of Perak in exaggerated technicolor miniature scale and ridiculous detail – is me and my father talking and listening with Elvis playing in the background.

Best seat in town

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

Nasi Lemak; the national dish of Malaysia, rice cooked in coconut milk, accompanied by fried anchovies, peanuts, hot sambal and hard boiled egg wrapped in banana leaf

Kwan Yin Blues

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

Kuan Yin; Goddess of Mercy and Compassion revered by Taoists. Her name means "Observing the Sounds of the World"

Roundabout

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

BitterSweet; Indie band from Ipoh heavily influenced by British music. Line up includes Herri, Dinie (bass), Hafiez (guitar), Pijie (vocals) and Emai (keyboards)

Elvis has left the building

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

Biawak; A member of the Veranidae family, the monitor lizard is highly intelligent and makes for a good curry

Long Live the King

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

The Kings favorite food - peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich

Welcome to Yusoffiah

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

The word mamak is probably derived from the Tamil term for maternal uncle or maa-ma, Mamak stalls are eateries that serve roti chanai and teh tarek

Champion

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

United Malays National Organisation; UMNO is Mlaysia’s largest political party, a founding member of the National Front coalition which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since Independence

Waiting for the Moon

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

Twisties; a popular crunchy corn snack available in cheese, chicken, barbecue and eventually "kari" flavour

Kinta Valley Butterflies

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing: paplyionic butterfly discovered in Borneo in 1855 by the legendary explorer and naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace and named after the first White Rajah of 19th century Sarawak

Black Cock

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

Appachi; my widowed paternal grandmother, T Anggamah, who raised nine children and spoke to me in Malay

Happily ever after

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

In 1937 Amelia Earhart, landed in the Taiping airport to refuel her Lockheed Elektra during her ill-fated world flight attempt

Moment of Clarity

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

Old Chenderiang Road; the old narrow and winding trunk road between Tapah and Chenderiang where my father lived

One Fine Day II

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

PAS; Parti Islam Se-Malaysia is an Islamist political party in Malaysia and is currently headed by Dato’ Seri Abdul Hadi Awang

Road to Kampar

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

Rose Chan (b 1925); legendary cabaret entertainer was born Chan Wai Chang to a family of acrobats from China, famous for her Python Act

Teadust

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

1Malaysia ; an on-going programme designed by Malaysian Prime Minister YB Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak stressing national unity, ethnic tolerance and efficient governance

Waiting for the bearded lady

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

One of the oldest troupes in India, the Great Royal Circus toured internationally, traveling to Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia including Malaysia

White Cock

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

Limestone; a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3)

Still Hoilding Hands                                                          Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box    79cm x 38cm, 2011                                                           Batu Gajah; a very quiet town, ideal for pensioners and young families. The attractions here include two golf courses – Royal Golf Club and Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Course	Girl from Guilin Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box 79cm x 38cm, 2011 The karst hills of the Kinta valley are believed to be a part of a super limestone formation that stretches from Guilin in South China, through Indochina and Thailand into Malaysia

One Night in Tanjung Malim                                                                  Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box      79cm x 38cm, 2011                                                                                     Tanjung Malim; a sleepy town, favorite rest stop during the pre-highway long haul drive between Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur. Famous for their delicious halal-pau

Train to Batu Gajah Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box 36cm x 36cm x 7.5cm, 2011 But I've reason to believe, we both will be received, in Graceland

When I was Three

Oil on canvas in golden gilt frame encased in perspex box

38cm x 79cm, 2011

Raja Abdullah, Dato Mahrajalela and other malay cheftains met in Teluk Intan to plot the killing of the first British
Resident of Perak, J W W Birch

Read article(s)

Art Monthly Australia

Painting the past

New Straits Times, 2nd September 2011

Watch interview with Anurendra Jegadeva:-

Finding Graceland Part I

Finding Graceland Part II

View hanging at Wei-Ling Contemporary

Images from private preview event

Images from official opening on Saturday 13th August 2011

Listen to Anurendra jegadeva on BFM89.9

http://podcast.bfm.my/podcast/ e?file=assets%2Ffiles%2FTheBig gerPicture%2F2011-08-19_Anuren draJegadev