Inspiring Workspaces — Alism@National Art Gallery, Malaysia
Last year, when a safe gap opened up between lockdown periods, Artist Ali Nurazmal Yusoff’s 18 oil on canvas paintings went on display at the National Art gallery — simply breathtaking! Then, there was a little surprise for the visitor near the exit of Reka Gallery: The Alism Art Studio.
This workspace was as fascinating as Ali’s technique.
I was lucky to meet Curator Zaslan Zeeha Zainee of the Media Division & Art Development Department near this very spot as I was signing the visitor’s book. Very kindly, he took the time to explain that this workspace is a replica of Ali Nurazmal’s actual studio! A dream workspace.
Was it this environment that inspired the Artist’s prolific visions and ventures or did the Artist’s innate creativity bring forth this wonderful workspace?
At a glance, it seemed to be a walk back in time. But not quite; I looked closely at some “cheeky” items like Mr. Yelo. This may be an indication of the Artist’s inclinations and innovations that subtly (and overtly) showed up in the loving details on his paintings. One has to look closely and carefully.
These days many of us are working remotely. How one designs one’s own workspace depends on individual taste and temperament.
Yet the Alism Art Studio takes this to another plane.
Perhaps The Alism Art Studio will inspire many of us to re-look our workspaces, places where we spend so many hours each day. We may not have the time or resources for a major re-do. Yet just a little tweak might be enough to inspire you. Do try to rustle up the stuff you already have. The things you have that really inspire and truly matter to you.
Here are 21 ideas from real workspaces to inspire you.
The amount of skill, effort, and time, not to mention creativity that evolved into Project A: Last Man Standing is a tribute to this artist who hails from Penang, Malaysia. In his Imitation Master series, he weaves humor, satire, and politics into Caravaggio’s chiaroscuro technique of painting, that shows contrasts between light and shadow. Somehow this may have inspired him to also blend themes of the East into the old European masterpieces.
When you see these paintings, as Ali Nurazmal Yusoff himself remarks, “even the shadows are alive and full of details.”
For more information on these oil on canvass paintings, do check out the article in Star on 27th July 2020; Caravaggio meets nasi lemak: M’sian artist imitates Italian masters, adds local spice by Dinesh Kumar Maganathan.
Although the exhibition closed on 30th July 2020, you can still step into Ali Nurazmal’s World virtually.
Now I am off to find that vintage desk left by my great-uncle. Then, perhaps by adding on my wonderful collection of books (now scattered everywhere) and some new lighting, surely I can design a space to inspire me to write regularly!
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Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
