Women In Art
"Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of feeling the artiste has experienced." - Leo Tolstoy
As a child I was always fascinated with art galleries and museums, wondering how each piece of art came into existence as they hung so serenely on walls, beckoning its viewers to step closer and unravel their stories. Two of my father’s friends are self-taught artists and have made a considerable amount of loyal followers who will buy their artworks. Acquiring beautiful pieces of art isn’t just something done by the financially well off now as a conversation piece, but also by those who collect purely for the sake of love for the arts.
Eve Writes | 09 November 2018
Life & Culture : Women In Art
A tribute to her grandmother, Marisar Ng's "Because I Love You"
The demand for art has birthed many art galleries across our ever changing city hence introducing us to local artists.
What I greatly admire is these artists’ absolute sacrifice and dedication invested towards their artwork and choosing to share it with the rest of the world. I always remember how my own lecturers constantly chided me to sabar while watching me frustratingly struggle with my own artwork. Creating a piece of art no matter the size isn’t just about putting our imagination onto canvas hoping it will turn out alright, but the complex mixture and composition of several elements to make it look pleasing to the eye.
James Brown crooned it’s a man’s world, and this is abundantly clear especially in the art stream. Step into an art gallery and there are more male artists represented. Women can easily outnumber men in colleges and universities so there’s certainly no lack of talent, brains or dedication so where have all the women gone? Even in art history, we weren’t introduced to any female artists in class and I had to look them up online. One of the painfully sexist views in any industry why there aren’t many successful women especially as they head further into their 30s is that they could leave all those things behind for children and family.
Almost a quarter into this century, it is now so much easier to gain exposure and quickly amass a following with the aid of social media. With campaigns of all sorts constantly running it is now easier to reach out and break stigmas, but even with the aid of social media one has to have some marketing skills and a helping hand (or several) to climb up the steps towards success because after all, no man is an island. The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle said, “Women don’t need to find their voice, they need to feel empowered to use it.”
If there are any female artists that you wish us to highlight, do get in touch with us or simply leave a comment below! As for now, let us share with you five artists who deserve more hype than they’re already receiving. Also, keep an eye out for About Eve's exclusive interviews with each and everyone of these amazing artists soon!
"If you hear a voice within you say, 'You cannot paint,' then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced."
For this mother of three, her opportunity to pursue a career as a full time artist materialized after she became a stay-at-home mom. Being first exposed to art by her late father who was an art teacher, Amy diligently pursued classes by professionals all over the world such as New York, Los Angeles and Sydney and did her first exhibition in the United States after having her third child. Hailing from Kelantan, her oil paintings have won several awards from around the world and is represented by an art gallery in New York for a year.
You can read more about Amy here.
Pulau Gajah's Cloud
Stellar Night
Rise & Shine
Amy Hashim Gallery
Cleverly using fashion to promote her paintings, Shailly’s clients are from all over South East Asia including Malaysia, India, Singapore and Philippines. She enrolled in a two-year fine art course out of interest and upon graduation opened her own studio called Indian Ocean to continue painting while also displaying her artwork. High-quality clutches and evening bags which she could paint on can also be found in her studio; each unique piece has its own personality and design, so you’ll be carrying with you a different story each time while creating awareness and appreciation for art.
The Taman Tasik Series
The Namesake
While I Was Learning
One of Indian Ocean's beautiful clutches
Tropical Radiance
Inheriting her artistic talents and resourcefulness from her mother who was an interior designer (who also helped establish an art college in KL) and father who is also a painter, Peisy left her career in advertising as a graphic designer to create Palm Republik with her partner. Palm Republik is a start-up company producing environment friendly merchandise made of biodegradable palm paper. Her biggest clients are from the US as they are more aware of the positive impact eco-friendly products has on the environment. Aside from that are her contemporary art paintings which turned into a profitable hobby, among which are snapped up by Genting’s Grand Ion Delemen to reflect the resort’s calm interior decoration. Read more about Peisy here.
Renegade Wall
Mossy Sky
Blue Monday - Triptych
It is said that one’s greatest work of art comes from your times of sorrow and difficulty, and that was how the journey for this artist began. During her recourse in Pulau Kapas, Marisa rediscovered her love for art which simultaneously brought healing to her soul. Upon returning home, Marisa enrolled herself at Aswara as well as being mentored by several established local artists. She shares that abstract art isn’t creating what you see but rather what you feel which is never an easy thing to do, but the feeling of satisfaction after completing a canvas is “really something”.
Buried Treasures
Me Set Free
The Wild Flowers
Red Orchid Painting
Learning is a never ending journey, and it seems that this lady is the very embodiment of this belief. Studying various courses from business at UITM, figurative painting at MIA and human resources in the UK as recent as a few years ago, one would think she’s done with mental absorption. But instead, Aziehj who is a freelance contemporary artist whose artworks are about portraiture and figurative subjects is also a self-taught artist due to her passion in arts. Read more about Aziehj here.
Earth Goddess
Red Woman Under The Rain
Never Leave Me
Light Hunt
