Celebrate Creativity & Abundance at Wanawani

 

I recently received an invitation to A Celebration of Creativity & Abundance at the Wanawani Art Center and determined to attend this showcase as I missed the previous showing when this gallery opened last December.

 

Artist: Mrs K S Siow nee Lui Pei Yun
founder of Wanawani Art Center

I was also keen to meet founder of the Wanawani Gallery, Mrs K S Siow nee Lui Pei Yun, an avid collector of art and an artist who not only paints but also enjoys creating ceramic art.

 

Lui always had a desire to share the beauty and appreciation of quality art with others so the opening of Wanawani in Johor Bahru marks a significant milestone where an art space is now available for artists and art enthusiasts to enjoy art together.

 

It was easy to locate the Art Center at the Danga Utama Commercial Centre, a corner unit with four levels of space – including a mezzanine floor – for the art gallery and to host art activities.

 

Facade of Wanawani Art Center

Through the glass paneled walls, I saw a crowd already gathered within, a sight which stirred my curiosity to find out what was going on.

 

I joined this crowd to discover that their attention was focused on a demonstration by airbrush artist, Yap Bu Kiyang, better known as B K Yap.

 

Inspired by his childhood dreams, Yap decided to leave the corporate world and pursue his creative aspirations. By combining meticulous artistry with innovative airbrush techniques, Yap infused his creations with depth and life, successfully bridging traditional and modern art forms.

 

Yap’s creations have been exhibited in numerous venues, both local and abroad, and have gained widespread recognition across Asia, including China, Taiwan and Indonesia.

 

Yap Bu Kiyang [Seated] surrounded by
art enthusiasts who admire his skills
in creating airbrush art

It was indeed a privilege for art enthusiasts here to meet him and enjoy some of his impressive art exhibited at Wanawani in the theme, Bringing Art to Life: The Journey of Yap Bu Kiyang.

 

Then it was time for calligraphist, Theng Sea Way, also known as Qianzi and studio name, Jingmiao Studio, to present a demo of his calligraphy on two panels of fabric laid out on the floor.

 

Aided by his two sons, Theng skillfully inked a thick brush to write a Chinese couplet on one of the fabric panels prepared on the floor.

 

Theng Sea Way writing Chinese calligraphy
aided by his two sons

This demo continued with the next calligraphy demo performed by his sons who wrote a complementary couplet on the second panel of fabric laid out alongside.

 

While I may not fully appreciate Chinese calligraphy, this demonstration (to me!) was very encouraging as Theng had successfully instilled his passion for this artform to the next generation and inspired them to practice and excel in it.

 

Theng’s work have been showcased in prestigious exhibitions held worldwide including in Beijing and Shandong where his art is permanently engraved in aluminum-titanium panels.

 

Impressive art by B K Yap [Left]
and Raymond Koh [Right]

His unique style harmonizes the refined beauty of traditional model scripts with the rugged, natural essence of stele studies, resulting in works that are sophisticated and powerful, filled with artistic depth and resonance.

 

His creations featured in, Calligraphy Beyond Boundaries: The Artistic Journey of Theng Sea Way, showcases Theng’s profound philosophy in calligraphy where technical mastery, artistic insight and emotional expression converge.

 

While admiring the range of art work on display, I instantly recognized the art collection by pyrographic artist, Raymond Koh, as I had the pleasure of meeting him in 2019 at a showing of his art work in the theme, Captivating Chinese Opera.

 

Young people engaged in calligraphy
writing activity at Wanawani Art Center

A self-taught artist, Koh had devoted over 30 years to mastering this craft and have transformed his fascination into a medium of profound cultural expression.

 

I was delighted to meet Koh again and happy for him because the gallery at Wanawani presented an excellent venue for him to showcase his work in a collection dubbed, Celebrating Heritage and Creativity: The Pyrography of Raymond Koh.

 

Bunting with info on the
exhibition now on at Wanawani

A Celebration of Creativity & Abundance exhibition at Wanawani, on from now till January 21, also features exhibits, The Evolution of Ink: A Journey Through Tay Poi San’s Artistic Legacy and Echoes of Tradition: The Art of Nai Swee Leng.

 

I was introduced to Melvin Pong, Art Director at Wanawani Art Center, who said that information about exhibitions and activities at the center will be updated regularly online for art enthusiasts to visit the gallery or join their workshop activities.

 

With Chinese New Year just around the corner, young people were invited to participate in a calligraphy writing activity to demonstrate their skills in writing traditional festive couplets in Black ink on pieces of Red paper.

 

Wanawani founder, Lui, was all smiles as she mingled among the guests and when we met, I congratulated her on the opening of this Art Center in Johor Bahru.

 

A section of the exhibits on the mezzanine floor

“This unique space is more than a gallery; it is a dynamic hub where ideas flourish, collaborations thrive and communities connect through the universal language of art,” said Lui.

 

I was in total agreement with Lui because this city needs more spaces such as this for artists to showcase their work and for the love of art to be encouraged and cultivated. 

 

Wanawani Art Center is at No. 23-01 & 23-02, Jalan Pertama 2, Pusat Perdagangan Danga Utama, 81300 Skudai, Johor. Open from 10am to 6pm daily. For enquiries, please send email to: email@wanawani.com

 

For more information, visit webpage: wanawani.com and follow official pages on Instagram and Facebook for regular updates of events and exhibitions.