CERAMIC artist Mubarak Jamil, the winner of Spotlight 2023, is currently holding his debut solo exhibition, “Into the Unknown,” at Hin Bus Depot in George Town, Penang, until Aug 25.
The exhibition showcases a collection of ceramic sculptures that reflect Mubarak’s journey through life’s unpredictable challenges.
Among the 14 works on display, several pieces bear a resemblance to the KAWS figure by American artist Brian Donnelly, a pop culture icon that Mubarak has reimagined to express his personal experiences.
The most conspicuous detail in these sculptures is the figure’s broken ear, a poignant metaphor for Mubarak’s struggle with a ruptured eardrum. This detail symbolises the unexpected twists that have shaped his life.
“Brian Donnelly’s artworks are in cartoonist style, easily recognisable by the art community. He primarily works in painting and sculpture, while I focus on ceramic art. I thought, why not incorporate his style into my own narrative to create captivating artwork?
“I removed all the facial features from the figure, including the right ear. I used to be an introvert and that was how I felt with a ruptured eardrum when I was born. This introversion is reflected in my figures.
“Because of a ruptured eardrum, a tube was inserted into my right ear when I was three years old and it was removed when I was 12 to improve my hearing. Now, my hearing is normal,” said Mubarak, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Aug 19.
As the Spotlight 2023 winner, Mubarak underwent a six-month mentorship by James Seet, in preparation for the solo exhibition.
“I admire James Seet, one of the very few ceramic artists in Malaysia. His artwork resonates with me. He has elevated ceramic art into a top-notch level, and I fell in love with it. When he agreed to be my mentor, I discovered he is a humble person, and I adore him.
“He gave me a lot of guidance and knowledge. My university lecturers focused more on the technical aspects of ceramic art, while James pushed me towards the artistic side.
“So, when I got the opportunity to hold this first solo exhibition, it was a dream come true. I was overwhelmed with emotion. In fact, I was deeply moved and wanted to cry when Mr Lee Khai (Penang State Art Gallery chairman) spoke about me during the opening ceremony. However, I told myself to hold back the tears. This marks the first step towards becoming a certified artist, so to speak. It happened so quickly – it was unimaginable for a student,” Mubarak shared in an interview with Buletin Mutiara today.
Mubarak’s winning artwork, Tricled Teapot, took one day for the forming process and about two weeks for the firing process. This included bisque firing, to eliminate moisture from the clay, followed by glaze firing, which adds colour to the ceramic.
“My creations are not just objects but visual narratives woven with the twists of my life journey. Each piece reflects the influence of unpredictable experiences, capturing my essence through marbled effects,” Mubarak explained.
Curator Ivan Gabriel expressed his admiration for Mubarak’s use of marbling and dripping techniques in his artwork, highlighting life’s unpredictability.
“During his journey into adulthood, Mubarak encountered many experiences that changed his life, from his eardrum rupture to winning the Spotlight competition just as he was about to graduate. For him, the dripping effect symbolises life’s unexpected journey,” Ivan said.
Another captivating piece, titled Struggling, embraces imperfections. As Ivan noted, an artist can do a great job with ceramics, but sometimes, things break. This happened to Mubarak, and he reworked the piece using the Kintsugi technique – the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum.
Born in Klang, Selangor, and raised in Shah Alam, Mubarak pursued his art education at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). He earned a Diploma in Art & Design (Ceramics) from the Seri Iskandar campus in Perak before continuing at UiTM Shah Alam, where he obtained a degree in Industrial Ceramics and received the Vice Chancellor’s Award.
Although Mubarak’s work has been featured in numerous national and international group exhibitions, his success in the Spotlight 2023 has significantly elevated his profile in the art community. He is the sixth winner of the Spotlight art competition, which was inaugurated in 2018 by the Penang Art District (PAD).
His solo exhibition runs from Aug 16 to 25, with opening hours from 12pm to 7pm on weekdays and 11am to 7pm on weekends.
PAD general manager Kenny Ng said Mubarak’s exhibition, Into The Unknown, stands as a testament to his artistic journey and evolution, offering a profound exploration of life’s challenges through the medium of ceramic art.
Spotlight 2023 attracted 140 entries from artists 30 years and below from all over Malaysia.
“There are many art competitions, but few platforms like Spotlight for young emerging artists. We are pleased to see that experienced ones are eager to mentor these young artists, guide them on their journey, and offer advice.
“Penang Art District extends its heartfelt appreciation to UOB Malaysia, the main sponsor, and Hin Bus Depot, the venue sponsor of this exhibition,” Ng said.
He announced that entries for Spotlight 2024 are now open, with the closing date on Oct 20. The winner will receive RM5,000 while five consolation winners will each receive RM1,000.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian and courtesy of Penang Art District
