Rizal Faisal
Through a common creative journey in the Sultanate, a handful of artists hailing from various nations have crossed paths.
Over the past three years, the group has grown bigger, being particularly enriched and inspired with the guidance of local artist Nabil Fikri Haronli.
Each artists has rediscovered their love and passion for art, sharing their experience of painting, creating artworks and creative expression as individual artists, each one unique in their style.
The works of a number of these artists are being showcased as part of an exhibition at the Alliance Francaise premises in Jalan Tungku, in line with the organisation’s efforts to promote art and culture, from May 5-31.
At the exhibition, they are presenting their works from their common creative journey in Brunei, inspired by the beauty and diversity of Borneo’s nature, human interactions and personal experiences and emotions.
Irina Maier from Germany is a Brunei-based artist discovering the acrylic and oil world of art. After moving to the Sultanate in the middle of 2020, she started to uncover her early childhood passion for painting.
Maier shared that, in Brunei, art not only allows her to look around, but also experience her inner self more closely. Her favourite motifs are flowers, birds and abstractions in vibrant colours representing beauty, freedom and emotions.
She loves that art gives her the possibility to show her personal, inner perspective in a delicate and intricate way.
During her stay in Brunei, she has gone on jungle walks and river cruises, admired stunning animals and birds, encountered fascinating people, and just the same as she has also experienced great loss and grief. Art accompanied her through these experiences, leaving an imprint on each piece of her artwork.
In this series of artworks, Maier is grateful to share the contrasting bouquet of memories, stories and emotions with the viewers on her journey in Brunei.
In addition, Russian-Austrian artist Lyubov Shibanova graduated from an art academy and worked under the mentorship of famous artist N Ovchinnikov in 2000, who recognised her talent.
Through his promotion, she had her first solo exhibition of paintings in 2002, showcasing her talent in landscapes, still-lives, oil portraits, and graphic works on fabric using the “batik” technique.
While her unique trademark is wall paintings, she has explored a variety of new media and art forms, collaborated with architects, designed living spaces and interiors, and designed corporate brands.
Currently, she is capturing her Brunei-Borneo experiences in her art, connecting her impressions of Brunei’s nature and her children in her paintings.
Meanwhile, Indian national Dr Rani Sulochana, a gynaecologist by profession and artist by passion, shared that during her childhood in India, she was fascinated with art and enraptured by paintings. This longing for painting skills took shape in Brunei when she received perfect guidance.
Dr Sulochana’s joy evolves around colours, chromes and hues, and the beauty they create. Art has given her a platform to channel her emotions, feelings and imaginations through the splash of colours on canvas.
Her forte is sketching and portraiture. Intrigued by shapes and features, she also derives inspiration from people and nature, in an attempt to capture day-to-day lifestyle in a frame.
Dr Sulochana gratefully acknowledges the opportunity given to her, to share her expressions on canvas, with art enthusiasts in Brunei.
Another featured artist is Ludmilla Oehler, who hails from Ukraine but grew up in Georgia, Tbilisi.
Since 1985, she has lived in Germany where she studied physics and business economics, far from art by profession.
However, Oehler is a self-taught artist who discovered her passion in painting while in Brunei.
In 2018, she met a young artist named Nitisha Kasyhap whose encouragement and motivation made her embark into the journey of art.
She took lessons to learn new techniques from Bruneian portraitist, Nabil Fikri Haronli. Her inspiration comes from the colours and forms found in the exotic lure of nature, as well as music, travelling and interaction with people-giving her a fresh impetus to create new paintings.
According to Oehler, living in Brunei surrounds her with the never-ending wonders of the jungle and a bounty of colourful flora.
Using colour as language, her work comes alive with emotions through the movement of the brushwork and the luscious, layered colours. Much like memories, each painting is filled with layer upon layer of paint, building a rich history into each piece.
With each painting, she learns more about herself and sees her progress and growth as an artist. She uses bright colours in her artwork in the hope that it brings positive emotions into people’s lives.
Last but not the least impressive is the work of 12-year-old Bruneian Adella Han, who has always had a passion for art from an early age, as young as four.
Her preferred technique of art is acrylics but that does not limit her talent to venture into other techniques, as seen throughout
the exhibition. Adella hopes that the artworks that are on display show the joy and growth she feels in creating these pieces. She believes that her artwork is a reflection of her ideas and experiences.
She also hopes that her art inspires others to pursue their passions and find happiness in their own creative pursuits.
