Sharon Chin

Saya Suka Tempat Ini
எனக்கு இந்த இடம் பிடிக்கும்
我喜欢这个地方
I Like This Place

Printmaking Art Exhibition and Community Programme
13 – 19 December 2021
294, Jalan PD Kemuning, Kampung Bahasa Kapor, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan

‘I Like This Place’ is about a small mangrove beach located at the Jalan Rumah Rehat area in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. The week-long event was held in a rented bungalow next to the beach. I showed a series of intaglio and collagraph prints inspired by the landscape of that place. Afterwards, visitors could go to the beach and experience it for themselves. Art became a means for a more intimate and direct relationship with the land.

The community programme showcased Port Dickson locals – including poetry readings, workshops on composting and ecology, and a closing performance with costumes sewn by a local tailor.

This project was supported by the Rural Experiential Art Tourism 2020/2021 grant from Lembaga Pembanguan Seni Visual Negara.

Special thanks to Zedeck Siew, Grace Wong, Hasnoor Fashion, John and Ting of PD Seashore Discovery, Lisa Howes, H of Ground Control, Shivani Sivagurunathan, Yann Chwen, Veshalini Naidu and Sharmilla Ganesan.

—-

List of artworks in the exhibition:

Big Law in This Place: Moon phases and Tides for December 2021, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan / Perintah Agung Tempat Ini: Fasa Bulan dan Pasang-Surut untuk Disember 2021, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
Installation with 31 collagraph prints on Saa (Thai mulberry) paper
Edition 1 of 1

This work depicts the moon phases and tide chart for Port Dickson for the whole month of December 2021, printed on 31 pieces dated from 1 – 31 December 2021. The moon and tides are set against a printed background of red & white safety tape. It was installed in a horizontal row on the outside of the house. Visitors could refer to the tide chart before going the beach, to know if it was low or high tide.

The installation also included a strip of safety tape wound around the house, at the level of 1m above current high tide line. This line indicated the projected sea-level rise in this area by 2050, due to climate change. The following text was on a label above this line:

Scientists project that the average sea-level will rise by up to 1m by 2050 due to climate change, if the human species maintains its current habits. This line is 1m above the current high-tide line in Port Dickson.

Mengikut ramalan saintis, aras laut purata Bumi akan meningkat sebanyak 1m sebelum tahun 2050 akibat perubahan iklim, jika tabiat manusia tidak berubah. Paras garis ini adalah 1m atas paras laut pasang di Port Dickson.

~

Side by Side: White-collared Kingfisher, Needlefish, Black Sea Cucumber, Mermaid Fan Seaweed, Creeper Snail, Fiddler Crab / Berdua-duan: Burung Pekaka Bakau, Todak, Gamat Hitam, Rumpai Laut, Siput Sedut, Ketam Rebab
Intaglio prinst on Saa (Thai mulberry) paper
Edition 1 of 1

6 collagraph prints of animals local to the area, juxtaposed with silhouettes of trash that was found there: a metal fan cover, plastic wrapper, face mask, rubber shoe and foam toy.

~

Pattern Song for Roots and Ants / Corak Lagu Bagi Akar dan Semut
Installation with intaglio prints on Saa (Thai mulberry) paper, and beach debris
Edition 1 of 1

A repeat pattern of mangrove roots and ants, depicted in intaglio prints laid out on the floor, with the corners of each print marked by rocks and other debris collected from the beach.

~

Tribute to the Goddess Tree / Persembahan Ke Pohon Dewi
4 intaglio prints on Saa (Thai mulberry) paper, painted wooden frames
Edition 1 of 1

4 intaglio prints depicting the leaves of a ketapang (Indian sea almond) tree, with the hands of the goddess Lakshmi. Framed in colorful frames.