It looks like a full-on art attack this month as Art Battle Malaysia #3 rolls around the corner this October 14, coinciding with the glorious month of Inktober.
The daily drawing challenge started by American illustrator, Jake Parker is now a global exercise in inspiration and if you can handle a wee bit more than that, you should check out Art Battle Malaysia, started by our very own Malaysian artist, Rupa Subramaniam.
Before bringing this fantastic speed drawing competition to home soil, Rupa was herself a participant in Art Battle Brazil back in 2016. She was a solo-traveling wanderer then, now turned wonder artist extraordinaire.
If you’re ready to add extra flavor to your inspirations, mark your calendar for Art Battle Malaysia #3 this Saturday, brought to you by the supportive forces of Publika, Premier Art, Gerakbudaya, and Antabax.
Or else, you’d be missing out on 5 important points that could power up your creativity this Inktober.
Local illustrator Riharu Harun counts his past, his wishes for the future, pictures of the moment, and daily pleasures as essential ingredients for his artworks.
1. Watch experts paint; Live!
There’s no better way to check out the competition than by seeing exactly how they work with your own eyes. At art battle, you’ll also get to see established, seasoned artists in action,as they scramble for the title of Art Battle Malaysia #3 Winner.
Some of the more established names to look out for include ArifRafhan a.k.a Superdoofus,Ellie Yong a.k.a Silly Jellie and Komeil Zarin. There’s also Shaq Koyok, an indigenous artist from Temuan tribe, who has depicted the struggles of the Orang Asli against a modern world through his canvas.
It’s a rare occasion to catch just a single artist displaying their skills in broad daylight but at Art Battle Malaysia, there will be 12 of them all at once! You have to be there to bask in their collective creative energy.
Manje’s (Mariyam Shany) works invite you a glimpse of her passions, love for folklore and feminism
2. Observe and learn a variety of art styles
In the words of Art Battle Malaysia’s founder, Rupa herself, “Art Battle is about diversity; from comic artists to urban sketchers, fine art, naïve art and even a little something out of the box.”
You could be a storyteller like Jerome Liew, drawing up tales about our surroundings, keeping a record of time and place through colours or a self-taught mixed media artist like Manje, who conjures magic with acrylics and inks.
You’re bound to relate and become inspired by the vibrant and distinctive personas slated for battle in the live painting show this Saturday.
Eidlan Lakhawlez considers his works to be super loud expressions from his inner sanctuary of peace and beauty.
3. Have a say in what makes good Art
Ever entered an art gallery and felt like you’ve seen better works that deserve to be on exhibition? Your opinion won’t count on those instances but it definitely will be heard at Art Battle Malaysia.
One of the features of this event is that the audience gets to participate in judging the artworks, even letting your feedback come through as a deciding factor in the competition.
“Art is not just for the “atas” people or for those that have studied it. You let us know lah what you think is appealing and why you think so. We love hearing your feedback. This show is all about you,”– Rupa
Shaq Koyok advocates for his people, the Orang Asal and the importance of preserving nature through his passion
4. Mingle with awesome talents
There’s no better place to easily congregate with like-minded artistic souls. You’ll be rubbing shoulders and getting a chance to chat with many individuals who have lit up your social media newsfeed with spectacular artworks.
It’s a safe space to approach those who inspire you without that awkward stalker vibe in the air. If you’re lucky, you might even score a date with the hottie who shares your passion for art!
Fay Fay Xiao Ting believes her purpose is to connect with people and help express their stories through painting
5. Take home an Original Art Piece without the exorbitant price tag
There’s a reason why art can sometimes fetch huge sums of money. The value of each work naturally goes up when it’s an original by a famous painter. You might never get your hands on a Picasso or Andy Warhol but you definitely can stand a chance to own a piece from Malaysia’s own marvelous talents dueling paintbrushes this weekend.
And who knows, if their fame someday makes it to the international arena, you could be the proud owner of a most original and valuable product. Bidding starts at RM150. May the muses smile upon you!
So who are the 12 amazing artists participating in Art Battle Malaysia #3, who just might become world-famous someday? They are Riharu Harun, Eidlan Lakhawlez, Komeil Zarin, Ellie Yong, Arif Rafhan, Shaq Koyok, Mariyam Shany a.k.a Manje, FayFay Xiao Ting, Elly Nor Suria, Karthine Maniam and Jerome Liew! Learn more about these awesome individuals at the Art Battle Malaysia Facebook Page.
Got an artful event coming up that needs a shout out? Give us deets via email at editors@eksentrika.com
