WINDS OF ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2015 Part 1

The Fukuoka Asian Art Museum Artist in Residence Program invites emerging artists from Asian countries and regions to Fukuoka to promote diverse artistic and cultural exchange through collaborative art-making and workshops.

For this year’s first term of the program, anGie seah from Singapore and Funkografik from the Maldives were invited and stayed for 70-days from May 2015.  We are pleased to announce an exhibition, Winds of Artist in Residence 2015 Part1, highlighting the achievements of the artists during their time in Fukuoka.

Gallery Talk
July 25th 10AM*
* Workshop presentation by anGie seah will also take place at the venue.

Funkografik
Born in Malé, Maldives, 1982
2007 Bachelor of Mass Communication, HELP University, Malaysia
Lives and works in Malé

Funkografik is a photographer specializing in fashion and concept photograph. In his residency, Funko conducted two projects; “Fusion Project” and “Love Chemical Project.” In the former project, collaborating with Mr. Amamoto Seiji, a clothing designer from Fukuoka to create a new style of dress based on the traditional costume of Japan and the Maldives, he made photo works featuring the dress on a
fashion model at 5 locations in Fukuoka. And in the latter one, the artist publicly sought pets and its owners and photographed 18 pairs of them, exploring the relationship between pets and owners. On top of these, he held workshops on
photography essentials.

Artist Statement
I believe that art is an expression of self identity. My projects here in Japan resonates the striking parallels of human condition without compromising our kindred spirits towards Mother Nature, animals and traditions, etc. We are highly interconnected to our environment. Be it fashion photography or nding similarities with humans and their feline friends, what we do, what we become, and what our self identity resonates is one entity, our Earth.

AnGie Seah
Born in Singapore, 1979
1999　 Diploma in Visual Arts (Sculpture), LaSalle College of the Arts (SIA), Singapore
2001     Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology,

Artist Statement
A thousand horses running in my head

I’ m always fascinated by the splendor of the everyday. Against all the depressing and chaotic evidence to the contrary, life has meaning and values I often re ect upon existential questions on the meaning of Fear, Death and Loss. Being human is an enigma for me.My ideas manifested like a thousand horses in my head, I constantly inspire to elevate and philosophise to elevate　human life and the tenacity of the human spirit. This residency has allowed me to investigate this ine able expression into a series of expressive notions;creating moments in curious site-speci c rituals. It speaks of poetic gestures and under-shadowed thoughts, And rea rmed my beliefs in my creative pursuits.I’ m surrounded with benevolence in this land of the rising sun.
Thank you,These works are made possible with the generous support from Fukuoka Asian Art Museum.