This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on September 28, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: Having practised art professionally for over two decades, local contemporary artist Ahmad Shukri Mohamed, 48, is showcasing 23 works in his eighth solo exhibition, Made in Malaysia: Works by Ahmad Shukri Mohamed — from 2010 to 2017 at The Edge Galerie preview. 

Prominent collectors and art lovers who came for the preview last night included Ireka Corp Bhd group managing director Datuk Lai Voon Hon, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s daughter Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, and her husband Tara Sosrowardoyo.

The exhibition, his eight solo since 1998, comprises four series spanning a seven-year period, namely, Postcards from Malaya, Made in Malaysia, Golden Gate and Text. The 23 mixed-media works range in price from RM13,500 to RM150,000 each. 

Responding to issues on the environment, Malaysia’s history and current affairs, Ahmad Shukri’s latest body of work comprises a set of 12 colonial period postcard images transferred onto wood in Postcards from Malaya; nine watercolour paintings of images from newspaper clippings in the series, Made in Malaysia; rainforest compositions in the Golden Gate series; and text-and-colour paintings in the Text series.

“Made in Malaysia is not about the Malaysian culture. Not in the sense of cultural commodity or things being made locally, but to illustrate the economic, social and political developments that have occurred in Malaysia since independence and how the country is projecting itself on the global front.”

Supported by property developer, Matrix Concepts, the exhibition is being held at The Edge Galerie in Mont Kiara from today to Oct 13. Log on to www.theedgegalerie.com for details.