Monday, March 25, 2019
Exhibition in Yogyakarta
In March 2019, I headed to Borobudur, Yogyakarta, Indonesia for a group exhibition with 24 artists from 11 countries. 

The exhibition took place in the Padepokan Apel Watoe Gallery owned by renowned artist Pak Deddy Paw. The exhibition was opened by Pak Dr Oei Hong Djien.


The artists involved are as below. 

 Deddy PAW, Syis Paindow, Cipto Purnomo, Niluh Sudati, Nurfu Ad dan Umar Chusaeni (Indonesia), Abu Jalal Sarimon, Barry Yeow, Chia Chor Hua, Suhat Sugiyou dan Neha Jain (Singapore), Alef Ahmad, Visithra Manikam (Malaysia), Swati Palekar (India), Kexin Zhang (China), Roy Espinosa, Lloyd Lusica (Philippines), Eddie Lui, Winnie Mak (Hong Kong), Nahla Ali (Egypt), Pervaj Hasan Rigan, Nabila Nabi (Bangladesh), Farrukh Negmatzade (Tajikistan), dan D’gers Gersende Feitouchi (France)



I think we had more than 200 guests who some travelled 4/5 hours to come. 






It was such a different opening from the ones in kl. Coz it was a party filled with music, dancing and merriment. And people didn't stick to their cliques. I'm so grateful to everyone who took time to speak to me, ask about my art or took photos with me. 

 And to our wonderful organisers, pak deddy paw and Abu jalal, thank you for such a wonderful experience. To everyone who helped us set up and welcomed us, thank you for such hospitality. Will share more photos of everyone who hosted us, my fellow artists, and all the galleries we were invited to. 

The exhibition runs from 9 March - 9 April 2019. 

 For this exhibition I showcased 2 of my pop surrealism/ big eye art called Peace and Freedom. 
Peace: 

Freedom



#surrealism #popsurrealism #popart #bigeye #bigeyeartist 

Art by Visithra on March 25, 2019
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Girls not brides at Bangla Biennale
So my first exhibition for 2019 took place in West Bengal, India  from 8-20 February 2019.


The #banglabiennale organised by #narrativemovements is taking place in a small village in West Bengal. Komdhara is about 50km away from Kolkata.

 I painted the Bengali bride as part of my #girlsnotbrides series as West Bengal has one of the highest rates for child marriages in India.

 Been following their site to see how the festival is taking place and it looks really interesting as the village is covered in art, including installations as part of the landscape of the village. There's also a lot of performances happening throughout the festival duration.


From the first day that I painted #girlsnotbrides I had decided that it will be a series.
In this series you will see two right hands grabbing the child and forcing her into marriage. The hands represent the guy who is marrying her and the other her parents who force their children into marriage.

Each child bride is depicted in their cultures marriage customs. The bengalis have no mangalsutra and instead their red coral and white conch bangles, with the red tilak represent marriage.
But before I could start with the other groups in Malaysia this project came into place.

 Bengal, India has had the most number of child marriages in the past few years compared to other eastern states, a report by the Child in Need Institute says.

 The National Family Health Survey found 54 per cent of women in Bengal were married before 18 in 2005-06. In the 2015-16 survey, it dipped to 41.6. In the same survey, the highest number of child marriages was reported in Malda district and the lowest in Calcutta. In Malda, 55 per cent of girls were married off before they turned 18. It was 13 in Calcutta.

 The report said the lowest percentage of child marriages was recorded in Punjab and Kerala at 7.6 per cent.

 But kids are fighting back in bengal. Brave girls, aided by UNICEF, have fought off marital atrocities to return to the world of books and lead by example in Parliament a town in bengal, where almost 38.3 percent of young females get married before the age of 18. The female literacy
rate in the district is an abysmal 50.52 percent, a figure much lower than the state average of 70.54 percent.

 There is a worldwide need to push against #childmarriage

 And we must continously call for government to ban child marriages and push for a future for these children.
#redlineart
Art by Visithra on March 25, 2019
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Received Highly Commended Award from Reline Art Work


A few months back two of my #socialart were published in red line art work site and were in the running for their annual global award.

 I'm excited to announce that my art has received the highly commended award amongst art from around the world. 

I have constantly made a conscious effort to make art that highlights social issues. Some more direct than others so I am really happy to receive this recognition. 

 we believe art can inspire change and bring forth issues that need our voices and art. 

#vissysocialart

 #girlsnotbrides highlights the fact that #childmarriage is still legal in Malaysia and so many other countries. The second part of this series was recently exhibited in West Bengal, India. 

While Pro Life Cycle highlights the never ending cycle women are out through when the choices in regards to their body is determined but religion, state and everyone else.


#redlineart

Art by Visithra on March 25, 2019
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Exhibition Ray of lights
Our exhibition opening was officiated by the Director of the Tourism, arts and Culture ministry. They took time to walk through the the exhibition and speak to the artists. 



The exhibition was held from 3 - 22 November 2018 under #perupamy group at the Hulo Hotel and Gallery in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur. Themed Ray of Light, it's a celebration of multiracial cultures in Malaysia.
@vissyarts

 I showcased my reimagined human series to reflect the multicultural cultures of Malaysia. 

 My reimagined human series is an attempt to simplify the human figure and break down race and colour barriers by painting them in various shades of colours to combat racism, colourism and such. here the only thing that differentiates each character is the clothes they wear. 



Art by Visithra on March 25, 2019
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Mickey 90 exhibition
In conjunction with Mickey mouse turning 90, I painted a 2ft tall Mickey mouse statue in collaporation with Pandora Malaysia and Disney Malaysia under Doodict. 

 They were on display at Pavillion Mall, Bukit Bintang from 15th November 2018 till 1st January 2019. 









Art by Visithra on March 25, 2019
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