Previously dedicated her life to fit in to what society has deemed as acceptable and a success, Amal Masle is a young artist who is now pursuing her dreams of being involved in the world of arts.
‘Art is a lie that makes us realize truth’, a quote from Pablo Picasso could easily relate to her piece that she has decided to display in EMERGE 5: FOLKLORE. ‘What Could Have Been’ is an installation that pays attention to the misconception of the idealistic view on Brunei or in this particular piece, the Kampong Ayer. With the theme of Folklore in mind, Amal Masle chooses to illustrate not the literal meaning of it but with a different approach. It is a wordplay of the word ‘myth’. Amal said that “Instead of depicting a traditional or legendary story – [What Could Have Been] talks about how a popular belief is merely just a fantasy, a misconception - a widely held but false notion or idea.”
Situated at the end of the gallery, a single black cardboard is seen hanging in front of the glass window. A picture of Kampong Ayer and the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque can be seen on the cardboard when lights are shone onto it. Why use a cardboard and the smoke machine? And why are holes poked on it? Amal Masle’s piece is quite unique. Amal explained that her field of work consists of expressing herself through different mediums ranging from Paintings, Sculptural pieces, Video Making and Animation, and also Installation art. Hence why her works are mostly experimental and is different from others that are displayed in the gallery.
“Why Kampong Ayer?”, yet another question that is being asked about Amal Masle’s work. Kampong Ayer which literally means ‘Water Village’, consist of a cluster of traditional stilt villages built on the Brunei River, mainly in the vicinity of the present-day Pusat Bandar or the City Centre. Her idea to create this piece of work started when she was still studying abroad. She has told her friends of different race and culture about our beloved country, Brunei Darussalam as they are curious and know nothing of it except for its existence. When she brought up and mentioned Kampong Ayer, everyone was fascinated and yet, she feels guilty because the descriptions that she explained to them are how Brunei is seen through ‘rose tinted glass’ or in other words, a ‘white lie’.
“We are bathed in this swirling, mystic light contrasted against the dark setting through a dramatic play with light. There are tiny pin-holes that allow multiple rays of light to shine through which, when coupled with water vapour from a smoke machine becomes visible - this enables a magical luminescent experience that joins the dots on the mounted cardboard to form a picture scene of Kampong Ayer.”
Black cardboard is used instead of brown or white. For Amal, the colour black symbolizes the hidden truth of Kampong Ayer that is not seen or heard by foreigners who know little about Brunei Darussalam. With the use of natural light being shone to the tiny pin-holes, it definitely looks magical and beautiful. Together with the smoke machine, it adds to the dramatic display and this represents the dramatic information that we have conveyed to others who knows little or have no knowledge at all about Brunei Darussalam and one of its famous landmark; Kampong Ayer.
To those who are curious of the play on dramatic lights and smoke to Amal Masle’s piece, the exhibition EMERGE 5: FOLKLORE is running from 11th of March 2018 until 31st of May 2018. Along with Amal Masle’s work, there are nine other artists whose artworks are being displayed in the gallery. The public are encouraged to visit and support the local young emerging artists and also the local art community.
EMERGE is an initiative program by Creative Space Gallery & Studio, it began in April 2016 and is about enriching and recording the local art culture we have by enhancing the Creative Industries landscape. The project provides both physical and online platforms for FREE to Brunei’s young and emerging artists to showcase their art and further develop their talents. This project aims to foster the creative to transform their art practice into a sustainable career and more importantly to aspire to make their artwork relevant and competitive internationally.