Not having any prior art background, Hariz Khalid has proven to the public that it is never too late to practice art. Deeply fixated with structural installation art when visiting the Tate Modern in London while pursuing his Degree in Law in Canterbury, Kent, his journey in the arts then began with the fascination he held in his heart.
To have art as a passion while juggling his own day job, Hariz is an impressive man. He admits that he does not draw or paint unlike the rest of the young local artists that is involved in EMERGE 5: FOLKLORE. He prefers to do installation arts. Installation art is the term used to describe large-scale, mixed-media constructions, often designed for a specific place or for a temporary period of time. What makes installation art different from sculpture or other traditional art forms is that it is a complete unified experience, rather than a display of separate, individual artworks. The focus on how the viewer experiences the work and the desire to provide an intense experience for them is a dominant theme in installation art.
Hariz makes his installations using a variety of materials that can be found whether it is in Brunei Darussalam or other neighbouring countries such as Malaysia. “I like to use a lot of materials such as fencing, semi-precious stones, colourful folders, it really varies”. He explained that the reason why he uses such variety of materials is because “…[he] just want to show that there are no limitations to art…”.
“What’s most important in art [for me] is technique and also sometimes simplicity can [also] be important in art.” True to his words, Hariz has shown both technique and simplicity in his latest work that is currently being displayed in EMERGE 5: FOLKLORE exhibition. Titled as ‘Asyik’, it is Hariz's own rendition of the Legend of Nakhoda Ragam and Lela Menchanai. By using plastic, metal and paint for this installation, Hariz has picked a particular scene in the tale. The bubbles which Puteri Lela Menchanai came from is the highlight of Hariz’s work. Ping-Pong balls painted in bubblegum pink and metal fencing as support, the procedure seems simple however the technique used to attach all the Ping-Pong balls together is quite exhausting. In the end, the outcome is simply breathtaking and most visitors seems to be attracted to Hariz’s work during the opening reception.
Hariz’s skills and talents can also be viewed not only in ‘Asyik’, it could also be seen in his previous work that is in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. ‘PENJAGA’; is another installation that Hariz created. It is his second work and is currently being displayed at the Kota Kinabalu Eco-Art Exhibit. As mentioned above, Hariz combined both technique and simplicity to create ‘PENJAGA’ which expressed the traditions and cultures in Brunei. Furthermore, Hariz himself has said that he is currently preparing to make yet another installation for a future exhibition in Brunei. It is safe to say, we can expect more work from Hariz in the near future to further promote the local art community.
For those who are interested to view Hariz’s work are most welcomed to visit our gallery; Creative Space Art Gallery & Studio, which is situated in Sengkurong Shopping Complex. The gallery is open Wednesday till Sunday from 10am to 4pm. EMERGE 5: FOLKLORE exhibition is still ongoing from 11th March 2018 until 31st May 2018.
EMERGE project 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.