PETALING JAYA, July 17 – Georgetown festival goers can immerse themselves in Briton Thomas Powell’s exhibition on the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac come next month.
“The 12 animals from the 12-year cycle have given way to 12 paintings.
“A representational head of each animal has been joined with the body of a human, highlighting some of their characteristics, enabling viewers to recognise their own zodiac animal and explore what this
means to them,” explains the 28-year-old who is himself an ox in the Chinese zodiac.
“I never intended on becoming an artist but always enjoyed making art.
“I just followed the natural course of enjoying studying it, through school and on to college until I reached University where realised that it was truly what I wanted to do, and that if I worked hard I might just be able to make it my job/vocation,” reveals Powell who was associated with Penang’s Malihom Artist In Residency programme in 2010.
The programme was a huge help in terms of his artistic career, he says, adding: “And the people I met prior to this and along the way since then have also helped me immensely.
“I now mainly travel back and forth between the UK and Malaysia, but I have laid the groundwork to be able to expand into various other countries in the not too distant future.”
His festival showcase, The Chinese Zodiac, will be held at Macalister Mansion, which owners “have been supporters of my work since its conversion and they have several of my pieces already.”
It’s a lovingly restored colonial mansion containing a wide range of artworks, and the owners feel his style complements the place.
He hopes Macalister Mansion will complement the exhibition, “offering it an air of gravitas that I hope will suit the work.”
Astrology, history and imagination has been around for a long time.
Says Powell of Zodiac: “Whether an individual accepts these sorts of predictions or not, I believe most people can enjoy the history and notion behind these ideas.
“It is always fun to read about your own preordained characteristics/predispositions and decide whether they are right or not. Some people will believe it, some people will think it’s a bit of fun, some will be against the idea and some just won’t care.
“Mainly, I hope people will find the work visually stimulating and the ideas behind the chosen imagery interesting.”
Catch “The Chinese Zodiac” at Macalister Mansion from August 1 till August 31, 10am to 6pm. Admission is free.
