After gaining his bachelor’s degree at the University of Tasmania in 1995 majoring in sculpture, Ahmad Abu Bakar worked actively as a lecturer at LaSalle SIA College of the Arts and in 2001 he got his master’s degree. His artworks show the tendency to continue the early tradition of ceramics art, pottery or vessel, by creating organic and geometrical forms and also, the uses of other contrasting materials. Radial form which center is the starting point is a mifestation of an enhancement of a bigger form in Ahmad’s artworks. Similar to a sketch, a movement, an alphabet, a culture is an enhancement of a central point that is a symbol of unity and resource. In geometry, a dot is the center of a circle. It is difficult to capture but it also has the ability to become a symbol of a beginning and an end. It is the main symbol of cosmology that represents solidity and unity. What Ahmad wants to express in his artworks is the idea of a union in geometry—a balance between material and spiritual world. The material world is everything in where we live in now. On the other hand, the spiritual world is untouchable or abstract. His interpretation about this is a journey and he uses circles as a metaphor of his journey as a process of invention.
Works
Journey of a point to Geometry series #15
Clay and acrylic. Variable dimension. 2008
Artist statement
The radial form, which has as its centre a point of origin, is the manisfestation of a long preponderence with the aleph in my work. Just as the aleph – a stroke, an alphabet, a culture – is as extension of a point, the point serves as a symbol for unity and source for me. In geometry, the point is the centre of a circle. It is elusive and yet has the ability and symbolises the origin and the end. It is the primary cosmological symbol which also represents wholeness and unity. The idea of the unity that geometry suggests is what I want to express in my art – that is the balance of the material and the spiritual world. The material world is everthing that we live in. On the other hand, the spiritual world is intangible. My interpretation of the point is that of a journey. I use the circle as a metaphor for my journey which is a process of discovery.
Exhibition View
Biodata
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
2001 : (RMIT) — (LaSalle-SIA of the Arts, Singapore)
Master of Fine Arts
1995 : University of Tasmania
Graduate in Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture)
1989 : LaSalle College of Fine Arts
Diploma in Fine Arts (Ceramics)
WORKING EXPERIENCE
1996 – Lecturer
LaSalle SIA College of the Arts
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2008: 62-08: APAD Tradition, Innovation & Continuity
Singapore Art Museum
LostCity2
Sculpture Square, Singapore
8Q-Rate: School
8Q Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
Catalyst=Equation
Fost Gallery, Singapore
2007: International Contemporary Ceramic Exhibition:
Asian Ceramics Network and Selsius 2007 (3rd ACN)
Collaboration programme between Universiti Sains Malaysia, Asia Ceramics Network, Korea and Malaysian Handicrafts Development Corporation
National Art Gallery, Malaysia
Mapped
Organized by Esplanade
Jendela, Esplanade, Singapore
Passion in Clay
Organized by Shanghai Art Exposition
Shanghai, China
2006: ASEAN Ceramic Workshop 2006
Organized by University Teknologi Mara
Galeri Seni, UiTM, Perak, Malaysia
Ceramics beyond borders
Organized by JUGAS
National Library Building, Singapore
The Second Dance Song – New Contemporaries
(in conjunction with the inaugural Singapore Biennale)
Organized by Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore
Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore
2nd Asian Ceramics Network Exhibition
Collaboration programme between Asian Ceramics Network and Silapakorn University
Bangkok, Thailand
2005: The WAHANA Project: Imagine Legacy
collaboration between Singapore and
Indonesian artists
Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, Bandung, Indonesia
Badang
collaboration of two artists from two different generation
Substation Gallery, Singapore
The WAHANA
collaboration between Singapore and
Philippine artists
Vargas Gallery, University of Philippines, Philippines
First Asian Ceramics Network
Organized by Asia Ceramics Network
Craft Culture Design Innovation Center, Korea
Form-ing Materials and Processes
Organized by Sculpture Square
Sculpture Square, Singapore
2004: Tok Selampit Millenium
Organized by Esplanade Theatre on the Bay
(curate by Ahmad Abu Bakar and Erzan Adam)
Jendela Gallery, Singapore
LOST City
Utterly Art Gallery, Singapore
THE LASALLE SCHOOL SHOW
Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore
2003: WAHANA
collaboration between Singapore and Malaysia artists
Balai Seni Lukis Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Discovery Phase
Organized by Art Two Gallery
Art Two Gallery, Singapore
Singapore Contemporary Ceramics
Organized by Art Season Gallery
Art Season Gallery, Singapore
Bilateral Bonds
Organized by Taksu Gallery
Taksu Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sculpture Biennale Symposium
organized by: Plastic Kinetic Worms
Plastic Kinetic Worms Gallery and
NIE/NTU Gallery, Singapore
Power Show – Work in Progress
organized by: Sculpture Society Singapore
Substation, Singapore
2002: BadEevilAwfulUglyTerribleYucky
organized by: The Artist Village
Utterly Art, Singapore
PAST, PRESENT, BEYOND
Re-nascence of an Art Collection
Inaugural of the South and Southeast Asian Gallery
NUS Museum, Singapore
The Alumni Exhibition
University Gallery, Invermay
University of Tasmania, Launceston
Tasmania, Australia
New Sculpture Milennium
The First International Miniature Sculpture Exhibition, Taiwan
National Museum of History Taipeh
Pier-2 Art District Kaohsiung
Taiwan
Portrait Reasses
Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore
2001: Nokia Singapore Art 2001
Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
Contemporary 2001- APAD
Calligraphy Centre, Singapore
Too2
Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore
2000: Nokia Art
Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
1999: Provocative Things – A 3-Dimensional Experience in Singapore
Official Opening & Inaugural Biennial Exhibition, Sculpture Square, Singapore
Cartblanche
Alliance Francais’ Gallery, Singapore
Praxis
Group Exhibition,
Earl Lu Gallery, LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts,
Singapore
1998 : Drawing and Diagram: Ideas Personified
(Singapore Art Festival)
Group Exhibition – Caldwell House, Chijmes
Singapore
Everything Must Go
Group Exhibition – Substation Gallery, Singapore
Perak Arts Festival, Malaysia
Perak, Malaysia
1997 : Singapore Art ’97
Suntec City Convention Centre, Singapore
Look Exhibition
Earl Lu Gallery, LaSalle SIA College, Singapore
F.O.R.M.
(Fundamental, Observation, Reflex, Movement)
Barli Museum, Bandung, Indonesia
1996 : Inaugural Exhibition -Modernity and Beyond
Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
1995 : From Another Place
University Gallery
University of Tasmania, Launceston
Tasmania, Australia
1994 : Prefx Point Travelling Show
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Gallery, Singapore
Creative Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1993 : Art in Asia (Singapore Art Fair)
World Trade Centre, Singapore
1992 : Metropol!!
(September Art Festival)
The Substation, Singapore
Vision IV
National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore
The Space (Singapore Festival of Arts Fringe Programme)
Hong Bee Warehouse, Singapore
Bread and Butter Exhibition
National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore
1991 : National Sculpture Seminar
Group Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery,
Singapore
1990 : Chrysalis (Singapore Art Festival Fringe
Programme)
Marina Room, Singapore
Best of LaSalle
Arts Affairs Gallery, Singapore
The Arts for Nature
The Exhibition Gallery, Empress Place
Singapore
Vision III
The Substation Gallery, Singapore
Australian Art Award
National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore
Gateway of Malaysia
Dato’ Jaffar Building
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
COMMISSION PROJECTS
2007: Consultant/coordinator
for the fabrication of Brother Joseph McNally sculpture titled Black Hole
Curator/coordinator
for an exhibition titled Mapped at the Esplanade with the participation of ceramists from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam
2005 : Mercy relief
Commissioned ceramic logo
2004 : Curator
for an exhibition titled Sambal Blachan at the Esplanade
Curator
for an exhibition titled Tok Selampit at the Esplanade
Esplanade
Pesta Raya Decoration
2000 : Commissioned 3x 5 meter Bronze Sculpture
titled Kuda Ku Lari, Singapore Turf Club
Project coordinator/Lecturer in charge
1998 : Project by Staff & Students of LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts
(CDC & National Arts Council)
1997 : Life-size human replica
National Museum, Elizabeth Choy exhibition
(A man and a woman)
1996 : Miniature of Tin-mine site
National Museum, The Hakkas’s exhibition
1996 : Outdoor mural
Maris-Stella Kindergarten
Financial Club, Penthouse, Restaurant Niaga Tower, Jakarta, Indonesia
(Group, 3 X 12 meters Multi-Panel Paintings)
Commissioned to sculpt the Asian Village’s
front gateway logo in Sentosa, Singapore (2 X 2 meters wood carving)
1990 : Design Miniatures of Singapore Historical
Buildings and Peranakan Houses for “Little Islands”
AWARDS
1999 : Singapore Turf Club Art Competition
For outstanding Artistic Creativity
1998 : Awarded the Arts Award of Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI)
1990 : Merit Award
IBM Art Award
Commissioned to design the Australian Art Award Trophy (1 foot Ceramic Sculpture)
1990 : Teater Remaja – Kemuning
(Stage design for the play. “This time 12 O’clock comes later than its schedule”)
WORKSHOPS ATTENDED
2007 3rd Asian Ceramics Network Seminar
Organized by Asian Ceramic Network and University Teknologi Mara
Balai Seni Negara, Malaysia
2006 2nd Asian Ceramics Network Seminar
Organized by Asia Ceramic Network and University Silapakorn
Bangkok, Thailand
ASEAN Ceramic Workshop 2006
Organized by University Teknologi Mara
Galeri Seni, UiTM, Perak, Malaysia
2005 First Asian Ceramics Network Seminar
The development of Asian Ceramic
Seoul, Korea
2003 UNESCO – AHPADA – ASEF Training Workshop
From Tradition to Innovation: Design Innovation within Traditional Aesthetic Forms
Ayutthaya, Thailand
1990 Sculpture
Bill Clements (Australian Sculpture)
1989 Ceramics
Darus (Indian Potter)
1988 Painting & Sculpture
Thomas Liestneer (German Artist)
1987: Art Commandos
National Arts Festival (exhibition included)
GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
1999 : National Arts Council Study Grant
(RMIT)
1993 : National Arts Council Study Grant
(University Of Tasmania)
1993 : National Arts Council Project Grant
(Prefx Point Show)
1992 : National Arts Council Project Grant
(Bread & Butter Show)
