New Straits Times, 21 February 2011
Giving “fengshui” a new perspective
by Farezza Hanum Rashid

Munkao with the painting of a horse that literally gallops as you pedal a bicycle next to it.

Munkao with the painting of a horse that literally gallops as you pedal a bicycle next to it.


A visitor trying out the ‘Work/Life Balance’ installation.

A visitor trying out the ‘Work/Life Balance’ installation.


A visitor is mesmerised with a painting.

A visitor is mesmerised with a painting.


The price of the paintings range between RM4,000 and RM16,000 each.

The price of the paintings range between RM4,000 and RM16,000 each.

KUALA LUMPUR: Contemporary art lovers can watch feng shui come to life at local artiste Munkao’s solo exhibition at the Wei Ling Gallery. The exhibition, which started on Feb 10, has been captivating people.More than 100 guests turned up for the launch of the exhibition entitled Feng Shui.

They were fascinated by the artiste’s penchant for combining feng shui elements with contemporary art in the three series he coined “painstallations”, “prosperity sculptures”, and “auspicious neo-landscapes”. There were also the interactive art pieces Work/Life Balance and Time to Get Rich.

In Work/Life Balance, Munkao connected a painting of a horse with a bicycle which acts as a kinetic power generator to create sound and movement in the painting.

When a person pedals the bicycle, the sound of a horse galloping can be heard.

Time to Get Rich is a work that helps a person achieve success in his or her future undertakings.

This wall piece displays a person’s lucky four-digit number with a push of a red button.

Munkao used media such as acrylic, mixed media, colour print, video and painting installations for this series of artwork.

The price of the pieces range between RM4,000 and RM16,000 each, with Work/Life Balance as the most expensive.

The artiste’s appeal, said gallery director Lim Wei-Ling, is in the arrangement of the 13 art pieces on display, which was done after consulting feng shui master Chang Kim Hua.

Lim also said that Munkao’s interesting point of view has given a new perspective on feng shui.

“I seek to send the message of world peace through these pieces,” said Munkao.

The 29-year-old artist was responsible for designing the ntv7 mascots for World Cup 2010.

His previous works are known for their humour and satire.

“I’ve matured. I see the world differently now,” he said of his change of pace.

Also present was independent filmmaker Amir Muhammad, who found Munkao’s work “unravelling”.

The exhibition which ends on March 3 is open daily from noon until 7pm.
The gallery is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Wei-Ling Gallery is at 8, Jalan Scott, Brickfields.
For more information, call Simon Soon at 017-368 1597 or email to noosnomis@gmail.com.