Hamidi Hadi b. 1971 has earned himself a name as one of Malaysia’s most radical and bold painters with his large, confident canvasses that speak volumes without having to say much at all. A graduate from UiTM, Kuala Lumpur, he only started to explore the idiom and principles of abstract painting after his exposure to the UK while pursuing his MA in Art and Design Network (Painting).

One of the most prominent abstract artists of this region, he has exhibited extensively in Malaysia and also at international venues in the United Kingdom, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and China. “Antara”, being held at Wei Ling Contemporary, is Hamidi Hadi’s fourth solo exhibition and a much-anticipated event in the art world of Kuala Lumpur.

Still influenced by the academy and its emphasis on figurative art, Hamidi Hadi’s earlier works consisted of singular life-size figures often painted from oblique angles, against dark backgrounds. Even through these figurative works, it was evident that Hamidi Hadi possessed great talent for rendering the mysterious and dramatic. Gradually, as a result of experimentation with materials, his work became less representational and more abstract, resulting in paintings that went further and further away from the objective world.
Hamidi Hadi’s inspiration is his love of, and passion for, painting. Sometimes the idea comes to him subconsciously in flashes of colours and visuals during his everyday life experiences: what he feels, sees, thinks, reads and collects which is then researched and further developed. The practical creative process takes place in the studio, where experimental procedures can be planned and executed meticulously.

Hamidi Hadi is involved in an on-going process of exploring and questioning the very nature and essence of painting. He starts with something simple and then develops the idea, sprucing-up and flourishing its progress. In his recent work, he uses “Antara (Between)” as the key word for his creative process, allowing him space, freedom and versatility to find all the possible varieties in the mark-making process using industrial materials such as aluminium plate, polyurethane, resin, and glue and enamel paint. For him, materials and techniques are artistic expressions; an act to view the world through the use of media. It is a process of material dialogue, a series of material behavior that acts as metaphor to the physical world and vice versa. The media itself is treated as “Form”, and his works are built upon the understanding and control of this media.

‘Antara’ is a solo exhibition by Hamidi Hadi features at Wei-Ling Contemporary at The Gardens Mall from January 5th 2012-February 2nd 2012.

Wei-Ling Contemporary is located at G212 Ground Floor,The Gardens Mall,Kuala Lumpur 59200, Malaysia.
Pls call 03-22601106/03-22828323 or email weilingart@gmail.com for more information.
Wei-Ling Contemporary is open Daily from 11am-9pm.
For media enquiries please call Ewa at +603-22601106 or email weilingart@gmail.com