invitation to the possible

x box - performance and installation art at the national art gallery KL . i stayed 3 days in a 3 x 6 sqm box without going out and without food.

begehungen arts festival

This is an art festival that takes place in chemnitz, germany. i am showing the video and prints from 'mind my hat'.

escape into life -article

stamp over

mind my hat.

Mind my hat is a short bio and a self portrait. Being on the move and staying in many different places, I get the chance to experience to live with different people and learn different values and cultures. this life journey and experiences has somehow shape and made me the way I am today .

‘We must be the change we wish to see in the world.’ – Gandhi

mind my hat

prints from my new video, mind your hat.(length: 10 mins)

stamp over

PRESS RELEASE

Public Art Performance by Amir Zainorin og Aida Redza.
Title: Stamp Over

Performance No. 1.
Where: : Rysegade 53
Infront of the Immigration Office
When: Thursday, 1 July 2010, 11.00 am – 12.00 pm

Performance No. 2
Where: Foran Oslo Plads 1, 2100
Infront Den frie Udstillingsbygning
When: Friday, 2 July 2010, 17.00 – 18.00

Contact: Amir Zainorin
Tel. No : 2940 9896
Email: amirszainorin@gmail.com

Stamp over

Stamp over is a performance art that deal with emotions in relations to the thing that we go thru in our daily life. These emotions such as love, anger, fear, joy, happiness are common to each and every one of us when confronted or faced in a given situation.
In this performance multimedia artist Amir Zainorin and dance performer Aida Redza, both born in Malaysia but now based in Denmark, would like to address the issue migration and the challenges that one has to face in order to adapt oneself in a new culture, social structure and values.
In our world the immigration laws has been tightened after the 9 11 event and the Muhammad cartoon crisis. Traveling and migrating from one country to another has never been more difficult. This is ironic given that the world is becoming smaller due to globalization and new communication technology that man has invented over the last few decades.
We have somehow been conditioned for individual differences and like to put people in a category, ‘they’ and ‘us’. We have fear within ourselves and to the things that we are not used to. Only if we all could see the essence in our basic human needs, that we are more or less indeed the same....then there will be no ‘other’, but it is all one.


STEMPLING ( danish translation)

Stempling er en kunstnerisk performance der handler om følelser i forhold til de ting vi går i gennem i vores hverdags liv. Følelser som kærlighed, vrede, angst og glæde er naturlige for os når vi konfronteres med særlige situationer.
I denne performance (anskuer)mutimediekunstner Amir Zainorin og danser og koreograf, Aida Redza, som begge er født i Malaysia spørgsmål om migration og udfordringerne man møder når man skal tilpasse sig i en ny kultur, social struktur og nye værdier.
I vores verden er immigrationslove blevet strammere efter 11. september og Muhammad krisen. Rejse og migration er blevet sværere. Dette er ironisk, da verden er blevet mindre som følge af globalisering og udviklingen inden for kommunikationsteknologi.
Vi er blevet opdraget med fokus på individualitet og vænnet os til at sætte folk i kategorier, ’dem’ og ’os’. Kun hvis vi kan se essensen i vores menneskelige behov, at vi er næsten ens, så vil der ikke være nogen ’anden’, men blot En.


CV- Amir Zainorin
Amir Zainorin was born and grew up in Malaysia and now based in Copenhagen. He is a multi media artist and works with painting, video, installation, performance and photography. His works has a social and political commentary tone and he is inspired from the media and his surroundings. He explores the theme such as globalization in relation to popular cultures and consumer society. He has had solo and group exhibitions in museums and galleries in Kuala Lumpur, London, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Budapest and New York.
For more info, please visit:
www.amirzainorin.dk


CV Aida Redza
Aida Redza is a Malaysian performer and choreographer living in Denmark. In her home ground Aida is known for advocating her artistic work towards social cause and community projects with focus on integration and inclusion. Her solo works are a visible example of tight bound tradition and deconstruction intertwining new dance and physical theater to create dynamic live performance. Described as one of the most intense and controversial performer in Malaysia, she explores the relationship between dream, rebellious play and resistance, and revolution of sorts from the perspective of a Muslim woman.
For more info please visit:
http://aidaredza.blogspot.com/

NEW LIFE CANCUN

 

NEW LIFE CANCÚN

Artists working with interventions, activism and other participatory practices are invited to apply for participation in NEW LIFE CANCUN.
This experimental hospitality initiative intends to promote and facilitate participation during the UN Climate Change summit (COP 16) in Cancún, Mexico at the end of 2010 (Nov. 29th – Dec. 10th).
In continuation of Wooloo's NEW LIFE COPENHAGEN festival - in which we secured housing for more than 3.000 activists during the Copenhagen summit - NEW LIFE CANCUN is aiming to connect visiting activists and NGO employees with local families in the area of Cancún.
An area infamous for its vulnerability to climate disasters (mainly hurricanes), as well as for the high-CO2 emissions associated with its tourism sector.
Utilizing this meeting of hosts and guests in Cancun as our exhibition platform, artists and activists are invited to explore its social architecture and suggest work proposals of an awareness, educational and/or practical-action nature designed around the topic: “NEW WAYS OF LIVING TOGETHER”.
The deadline for work proposals is AUGUST 1st, 2010.
Please direct all research questions to contact@wooloo.org
Proposals must include a detailed budget. As fundraising efforts are still ongoing, we do not yet know the size of our final production budget. However, it wont be large - so please be aware that your project must be able to be realized in a low-budget manner!
NEW LIFE CANCUN is a collaboration between Wooloo.org and the Mexican climate change collective Carbonding

seni untuk aids

LIKE A PRAYER

This blog is about people's daily prayers. It is not a religious blog but a place where you can read a prayer. You can share your prayers by sending them here . Thank you for sharing and hope all your prayers will be answered.

http://justlike-a-prayer.blogspot.com/

poetisk Bureau

Det Poetiske Bureau sparker atter gang i PoEtnisk Tirsdag i en lidt ny form. Multilingvist og husdigter Ole Lillelund er stadig vært, nu sammen med Mahasti Yazdi, men fremover kører vi med et fast program med inviterede digtere. Denne tirsdag er vi glade for at byde velkommen til Abdulmalik Beakasyar fra Afghanistan, Salim Assi fra Palæstina, Milena Rudez fra Eks-Jugoslavien og Amir Zainorin fra Malaysia. De vil læse op på deres modersmål og i visse tilfælde vil der også blive simultantolket på dansk.

 

i was invited to read poetry at the Poetisk bureau in copenhagen last night hosted by ole lillelund.

here are some pictures. please click headlines to see the names of all the poets participated. tq.

artwork of change

“The best part about living in Copenhagen is that you are free to speak your mind and make your voice heard without fear of being put behind bars. I also like that things here are very transparent and you can have an open dialogue or discussion about what is going on.”
He said Malaysia has been blessed with its multi-cultural societies and people with different religions and beliefs living and working together for hundreds of years.
“But this blessing is in danger of being lost if we lock ourselves in our little territory and not dare to go out to see what else is there to learn. If we want to be an example to other people and countries that we can live in love, peace, harmony and that everyone is treated equally, then we have to be more open about things.”

this article was written by wong li za of the star newspaper, malaysia. to read more pls. click headline, tq

Global Village

i will be part of this group show that will take part in alkmaar, holland. the exhibition will start from 24-31 january at the grand church of alkmaar, holland. please go to headline for futher reading, tq.

kunst og interkultur

pls. click headline/link to read more, tq

space gambus experiment

please check this experimental music by space gambus- of kamal sabran and  mohd zulkifli ramli of malaysia.

semarak seni di kota london-kosmo

 (to read article pls. click headline for link, tq)

made in malaysia-amir zainorin

The Opening-Pelita hati

Muar-born artist Amir Zainorin’s works have an international flavour. Muar-born artist Amir Zainorinâ € ™ s works have an international flavor. FRANCIS DASS writes on the man who spent his youth travelling and dabbling in many jobs before he found his calling. FRANCIS DASS writes on the man who spent his youth traveling and dabbling in many jobs before he found his calling.
AMIR Zainorin has found his true calling in life by becoming an artist. AMIR zainorin has found his true calling in life by becoming an artist.
If you look carefully at his paintings, you’d be hard pressed to imagine that this unassuming and pleasant Muar-born man is the mind behind art pieces that have an international flavour… If you look carefully at his paintings, youâ € ™ d be hard pressed to imagine that this unassuming and pleasant Muar-born man is the mind behind art pieces that have an international flavor ...

Finding his identity through works of art

"WHAT or where is my true home?"

‘T

it is a question commonly faced by most people who have relocated abroad.

It is also what constantly nags Malaysian artist Amir Zainorin, and one that found form of expression in his works of art.

Based in Copenhagen for the past seven years, Amir, 36, is constantly asked about his identity.

Delving deep into history and culture of his past, he came up with fifteen pieces of contemporary artwork that are being showcased in his first solo London exhibition at the Brick Lane Gallery in East London.

The exhibition entitled Mad(e) in Malaysia is being showcased by R A Fine Arts of Malaysia, and will run until March 30.

The exhibition was officially launched last night by the Malaysian Ambassador to Ireland Raja Nazrin Raja Aznam and attended by more than 60 people.

"The longer I stay away, the more time I spent looking into the question of identity and my roots," said Amir whose career spanned from advertising, banking, public relations, hotel and catering to driving school.

The diverse mix of jobs which saw him in different countries, such as Malaysia, America, Holland, Sweden and Denmark, enriched his experience and drove him further to satisfy his curiosity about his past.

"The question of identity is important while researching for this exhibition.

"I went back to study the history of the country from the era of colonisation to the modern-day Malaysia and beyond.

Amir's works reflect power relations, clash of traditions and modernity, East and West as he attempts to explore how the mass media shapes our identity and sense of belonging.

Speaking at the launch, Ambassador Raja Nazrin applauded Malaysia's pop artist as someone who had successfully blended the best of Malaysia and his experience abroad by producing works which are more universally accepted, rather than just Malaysian in nature.

"Amir's work is accessible on a global plane," he said.

One particularly poignant piece is entitled The Judge - Tunku portraying the first prime minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman as a judge, with batik designs in the background and a prominent display of the national flower.

Director of R A Fine Arts Raja Ahmad Aminullah said he was encouraged by the positive response received at the launch.

"No doubt the artist was born in Malaysia but his works are easily recognisable by citizens of the world."

The guest curator for the exhibition is Badrolhisham Mohamed Tahir.

A father of two, Amir did his apprenticeship with Malaysian pop artist Ahmad Azhari and has held exhibitions in Copenhagen, Kuala Lumpur, Stockholm, Holland and New York

                                                  the judge - tunku, digital print on canvas, 2008

An artist abroad

Living and working in Denmark now, Amir was back to visit his old haunts in KL for a few months. But not content to sit and do nothing, he started work on an installation called Art, Politics and Power at the National Art Gallery, represented by a wall filled by makeshift flags, mostly created from bits of newspapers and satay skewers.
Sporting the mandatory Bohemian ponytail, Amir comes across as a fairly likeable person - always grinning, with a youthful, early 20s look and attitude that belies his 42 years, his sparse frame clad in a brand new white T-shirt.
"I get kicked and I get a kick out of it! I can be me, that's the closest thing I get to being myself, being honest to what I'm doing," says Amir, explaining his reasons for becoming an artist.
(to read more please click the headlines, tq) 

Pop Ficiton- 3 Pop Artist from Malaysia

“Some of his famous paintings include football legend Mokhtar Dahari and the nation’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, which are now private collections at the National Art Gallery,” said Norsita.
“I was inspired by him to become an artist at a time when I did not know what to do with my life,” said Amir, who has made Denmark his base for the last six years.

(to read more, please click headline for the link.)

POP ART- MALAYSIA

"With his involvement in the Pop genre, Jeri has been given the title of 'Pop icon' or a 'legend' in the Pop genre in Malaysia. Even so, what is interesting about this exhibition is not how Jeri and his apprentices display their talents in the ways of Pop but 'different' they are in discussing mundane things especially politics. I believe they aren't the only ones expressing their opinions on politics through arts. There are many others. Therefore the question is what new things are being introduced by Jeri and his apprentices in the language of Pop? And why Pop? Is it perhaps even a mistake to categorize them as Pop artists? If we cannot answer these questions, perhaps there is a benefit for us if we examine closely the reality of Pop art such as what happened in the West six decades ago. I also would like to mention, since the creation of 'readymades' by Dadaism, art can exist in a variety of forms and materials, can be located anywhere for any reason at all; can be brought anywhere for any audience, whether it be in a gallery, museum or a garden or public space; in fact it can even be placed in the middle of a garbage dump. Maybe these are the questions that Jeri mulled over while he was still alive; what does it mean to be a contemporary artist? …The artworks which are being exhibited are clearly attempts to break from the mould in art. Obviously this teases our consciousness. This act of teasing and the space it creates results in a democratic space of knowledge where different interpretations are not just arbitrary but take place in a horizon where its probability is different in features. Maybe it is this difference which causes us to categorize them as Pop artists."

(Badrolhisham Mohamad Tahir, guest curator for the exhibition)

 please click the above headline to read more) 

amir zainorin

digital print on paper , from the stamp series-2008

                                     amir zainorin, the sunday times, digital print on paper-2008   

Flags

 

'This is derived from our desire to show power, be it of conquering new physical territory or epistemological space. The 99 names of God printed on 99 flags are the characteristics of God which can lead to spiritual power and closeness to God.'

to read more please go to link below, tq

http://www.amirzainorin.dk/press_5.html

The Balloon Park, Copenhagen, Denmark

the beatnik poet ole lillelund infront of his house at the balloon park with pic. of himself and chairil anwar

The balloon Park



( thi stext was written somewhere in 2006-7)

to god fearing people

be fear of god, and be very fear of yourself for fearing other people from using the word god.

amir-10jan2010

The Malays, Allah, God and attacked on the churches. help me God.

after david hockney

            digital plrint on paper, 2009

The Malays, Allah, God and attacked on the churches.

It is 0 degrees here in Copenhagen and the news that I read about  Malaysia the last couple of days has somewhat gave me the heat to cope up with the unusual cold winter weather that has hit Denmark and Europe.. The heat is the news I read from the online newspapers about a church in Kuala Lumpur that has been burnt and a few more that were attacked by an unknown group of people. 

Nobody has came out to claim the attacks but it is believed that the controversy came after the court decision to allow the use of the name ‘Allah’ to Catholic newspaper, The Herald.  It has marked a black day to Malaysia, a multicultural societies that have been living side by side for hundreds of years and a huge step back for racial harmony.

But I am not totally surprised by the attacks because racial tension has been there in the country all the time. It was just a matter of time before it exploded again. On 13st of May 1969, a riot broke up in Kuala Lumpur between the two largest groups of people inhabiting Malaysia. These two groups are the Malays who made up 60 % of the population and Chinese who are about 29%. This riot ended up with hundreds of people being killed which brought the country to a state of emergency. The cause of this riot was cited because of the New Economic Policy, which was introduced by the government that gives special privileges to the Malay who were perceived to be more poor and rural than the Chinese. But for many years now the biggest income gaps are not between the Chinese and the Malays but among the Malays themselves. So class differences are also more of concern to most Malaysian than ethnicity.

But the problem is made more delicate than the above.  The federal constitution states that Malay is Islam and Islam is Malay which states that a Malay is a person who professes to be a Muslim and habitually speaks the Malay language and adhere to the Malay customs. Based on this, the federal and state government administer, plan and implement various governance policies, touching every aspects of the Malay-Muslim religious life.

To the Malays the word Allah is everything from the pillar of religion, faith, norms and values in life, as the Malays are automatically Muslim.  They are born and die as a Muslim. The Malays are very sensitive with regards to issues concerning Islam as the feel that they own Islam and the social propriety ship couldn’t be question.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Professor of Social Anthropology Prof Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said ‘ the social reality complexity of Malays in leading the Islamic way of life becomes more difficult when Islam has been turned into a symbol and political ideology,  adding that it has brought political Islam into the global arena and further worsened the situation’.

The Malays feeling towards the word Allah are quite similar to the feeling of Muslims all over the world toward their prophet Muhammad. Muhammad means everything to them and in many cases more than their own family. So it is not surprise if some of them would do anything in order to protect their prophet and their religion.

Since religions and matters regarding the special privileges given to the Malays are sensitive issues to talk about, Malaysians in general don’t questions or discuss about it so much among themselves. What happened is that tensions about inequality and injustice keep building up and that it is very difficult for them to trust each other. But the reality is most people don’t want to create problems.  Ironically, people here are united and will trust each other in corruptions activities. The rich Malays, rich Chinese and rich Indians will work and agree with each other when they feel that they all can get something out of it. It all boils down to their own benefit.  Here we see that there is this class struggle rather than ethnicity.

 The problems also lay in the system in which produce differences and polarization and this started in vernacular school which we spend 13 years and was send to our respective ethnic groups.  

Malaysia has been blessed by its multi cultural societies, and people with different religions and beliefs, living and working together for hundreds of years, but this blessing is in danger of being lost because we are only like to see our own navel, and failed to see what is a round us, so despite travelling a lot, many of us are still ignorant.

There are a large number of people in Malaysia, particularly the Malays who against the use of the word Allah by non Muslim. In Facebook a group called ‘ Opposing the use of the name Allah by non-Muslim’ have about 200,000 members and growing . Peaceful demonstrations are being held in mosques to support the idea.. This way of thinking is similar to a group of people here in Denmark. Lead by Pia Kjærsgaard of the Danish Folk Party who only thinks that Denmark is only for ethnic Danish and everyone else should conform to the Danish values or they should leave the country.. There is some truth in that because in order to have contact with human full’s potential, the immigrant has to somewhat learn or embrace their new environment that they are living in and at the same time retain their own culture. But it has to work both ways. Pia Kjærsgaard  and her party members has to open up and learn about other people and their cultures. If she keeps her door closed, than her world and those people alike will be a bit smaller, a bit narrower and a bit lonelier.

A big wall is built in the name of Allah, God. Miles Davis says’ we don’t own anything’. Only if we all could learn that we don’t really own anything in this world , than we will be a free man. Otherwise we will be a prisoner of our own conscience.

invisible wall

today, an invisible wall is built in the name of allah=god in malaysia to separate you and me, us and other. we have to learn that we dont own anything in this world to be a free man, otherwise we will be a prisoner of our own concience.