CONTEMPORARY artist Marvin Chan (b. 1972) will present six new oil on canvas works in what will be his fifth solo exhibition entitled Harum Busuk to be held at the artist’s private space, The Open Studio.

Following his most recent showcase, Invisible Lives: Tempting Frailty, at the Chan Hampe Galleries in Singapore in August, Chan returns once again with a personal take on the nation’s social-political situation.  

Inspired by the fumes of treated plywood during the artist’s studio renovation — a single storey 70s bungalow near University Hospital in Petaling Jaya — Harum Busuk, which translates into Putrid Perfume, is said to centre on Malaysia’s paradoxical themes of foul and fair play. Through Chan’s distinct narrative, the artist paints a picture of a nation symbolised by jungle, where fetid strife is masked by the sweet smell of flowers.  

“We wanted to host the exhibition at Marvin’s studio to give the audience an opportunity to have a more intimate engagement with the artist. An artist’s studio space is usually never open to the public or even collectors, and it also shows that the artist is ready to engage on a different level,” says the founder of A+Works of Art and co-host alongside NN Gallery, Joshua Lim.     

Chan’s recurrent theme of post-colonial contradictions is said to be represented by the motif of roses from the cooler climes of English gardens blooming amid the decaying tropical jungle of Malaysia.   

“It is the use of supposedly sweet smelling roses betrayed only by the flies, which mar the delicate bouquet,” comments Chan before exclaiming, “The flowers may wither and petals flutter but as a painter, I feel that I need to paint and not be distracted by symbol placement to indicate meanings. I wish to express something without relying too much on visual cues.”

Harum Busuk is said to mark the end of a series for Chan, and the intimate Open Studio setting looks to be an apt venue for audiences to enjoy his latest works by taking pleasure in the artist’s exhibitionism.

“By closure of this body of works, it is by no means the end of my search for understanding; but to re-evaluate and consider different trajectories, this context may be assessed through future stylistic depictions,” says Chan.

Curated by artist and art lecturer Noor Mahnun Mohamed, the oil on canvas works of 167cm by 152cm dimension are priced at around RM30,000 each.

After fifteen years of working in advertising, Chan established himself in the Malaysian visual arts scene with his solo exhibition First Harvest in 2007 at a2 Gallery in Penang, followed by Inconsequential Consequences of Hope in 2010, at Wei Ling Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. Chan was then nominated for the Hong Kong-based Sovereign Asian Art Prize in 2010, when he was also resident artist at the Vermont Studio Center in the US. Chan then participated in START Art Fair at Saatchi Gallery in London in 2014, as one of the artists featured in the Malaysian Eye art book series.

Harum Busuk will run from today to Saturday at Marvin Chan’s Open Studio, with an Artist Talk also to be held today from 7pm. Studio opening times are from 10am to 4pm.