The making of Impermanence

17 - 23 August 2015 . Artemis Art . Whitebox MAP@Publika . Kuala Lumpur . Malaysia
While prepping for the installations to be at FACETS exhibition this year, Lisa Foo's work-in-progress of impermanence created visual dialogues through collection of leaves and twigs from the streets and neighbourhood we live in.

 Twigs Cycle by Lisa Foo

 

 Circle of Leaves by Lisa Foo

Circles of Leaves by Lisa Foo

 

Wind Dancers by Lisa Foo

 

 Leaves Leaves Leaves by Lisa Foo

 

Passage of Life by Lisa Foo

 

 Lost and Found by Lisa Foo

Installations at FACETS

17 - 23 August 2015 . Artemis Art . Whitebox MAP@Publika . Kuala Lumpur . Malaysia

Video of these installations Wondering, Cycle of LIfe, Circle of Life & Grooving with the Wind by Lisa Foo at FACETS: a group exhibition by Cerebral Vagina at the White Box Publika KL, 17-23 August 2015. Curatorial direction by Artemis Art.

Video credits to S. Jamal Al-Idrus of Artemis Art.

Wind Dancers

6 June - 5 July 2015 . Mall of Medini . Nusajaya . Johor . Malaysia
Medini Live! Music, Film, Arts Festival

The Wind Dancers by Lisa Foo: Sculptural installation made out of leaves, twigs and branches of two 15 feet interactive giant marionettes installed with a cranking mechanism to encourage participation and interaction from the public audience at the festival.

 

Wind Dancers made out of leaves, twigs and branches

Takes 2 sets of cranks to move the 2 giant marionettes

Dancing crowd in front of the Wind Dancers 

At the cranks, one of the many puppeteers of Wind Dancers



Marionette wins KL Mayor Sculpture Award

Excerpt from The Edge Galerie

Artist Lisa Foo’s gigantic marionette created from leaves, branches and twigs took home the trophy of the inaugural KL Mayor Sculpture Prize Award last night.

Awarded by KL mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib at the closing ceremony of the Art in the Park (ATP) festival held at the Perdana Botanical Gardens in Kuala Lumpur, the winning sculpture was described by one of the three judges as an idea that was most engaging to the public.

 

 

The judging panel comprised top contemporary artist Ahmad Zakii Anwar, Singaporean architect T.K. Quek and Metropolitan Museum of Manila former director Cora Alvina.

 

“The use of leaves and branches as found objects from the park makes it ephemeral and botanical, and it deserves to be acknowledged in this inaugural award for its ambitious idea and execution,” said Alvina, in her citation of the sculpture.

Entitled, ”Walk in the Park”, Foo’s interactive sculpture was suspended beneath the expansive roof of the Perdana Canopy pavilion.

 

The marionette could be moved by visitors via a crank-and-pulley system. The artist explained that her intention was to transform the unexpected into art and beyond the norm of sculptural installations. The work actually focused on the fragility of life, reflected in the materials used.

 

See more at The Edge Galerie

Walk in the Park

16 October - 2 November 2014 . Art in the Park . Kuala Lumpur
@ Perdana Botanical Gardens aka Lake Gardens

The first public art event in KL's oldest park. 

Walk in the Park by Lisa Foo

Approximately 15 feet high, this gigantic, organic and interactive moving marionette is made of leaves, twigs and branches collected in the Perdana Botanical Garden. It represents the fragility of life as the marionette naturally withers away during the festival.

Giving the organic leaves, twigs and branches a second life, the public have the opportunity to interact and manipulate the movement of this puppet to their delight. An awareness to appreciate nature and life through art.

More on Art in the Park facebook page.

YMA II travels to Penang

17 January - 31 March 2014 . Penang State Museum & Art Gallery . Penang . Malaysia

Seacreature 13 by Lisa Foo @ YMA: New Object(ion) II travelling to Penang State Museum & Art Gallery at Macalister Road in 2014

Medium: PET bottles, cable ties, LED lights, chalk

Young Malaysian Artists II is an exhibition initiated by Galeri PETRONAS to celebrate young artists. New Objection is a collective effort to create artwork that are free from any form of restrictions, regulations or barriers. It aims to explore new creative abilities in the hope of discovering new art idioms or vocabulary. Using the combination of modern techniques, these artists manage to skillfully maneuver the traditional aesthetic concepts while highlighting the meaning of their artworks.
Curator: Badrolhisham Mohamad Tahir.

Artist Statement

The Making of Intertwined

6-8 December 2013 . Black Box . PUBLIKA . Kuala Lumpur . Malaysia

Paper origami set design by Lisa Foo in a contemporary dance performance titled "Intertwined". Produced by Toccata Studio

 

Paper origami set design by Lisa Foo

 

My thoughts about this,

we weaved into each other

sharing in the light.

Through thoughts and actions

from each our disciplines

bring meaning to such...

Changing, adapting,

constant tweaking to better

making sense of this...

Single space, the stage

through time, light, sound and movements,

interlace as whole.

Live Origami!

Idea of flat sheet paper

Narratives be told...

Through paper crumpling,

Captures movements of dancers

Sculptures in moments!

Imagine in life,

still moments in each of us;

Intertwined within!
 

 
Paper origami set design by Lisa Foo

INTERTWINED: Set Design by Lisa Foo

6-8 December 2013 . Black Box . PUBLIKA . Kuala Lumpur . Malaysia

Paper origami set by Lisa Foo
 

A contemporary dance performance challenging the idea of collaboration between different disciplines. Choreographer Steve Goh, music composer Ng Chor Guan and installation artist Lisa Foo created a performing art installation interpreting the word "Intertwined". Produced by Toccata Studio.

Mind, Heart and Soul united by twist of fate in harmony and mayhem!
 

 Paper origami set by Lisa Foo

Young Malaysian Artists: New Object(ion) II

01 October - 30 November 2013 . Galeri PETRONAS . Kuala Lumpur . Malaysia

SeaCreature 13 by Lisa Foo exhibiting at
Young Malaysian Artists: New Object(ion) II

Venue: GALERI PETRONAS, KLCC Suria

Artist Statement: Lisa Foo

As I am concern with the speed of materials being formed and sometimes neglected or wasted,  I create installation sculptures with materials from everyday mundane objects like plastic drinking bottles, paper, latex gloves, LED lights, that we often given amiss of their quality;  its banality and its throw-away nature. In my creative experimentation with found objects, I am seeking for that transformation of the unexpected into art and beyond.

Medium: PET bottles, cable ties, LED lights

YMA II is an exhibition initiated by GALERI PETRONAS to celebrate young artists. New Objection is a collective effort to create artwork that are free from any form of restrictions, regulations or barriers. It aims to explore new creative abilities in the hope of discovering new art idioms or vocabulary. Using the combination of modern techniques, these artists manage to skillfully maneuver the traditional aesthetic concepts while highlighting the meaning of their artworks.

Curator : Badrolhisham Mohamad Tahir 



M50: Selamat Hari Malaysia

27 August-17 September 2013 . The Boulevard, PUBLIKA . Kuala Lumpur . Malaysia



"I Love Malaysia" by Lisa Foo

Medium: Latex Glove and Spray Paint
Size: D300 x W500 x H600 cm

Image from M50 Selamat Hari Malaysia catalogue 

In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Hari Malaysia, M50 celebrates the ‘Malaysian Spirit’. Balai Seni Visual Negara (BSVN), as an agency of Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan, is taking the lead in this nationwide art festival from 26 August to 17 September that will see the participation of 40 art galleries across 13 states including Sabah and Sarawak.

BSVN is hosting an exclusive exhibition at MAP KL and Publika, showcasing 50 artists. The exhibition attempts to encapsulate the aspirations of contemporary Malaysia and articulate the new spirit, 50 years after its birth as a nation state.
Curator     : Nani Kahar. 
Co-curator: Intan Rafiza

 "I Love Malaysia" by Lisa Foo

Medium: Latex Glove and Spray Paint

 

Art Residency at CHHS

4 - 17 June 2012 . Muar Johor . Malaysia

Reflecting the beauty of nature on land that we have given amiss with the artificial seacreature to remind us all to appreciate what we have on this planet. Start taking care of her before it's too late. UP-cycled plastic bottles into seacreatures series of light sculpture installations on trees. The sculptural trees were chosen as part of the installation to have people wonder on our beautiful surroundings that we owned. Further to exhibit to show and to remind us that the useless material of plastic bottles that was only used once or even not used because of it being defective during the manufacturing that it could be turned into something delightful in our environment.

 

Lisa Foo was invited to be artist in residence for Chung Hwa High School Muar Art Festival, celebrating 100th years anniversary with an art festival 2012.

 

Trash to Treasure: Music

Lillian, a folk opera, by Ben Lear performing on 25 October 2011 at Le Poisson Rouge, NYC.

"Lear's most recent project is perhaps the best marriage of his interests: over a week this summer in Vermont, he undertook the Lillian Bottle Project, a collaboration with light sculptors Mah Su Sim and Lisa Foo. Lear and some helpful friends turned 3,000 plastic bottles into LED light sculptures, which will take the stage with him (and an orchestra, gospel choir, and projected animation) tonight at LPR."
excerpt from Trash to Treasure: Ben Lear's 'Lillian' by Alexandria Symonds

image from Nylon Blog

River Meets Light : Exhibition

15-28 August 2011 . 11am-7pm . White Box . MAP@Publika . Jalan Dutamas 1 . Kuala Lumpur

Exhibition of a mixed media performance Installation by Lisa Foo

Saturday, 20 August 2011 - Come and experience the Mobile Phone Orchestra, MPO conducted by Ng Chor Guan at the River Meets Light Exhibition.

Special appearance National Laureate, A. Samad Said and his son guitarist composer, Az Samad.

7pm-8pm: Arrival of guests * Light refreshment
8pm: Exhibition opening * Performance

More info at Facebook event page - River Meets Light: Exhibition
or contact theriverartproject@gmail.com

River Meets Light Premiered July 2011

29 & 30 July 2011 . Fri & Sat . 830pm . Prangin Canal . George Town . Penang . Malaysia Eco-Light Sculptures and Installation by Lisa Foo.

PLASTIC RIVER CREATURE --- Plastic bottles turned into living sculptural puppet to mimic living creatures in our rivers. What is to become of our rivers choked with plastic trash, polluting and killing the livings in it?

The River Art Project presents River Meets Light, a mixed media performance to advocate the need to revive our river heritage. Encompassing light design, eco-sculptures & installation, expressive movements, music, poetry and visuals, this site-specific work invites the public to join in an evening of experiential showcase to trace the past, present and future relationship between our rivers and communities.

RIVER OF PLASTIC --- Plastic trash turned into sculpture to mimic our dying rivers. Are we to replace our actual rivers with artificial rivers for our future generation?

PLASTIC CREATURE --- Plastic worming its way into the nature surrounding our rivers and threatening the lifespan of the nature and creatures living in it. Are we to only watch these living creatures on documentaries?

Plastic beast sampling the water in the Canal and being poisoned by the pollutants in it. Therefore, the struggle and violent movements till the end of its death. Are we to witness such tragic of the real living creature in our rivers?

ABATTOIR --- Our rivers are becoming the slaughterhouse by the plastic trash on daily basis. Do we not care of the other livings that co-exist with us?

BOAT OF PLASTIC TRASH --- We allow plastic trash drift onto our rivers day by day, polluting and killing our source of life in the rivers. What are we to say of our action?

River Meets Light exhibition will be held on 15-28 August 2011 at:-

White Box, MAP @ Publika
1 Jalan Dutamas 1, Dutamas
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Opening night on 20 August 2011 . 8pm

More info at facebook event.

LFSS at The Lillian Bottle Project

An international artistic collaboration with composer Ben Lear, designer Hayden Dunham and a group of friends in New York City.

Lillian: A Folk Opera by Ben Lear with installation set eco-light sculpture of underwater sea creatures designed by LFSS. Made at The Gulley, a beautiful, forested estate with a strong, artistic history, where the house once belonged to Robert Frost and then to artist, Kenneth Nolan, by Ben Lear & a group of friends with mixed-plastic bottles found at TAM waste-management facility in Shaftsbury, Vermont.

"... the sculptures you see in these photos. They’ll be part of the set for an upcoming Lillian performance. A couple months ago, I googled 'plastic bottle light sculptures' and the first result I found ... in Malaysia, Lisa Foo and Mah Su Sim, design and build sculptures far more beautiful than I’d imagined. I got in touch with them and they offered to design pieces for me."

"These pieces will be truly glorious; we will marry design and activism to create stand-alone works of art that happen to reflect a global, dire issue: plastic pollution!"

- BEN LEAR -

The installations will be featured at the Opera Festival in New York City this August 2011. These sculptures are made entirely out of recycled plastic bottles.

More info on Lillian: A folk opera by Ben LearPhotography contributed by Ben Lear & friends.

River Meets Light: July 2011 premiere

29 & 30 July 2011 · Fri & Sat · 8.30pm · Penang Malaysia

in conjunction with George Town Festival 2011

Set & installation with recycled materials by Lisa Foo.

Artistic Collaborators: Aida Redza, Tan Sooi Beng, Lisa Foo

Artistic Director: Chee Sek Thim

Creative Team: Hasnul J. Saidon, Ng Chor Guan, Yasunari

Poetry by A. Samad Said, Cecil Rajendra

Performers: Alla Azura Abal Abas, Izzardzafli Padzil, Kent Tan, Nur Hilyati Ramli, Nurul Akmal Abdul Wahid, Reese Lee

Musicians: Andy Siti, Christina Wang, Farhan Jufry, Kang Su Kheng, Sivasilan Muniandy

Produced by Ombak-Ombak ARTStudio.

More info @ facebook event page.

River Meets Light: Workshop Performance

Saturday, 12 March 2011 · 8.45pm · Sg Pinang - Lorong Kulit, Penang

River Meets Light first workshop presentation of mixed media performance encompassing light installation with recycled materials - plastic bottles & bags, dance, music and visuals in an evening of experiential showcase to trace the past and present relationship between our rivers and communities.

Photography by Okui.