Peranakan Imageries in Malaysian and Singaporean Modern Art, 1980s-2017: Between Gendered Representations and Modern Expressions

Abdullah, Sarena (2019) Peranakan Imageries in Malaysian and Singaporean Modern Art, 1980s-2017: Between Gendered Representations and Modern Expressions. In: Electric cultures for all: the development of the Peranakan performing, visual, and material arts in Penang. Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, pp. 241-267. ISBN 978-967-461-407-2

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Abstract

The revival of interest in the Peranakan community in the past few decades has largely concentrated on the cultural imagery of the Nyonya lifestyle rather than political narratives of the Straits Chinese of the early twentieth century. In particular, the hybrid elements of Nyonya culture, including Peranakan kebaya, jewellery, porcelain, embroidery, cuisine and lavish weddings, have been portrayed in books, museum exhibits, tourism brochures and the popular media as unique examples of cultural mixing that promote multi ethnic harmony and can attract tourists to the region (Worden 2003; Hardwick 2008; Teoh 2015). A similar phenomenon can be seen in the modern art world. Visual art showcasing the Nyonya in her traditional costumes and engaging in domestic activities has been exhibited in established art institutions and commercial galleries and sold commercially. Some examples include Redza Piyadasa's Malaysian series produced in the 1980s, Martin Loh's Naive Images of Days Gone By in 1992 and other exhibitions at the Substation Gallery in Singapore in the 1990s. In 1998 Sylvia Lee Goh had her first solo exhibition at the Malaysian National Art Gallery entitled Two Decades of Art 'From the Heart'1978-1998

Item Type: Book Section
Subjects: N Fine Arts > NX Arts in general > NX1-820 Arts in general
Divisions: Pusat Pengajian Seni (School of the Arts) > Book Section/Chapter
Zoom Profil Pakar (Expert Profile) > Sarena Abdullah (Arts)
Depositing User: Administrator Automasi
Date Deposited: 28 Jan 2022 03:24
Last Modified: 28 Jan 2022 03:24
URI: http://eprints.usm.my/id/eprint/31264

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