Laila Azra
Born in 1970, Jakarta, Indonesia
Curently lives and works in Singapore
The Singapore-based abstract painter, Laila Azra’s composition is influenced by personal experience at a universal level. She imbues paint with emotional resonance yet at the same time restricts those emoticons within the confines of her often indefinable and mysterious forms. She adapts gesture painting method where she uses her hands and body movement to drip, splash, and scrape on a canvas often positioned flat on the floor. This resulted in bold, rhythmic lines and texture-rich artworks, which are characterized by the weaving and interweaving layers of acrylic paint as well as her other chosen mediums. Lately Laila also did art instalations using light, video mapping and sounds.
Laila Azra was born in 1970 in Jakarta, Indonesia, and lives, and works in Singapore. She graduated from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in Western Abstract Painting. The influences of Abstract Expressionism Techniques made popular in 1940s by the likes of Jackson Pollock, Willem De Kooning, and Mark Rothko resonate in Azra’s Art Making. She has participated in many local and international exhibitions including Indonesia, France, Malaysia and Germany.
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Coming Exhibition
December 2021
Solo Exhibition of Laila Azra Work @Studio A, Darmawangsa Square.
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Education
2009 Western Abstract (Distinction), Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore
1995 Social and Political Science (Cum Laude), University of Indonesia, Indonesia
1989 Fakultas Ekonomi Universitas Trisakti Indonesia, majoring in Manajemen.
1989 Graduate from SMA Regina Pacis Bogor.
Solo Exhibitions
2018 Sewindu a retrospective exhibition, element art space , gillman barack singapore
2014 Over, Through and Under, Element Art Space, SingaporeEKLEKTIKA, Balai Kartini, Indonesia
2013 Contrary Passage, D Galleries, Jakarta, Indonesia
2013 Material Garden, Art Stage Singapore, Singapore
2011 Solo Open Studio, Barossa, Singapore
2010 A Metaphor on Life’s Journey, Y2Art, Singapore
Group Exhibitions
2021
Abstract Moda, Group Virtual Exhibition of Abstract Practising Artist and Student of NAFA-CLE
20 June – 20 August 2021 (Curated by Raymond Yap for NAFA)
2019
Amsterdam Light Festival 8th Edition, 28 Nov – 20 Jan 2020, Amsterdam, Nederlands
La Bienalle di Venezia, Venice Italy, 11 May – 24 Nov 2019 – Personal Structure Identities, European Culture Council,
Pallazzo Bembo, 1NUSA
2018
Art Jakarta, Element Art Space, Jakarta, Indonesia
2017
ArtJog 10, Jogjakarta, Indonesia
Art Galleries Association Singapore: Fiction of Precision, Element Art Space, Singapore
Art Jakarta, Element Art Space, Jakarta, Indonesia
The Calm Before the Storm, Element Art Space, Singapore
RYB – Back to Basics, Element Art Space, Singapore
2016
Abstraction in Three Mediums, Element Art Space, Singapore
Bazaar Art Jakarta, Element Art Space, Jakarta, Indonesia
Invisible Paintings, Element Art Space, Space
2015
Art Expo Malaysia, Vivi Yip Art Room, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Bazaar Art Jakarta, CiArt, Jakarta, Indonesia
Art Paris Art Fair, Element Art Space, Paris, France
2014
ArtJog 2014, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2013
Artwalk @ Wessex, Barossa Studio, Singapore
Grand Opening of the new Element Art Space, Singapore
Artist to Artist, Viridian Art House, Singapore
2012
Joy Forever, Nikei Fine Art, Singapore
One Foot in the Right Direction, Marina City Link, Singapore
A Conversation In Art 2012, Viridian Art House, Singapore
Kaomise, Nikei Fine Art, Singapore
InterArt Greifswald 2012, Germany
Artist to Artist, Zaragosa, Spain
Artwalk @ Wessex, Barossa Studio, Singapore
2011
Project Fried Rice Art Fair, Fort Canning Singapore
Artwalk @ Wessex, Barossa Studio, Singapore
2010
Art Expo Malaysia 2010, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Award
1994
Finalist of Indonesia Gold Jewelry Design Contest from World Gold Council Indonesia
Artist Statement
I believe that life is a journey toward God. The shape of the journey depend on our path and our existence comprises of choices that we make this is the canvas of life that has been given to each human.
My style is abstract expressionism combined with mixed media to create texture and enhance visual experience of the audience. The movement I uses on canvases symbolizes life it self it can be smooth sailing or tumultuous yet create harmonious overall result.
Live life once, do the things I love and falling in love with the process, to fulfill my destiny as a God creations before back to him again in eternity. Inspired a lot with the French philosopher Rene de Cartes: Cogito Ergo Sum “I think therefore I am”.
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