Mutalib Man

Cycles

15th November 2010 - 7th January 2011

 

Mutalib Man finds the space at m2 Gallery reminiscent of the shrines that are commonly found in South East Asia and its surrounding neighbours.  In Malaysia, the country of the country of Mutalib’s birth, spirits, good and bad, are believed to be everywhere and these shrines are thought to offer protection.  These shrines are found by roadsides, under trees, innumerable different locations where small offering can be made to the god represented by the shrine.

 

Cycles, the work that Mutalib has made for m2 Gallery is based loosely on the Hindu god Nataraja, God of Destruction and Creation, and represents all the cycles of life.

 

Mutalib (b.1949 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) studied at MARA Institute of Technology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1969-1972) and London College of Printing (1972-75). He had a solo show at the Tricycle Gallery, London (1995) and was awarded Artist in Residence at Rimbun Dahan, Kuala Lumpur, a Malaysian/ Australian Art Foundation, in 1996. Selected group exhibitions include: Jerwood Drawing Prize (2009); London Group Open, Menier Gallery, London (2007); Group Show, Barlow, Lyde & Gilbert, City of London (2007); Celeste Art Prize, Old Truman Brewery, London (2006); Group Show, Taksu Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2001); Art Futures, Contemporary Art Society, The Barbican, London (2000); 3 Rooms, Adam Gallery, London (1996); White Out, Curwen Gallery, London (1995); Between Psychology & Art, Diorama, London (1994); and the John Jones Open, John Jones, London (1994). Three of his works were recently acquired by The National Art Gallery of Malaysia. He currently lives and works in Twickenham, Middlesex.