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| Datuk Ibrahim Hussein |
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| Yee I-Lann |
Talking about Kerbau, Dr Carmen mentioned this question:
Why did Yee I-Lann use white colour as the background?
A thought provoking question. The background is often being neglected as they are not as important as the content of the art piece. Needless to say it is in white colour. I actually did not realize about the background at all initially. What I focused on was only the use of cones and buffalo in this piece of art... until Dr Carmen asked us about the white background.
Okay...so why WHITE?
Because Yee I-Lann is lazy. Hahaahh...of course NOT! She is a professional artist. Everything she does has reasons, for SURE including the white background. But I bet it's definitely a big YES to most of us, especially back to our Seni class in primary and secondary school time. We use white because we are lazy to colour the background, right? xD
Alright, back to the topic. The colour white usually signifies purity, innocence, simplicity, moral goodness and peace. But on the other hand, it also represents blankness and nothingness as suggested by Dr Carmen, which means that it shows no context in a particular work. No context also brings out a feeling that the objects in an artwork are not in their original or natural state, which is kinda strange.
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In this art piece, Kerbau (2007), how I see the use of white colour as background is that Yee I-Lann wanted the viewers to assign their own context and meanings to the colour to be resonated with the buffaloes. It somehow provides freedom to the viewers to depict the context and situations the buffaloes are in. By imagining different background or even colour to replace white, a raft of emotions can be aroused depends on how you see it.
Besides, i think it also has an intention to create sense of insignificance of human being, which are represented by the kerbau as I-Lann's preference to symbolise buffaloes as human. WHY? If you did noticed, the wall of the gallery is usually painted in white. Imagine if this piece of art is hanged on the wall without any frame and we see it from far, the buffaloes are definitely seemed tiny and helpless as the background has already blended with the white paint of the wall. Just like how you are seeing it on your screen now. In case you didn't notice, please scroll up again and adjust it correctly :P
It did give me a feel or sense of insignificance though.
Anyways, this is just my opinion. To me, it works in this way. SO how about yours?
In short, I think the colour white has through art stands as a powerful symbol. Do not think that nothingness really means nothing. It turns out to be numerous underlying definitions and interpretations. Don't underestimate the power of WHITE.
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Khai Lin,
ReplyDeleteThis is an EXCELLENT analysis of the myriad possibilities of white in general and the specific effect of using white in I-Lann's work. I especially loved it when you asked us to imagine the work hung on the white walls of a typical art gallery ~ you absolutely hit the nail on the head there!
I think it is very important for us to consider the context of a work wherein it is displayed. Most work get exhibited in galleries so there is a very particular effect that some artists are going for when they create their work for a gallery space. I think I-Lann's work is perfectly suited for a gallery where white is the dominant colour.
This is a nuanced and thorough analysis and your ability to elaborate and delve deeply into the meaning of white in all its various permutations is indeed commendable!! :)