Untitled Art – Justin Lim

Richard Koh Fine Art (RKFA) is excited to announce its participation in Untitled Art, Miami Beach 2023, featuring a solo exhibition “Everyday Saudade” by Malaysian artist Justin Lim. The exhibition will showcase Lim’s distinctive artistic vision through a series of captivating paintings that delve into the profound concept of longing and nostalgia.

“Everyday Saudade” will comprise 8 meticulously crafted paintings of varying sizes, each painted in Lim’s signature vibrant palette. The booth will be transformed into an immersive environment with the floor adorned with vinyl featuring traditional Colonial Peranakan floor tile designs, reminiscent of heritage buildings in Malaysia. Adding a touch of familiarity, plastic stools, which served as models for some of the paintings, will be positioned within the booth, offering a unique interplay between the artwork and real-life objects.

The title of the exhibition, “Everyday Saudade”, encapsulates an emotional state characterized by a deep sense of melancholic yearning for something or someone absent. This complex feeling, often tinged with a realization that the subject of longing might never be reunited with, is beautifully explored through Lim’s visual language. Drawing from the Latin word for solitude, “Saudade” captures the essence of recollection—of feelings, places, experiences, or events—that once elicited joy and now evoke a sense of separation.

As the world emerged from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lim found himself reflecting on the two years spent in lockdown. The introspection that arose during this time of isolation and artistic creation led him to contemplate the impermanence of life and the ever-changing nature of the world. The artworks presented in “Everyday Saudade” invite viewers to journey through their introspection, pondering the shifting landscapes of existence.

Lim’s creative process for this body of work was rooted in his interactions with ordinary plastic stools, which he transformed into subjects inhabiting diverse environments. These characters, presented with a sense of uniformity and facing a shared direction, symbolize the interconnectedness of contemporary society. Despite the commonality in experiences and digital connectivity, divisions persist based on class, race, and religion. Through his art, Lim encourages a deeper understanding and acceptance of one another amid the backdrop of rapid change and technological advancement.

The meticulously composed scenes within Lim’s paintings, constructed from a collage of various photographs, evoke a sense of ambiguity, blurring the lines between reality and artistic interpretation. Each composition is a psychological exercise, an attempt to capture emotions and moods through curated objects and elements. The resulting narrative serves as a journey of self-discovery, prompting viewers to explore their place in an ever-evolving world. The term “Saudade” aptly encapsulates the nuanced emotions that arise from this exploration.

“Everyday Saudade” serves as a poignant reminder to pause amidst the chaos of modern life, encouraging introspection and a gentle reminder of the power of dreaming. Richard Koh Fine Art is honoured to present Justin Lim’s thought-provoking solo exhibition as part of Untitled Art, Miami Beach 2023, inviting art enthusiasts to engage with the artist’s exploration of emotions and shared human experiences.

Justin Lim (b.1983, Kuala Lumpur) completed his postgraduate studies in 2006 with the Master of Art (Fine Art) programme by The Open University UK conducted at Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore after obtaining a BA(Hons) Fine Art majoring in painting. He has exhibited widely in Southeast Asia in various solo & group exhibitions and was the recipient of the 2008 Malaysia-Australia Visual Artist Residency at Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia. He has since held residencies at the Vermont Studio Center, USA (2011 – Asian Artist Fellowship/ Freeman Fellowship), Red Gate Gallery, Beijing (2013 – Khazanah Nasional Artist Residency) and The Tasmanian College of the Arts, University of Tasmania, Australia (2016 – International Artist in residence).

Selected group exhibitions include the Asian Art Biennale: Viewpoints & Viewing points, Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (2009), Modern Love, Earl Lu Gallery / Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore (2015), Asia Young 36 / Asia Contemporary, a survey of contemporary Asian art practices, Jeonbuk Museum of Art, Jeonju, South Korea (2016) and Contemporary Chaos, curated by Demetrio Paparoni, Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, Norway (2018).

He currently lives and works in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.