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TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020
Tiger King
to return
for Series 2?
Page 17
Art has always been a way to ex-
press emotions, pains and strug-
gles that face the global public and
current heightened realities. As a
new normal has been introduced
due to the coronavirus pandemic,
one artist has incorporated those
challenges into his artwork, turning
the limitations imposed on him into
a source of inspiration.
Lu Shir Mao was among the
overall winners in the New Normal
BN Art Competition, for his digital
artwork,
The COVID Ritual
. He sub-
mitted the winning entry for the 19
years and above age group themed
‘Self Care/Health & Hygiene’.
His artwork has also made its
mark on social media, garnering
positive feedback among netizens
and online art enthusiasts alike.
According to the 19-year-old,
the language of a ‘new normal’ is
being deployed almost as a way to
Portraying ‘the new normal’ through art
One of the winners of the New Normal BN Art Competition, talks about his winning piece.
quell any uncertainty caused by the
coronavirus. Everyone from the gov-
ernment and media to friends and
family has perpetuated this rhetoric
as they imagine settling into life un-
der this ‘new normal’.
The architectural student from
Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB)
said his work revolves around these
impacts caused by the virus, from
various stages of the pandemic
since it began.
One of the irst stages includes
‘panic buying’ which occurred in
grocery stores and supermarkets
in the country with excessive pur-
chase of tissues and hand sanitiser.
His artwork also includes the fa-
mous term
Jan Babal
which was also
coined among the local commu-
nity during the outbreak. It loosely
translates as ‘don’t be stubborn’ as a
reference for people who neglected
the new normal practices.
He said we are also encour-
aged to maintain good hygiene and
personal health by washing hands
regularly with soap and water as
well as drinking water every day.
There are also regular temperature
checks and scanning of BruHealth
QR codes prior to entering public
areas or buildings.
“When I started making the art-
work, my irst idea was to include
these daily reminders and new nor-
mal practices as the source of my
inspiration for
The COVID Ritual
,”
explained the 19-year-old artist.
The pandemic has affected peo-
ple in a many different ways and at
various levels, from losing their jobs,
dreams and livelihoods. However, Lu
Shir Mao shared that one of the nicer
things to come out of the situation
is that the whole world is simultane-
ously experiencing the same things
at once. “It makes you feel less alone/
insigniicant to be sharing in this ex-
perience with everybody.”
The NewNormal BN Art Compe-
tition, organised by Kaleidoscope
Studio and the United States (US)
Embassy in Brunei Darussalam ran
from May to June. Funded through
the US Embassy’s Small Grant Pro-
gramme, the project supported lo-
cal culture and arts by encouraging
creatives of different age groups
to capture unique moments and
experiences during the ongoing
global pandemic.
A total of 86 amateur artists par-
ticipated and presented their emo-
tions, feeling, ideas and innovative
thoughts on the COVID¡19 pandem-
ic, social distancing, quarantine and
the ight against the virus.
A total of 18 top winners in vari-
ous themes were announced, which
comprised ‘Stay Home/Social Dis-
tancing’, ‘Self-Care/Health & Hy-
giene’ and ‘Human Nature/Balance’.
According to Kaleidoscope
Studio founder Nur Khalisah binti
Ahmad, the art competition show-
cased the best of expressions of
amateur and professional artists
from all over Brunei.
Winning entries and selected art-
works from art competition are on
display at a virtual art exhibition until
December 27, through Instagram at
‘thenewnormal.bn’, via Facebook at
‘The New Normal Bn’ and through
Discord at ‘The New Normal Brunei’.
Lu Shir Mao (C) along with organisers from Kaleidoscope Studio and the
US Embassy in Brunei Darussalam. PHOTO: AZIZ IDRIS
Aziz Idris