Cover Artist Margaret Lau
Artist Margaret Lau
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Food appears frequently in art and if you love snacks in particular, this is an exhibition for you
There may have been bread and wine on the Pharaohs’ tomb walls and Warhol may have popularised soup cans on canvases, but have you seen Malaysian local snacks in hyper-realistic drawings? After her recent success in Hong Kong, artist Margaret Lau comes back to Malaysia with a solo show of local snacks that are sure to bring on the nostalgia.
See also: Tatler Team Picks Their Favourite Local Childhood Snacks
The paintings are filled with details yet simple with thought-provoking juxtapositions meant to contextualise the fragility of life: a super-sized Mamee Monster or a Popo Muruku Ikan Original on canvas to make one long for simpler times. The exhibition is bountiful in sentimentalism as Lau explains, "I find snacks to be comforting, familiar, and easy to get. They give people a sense of being at home."
To her, these snack packs contain childhood memories.
Above Hyper-realistic painting of Mamee Monster
Above Hyper-realistic painting of Popo Muruku Ikan
Hyper-realistic painting of Mamee Monster
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Lau honed her skills in hyper-realistic art on subjects during the pandemic and lockdowns. Drawing and painting food and beverages have always been central to her work, after graduating from Cambridge University and settling in Malaysia. She has also participated in the Affordable Art Fair in Hong Kong in August 2022 that featured 26 Young Talent Hong Kong X Next Gen artists.
See also: A US-Based Malaysian Artist Tells Her Story Through Batik Art
"When we first met the artist, we could relate to the lighthearted humour in her art and felt that transforming small snack packs into a 3D art piece was inconceivably adorable, loveable and refreshing,” says Phang Sze Sze, general manager at Avenue K Shopping Mall, where the exhibition is showing.
Above Hyper-realistic paintings by Lau will be shown at Avenue K Shopping Mall from October 25-30
Hyper-realistic paintings by Lau will be shown at Avenue K Shopping Mall from October 25-30
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There will be 22 hyper-realistic paintings of different sizes at the Nostalgic Snacks Hyper-Realism Art Exhibition. Some of the snacks that will be shown are Mamee Monster, Super Ring, Mimi, Cheezels, and Popo Muruku Ikan Original. Catch the exhibition at Avenue K Shopping Mall from October 25–30, 2022, 10am-10pm.
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Lynette loves travelling and dancing to Latin music almost as much as she enjoys period films and pastry desserts. She is constantly in search of the perfect nude lipstick and finds her best ideas through walks in nature.
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As the Editor-in-Chief of Tatler Malaysia, Lynette leads the content teams for print, digital and social media platforms of the brand. She has over 20 years experience in media, having been editorial director and editor-in-chief for lifestyle titles such as Cleo, ELLE, Esquire, Men’s Health, and Women’s Health.
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