Arts

From Couture to Canvas: Bernard Chandran Embarks on a New Inventive Journey with “MYTH Creation”

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From Couture to Canvas: Bernard Chandran Embarks on a New Inventive Journey with “MYTH Creation”

For over thirty years, Dato Sri’ Bernard Chandran has been a distinguished determine in Malaysia’s vogue and modern artwork scene, incomes him the title of the nation’s “king of couture.” The style visionary typically applies a deep understanding of texture and heritage textiles into his couture creations to ship one-of-a-kind items that problem standard notions of Malaysian tradition and custom.

It’s these similar couture ideas that Dato Sri’ Bernard Chandran applies to his ongoing artwork exhibition dubbed “MYTH Creation: Head to Tail”. “MYTH Creation” is a deeply private exploration of mythology and spirituality seen from the designer’s private narrative and follows the trajectory of his earlier exhibition, “MYTH Evolution”. According to the 2024 12 months of the Dragon, “MYTH Evolution” noticed Dato Sri’ Bernard Chandran explored his Chinese language heritage. Right here he delved into his relationship along with his late mom and reflections on others born within the 12 months of the Dragon which led him on a non secular journey to spend ten days in deep reflection in India, spanning the ultimate days of 2024 into the early days of 2025.

Throughout his meditation retreat, Bernard discovered readability and reaffirmed the necessity to proceed expressing himself by way of the lens of cultural mythology. The 12 months 2025 — marking the 12 months of the Wooden Snake — supplied profound inspiration. Occurring solely as soon as each sixty years, the Wooden Snake symbolises persistence and kindness alongside virtues of introspection and steadiness. From this non secular reawakening, “MYTH Creation” emerged — drawing on the snake motif as understood by way of the Chinese language zodiac and its deep roots throughout historic and non secular narratives.

It was at this level of transition — between 龙 (lóng) and 变 (biàn) — that the route of the work turned clearer. The symbolism of the Snake offered a concrete framework for this subsequent section of exploration. Bernard instantly created the exhibition’s first assortment, “MYTHS of Aura” comprising 4 works in distinct colours — every representing a type of transformation: Renewal, Spirituality, Enlightenment, and Ardour. This inaugural physique of labor initiated the year-long journey following his Vipassana retreat and prolonged by way of the complete cycle of the Snake 12 months. “MYTHS of Aura” started the 12 months because the metaphorical head of the snake.

Simply earlier than embarking on his journey, Christie’s London expressed curiosity in presenting his “MYTH Evolution” assortment and requested new works depicting snakes — as the approaching 12 months marked the 12 months of the Snake. This aligned with Bernard’s evolving imaginative and prescient, although it launched the strain of a shortened artistic timeline. Following “MYTH Evolution”, Bernard shifted his meditation from the phrase 龙 (lóng) to 变 (biàn), the previous which means Dragon and the latter which means Change. Change felt vital, but its route remained unclear.

In some ways, the “MYTH Creation: Head to Tail” exbihition marks a time of artistic renewal for Dato Sri’ Bernard Chandran whereby he mirrors the transformative symbolism of the snake by shedding his former artistic pores and skin to usher in a extra contemplative and spiritually anchored period.

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What was the inspiration behind the brand new “MYTH Creation” exhibition?

The inspiration behind “MYTH Creation” got here after I accomplished the “MYTH Evolution” exhibition in 2024. I made a decision that it might be intriguing to proceed creating artwork revolving across the 12 animals from the Chinese language zodiac, with every animal connecting to a special side of my life over these previous 12 years. On this case, the Snake was completely aligned with my non secular journey and transformation.

Are you able to clarify the affiliation between the “Snake” and the “Sacred”?

Throughout my meditation retreat in India, I began to meditate on the phrase 变 (biàn) and intrinsically I knew its significance to my non secular journey. It was solely after that that I linked it to the snake and the non secular and non secular imagery that that image evokes by itself.

Following your retreat in India in 2024, you mirrored, “Just like the snake, I symbolically shed my outdated pores and skin.” May you develop on what this meant for you?

It’s actually so simple as that. Going by way of the Vipassana retreat for the primary time was a shock to my system and a vital rejuvenation at this stage in my life. Basically, it was 变 (biàn).

In your canvases, you juxtapose supplies of valuable origin — similar to turquoise stones, with very uncooked components like metal nails. May you elaborate on this unconventional mixture of supplies?

The bizarre mixture of supplies is just not actually “uncommon” when contemplating my 30 years in vogue design. Through the years, I’ve honed my abilities within the craft and belief in my talents in addition to having religion in my group to execute the unknown. Every bit is a delicate homage to our home tagline, “Count on the surprising from Bernard Chandran”.

Style and artwork are deeply intertwined in your follow. What lasting affect did your years learning vogue design in Paris have in your artistic method?

One key takeaway from my years in Paris was seeing how materials are meticulously archived and preserved. I’ve carried this follow into my very own work and it has straight formed this exhibition. Lots of the supplies you see right here — similar to in “MYTHS of Africa: Tribes” and “MYTHS of India: Golconda” — are deeply vital and private, with nearly no newly bought components.

Of all of the milestones you’ve reached, what has been probably the most memorable and rewarding for you as far as an artist?

Essentially the most memorable expertise as I’ve delved into the effective arts scene is my use of the language I’ve realized from my late mom throughout the previous two exhibitions. This expertise has taught me a lot about myself and introduced me nearer to my late mom in some ways, once more like a rejuvenation or renewal in my life.