Writer, Confronting Oppression: On Art, Genocide and Collective Memory, An essay on Hamidi Hadi’s new series, Trembling in Silence (2024), Published by Wei-Ling Gallery

Trembling in Silence is a solo exhibition by Malaysian artist Hamidi Hadi held in Wei-Ling Gallery from 6 to 27 April 2024. The exhibition explored the complexities of human emotion and vulnerability in turbulent times. Building on themes from his previous work, Hamidi delves deeper into anxiety and fragility, reflecting on isolation and global unrest. His latest works incorporate tapestries and carpets marked with deliberate burns, symbolising fractured homelands, displacement, and lost legacies. Inspired by Rumi’s reflections on the ego as a barrier, Hamidi’s introspective journey manifests in raw, evocative expressions of resilience and uncertainty.

“The artist initially made the work in response to his intimate struggles, yet along the making he found himself deeply impacted by the unfolding events that shape the reality we live in today. His reflections on the violence taking place in various places in the world gradually led the work towards a new direction, which delves into the exploration between art and society.”

– Excerpt from Confronting Oppression: On Art, Genocide and Collective Memory by Amanda Ariawan, 2024.

Read Amanda’s full essay here.

About Hamidi Hadi

Hamidi Hadi is a leading abstract Malaysian artist known for his experimental use of materials and exploration of emotional and spiritual themes, self-discovery, transformation, and the relationship between nature, identity, and human fragility. His practice has evolved from pictorial representation to abstraction, where he synthesizes industrial paint, resin, wax, and other materials to create layered, dynamic surfaces. Hamidi has received multiple accolades, including the UOB Painting of the Year (Malaysia) Bronze Award (2018) and the Philip Morris ASEAN Biennale Art Award (2000) among others.  

About Wei-Ling Gallery

Established in 2002 by Lim Wei-Ling, Wei-Ling Gallery aims to nurture the development of Malaysia’s contemporary art scene. In 2011, the gallery expanded with its second space, Wei-Ling Contemporary, dedicated to showcase special projects and more experimental art forms. With two art spaces in Kuala Lumpur, it establishes itself as the largest commercial gallery in Malaysia. In its continuous efforts of cultivating the local contemporary art scene, Wei-Ling Gallery is also one of the most prolific publishers of art publications in Malaysia, valuing the importance of archiving and encourages an appreciation for contemporary art through its publications. Learn more about Wei-Ling Gallery on weiling-gallery.com.