D.u.r.a @ artavita

D.u.r.a

Location: Malaysia

D.U.R.A is a Malaysian-born independent designer, contemporary illustrator and abstract artist currently living and creating her art in Mauritius.
Her work varies from contemporary illustration, fashion illustration, pattern design and abstract paintings.

Website: www.dura-artspace.com

Available for commission and collaboration project and international exhibitions.

Artist's Statement:

I consider myself as a multidisciplinary artist. I draw and illustrate female figures combined with nature and intricate patterns and work on abstract paintings which I consider as a therapeutic medium. Seeing the world has been slowly crumbling down, I'd like to believe that life could be more joyous and colourful. I see human body, their expressions, minds and thoughts are a living library filled with lots of stories and those stories are the one that I want to tell. My subject matters always reveal and explore the ying and yang, black and white, love and hatred and they are beauty in them that I embrace in my body of work

When I paint, it's all about being, impulsive, free-form, gestural strokes and organic. The colourful seasons, the light of the day and the moods of the surroundings that flicked my emotions made me want to get my hands dirty with paints, runs the brushes, and gracefully dance the palette knives on the canvas. My paintings and illustrations usually starts with a colour idea, then patterns and then evolve into compositions in which the colours will tell stories.

To me, my art is a journey. It's a way for me to visually explore my life..my emotions, feelings, thoughts, experiences, and ideas. As an artist I see myself to continuously evolving and exploring my distinctive style.

Portfolio:

Landscape Abstract Painting

Landscape abstract paintings inspired by the nature and the places I'm currently living; the mountains, ocean, forest and sky.

“Where The Wild Hearts Grow”

Acrylic on 20" x 30" canvas.

“Hidden Sanctuary”

Acrylic on 20" x 16" canvas

“Changing The Weather”

Acrylic on 24" x 30" canvas

“Azure Anecdotes Triptych”

Azure Series 2014
Acrylic & pastel on 16" x 38" canvas

Abstract Paintings

My exploration & experimentation on abstract paintings which I used as a medium to express & interpret my thought, feelings, ideas as well as a therapy for my difficulties of sleeping. My abstract painting doesn’t focus on form or shape but playing with colours that depict emotions and feelings. I spend my nights painting on canvases where colours and whimsical brush strokes tell stories of their own with glee. I love to experiment and explore therefore I used a few types of painting techniques in my art such as mark making when I want my painting surface to be visually active with the play of bold and expressive brushstrokes to create movement. At other times I will use Sgraffito technique with vivid colours where I will use painting tools to scratch the layers of paints to revel the colours of underneath to achieve a dynamic and vibrant surface.

When I paint, it's all about being impulsive, free-form, gestural strokes and organic. The colourful seasons, the light of the day and the moods of the surroundings that flicked my emotions made me want to get my hands dirty with paints, runs the brushes, overlapping layers of colours and textures while gracefully dance the palette knives on the canvas with theirs own stories & meaning for my audience to interpret.

“Freedom To Dance”