by Khairullah Rahim, 2024
by Khairullah Rahim, 2024, Video (color, sound), 12min 30sec
Light is essential for all living organisms to thrive. What happens then when one is overexposed? Terang Benderang (Clear and Vivid) is an experimental documentary by Khairullah Rahim. The work is part of his ongoing research into the lived experiences and conditions of the communities in Boon Lay, Singapore. Through a series of observations, it unravels the overlaps between aspirations, resources, safety, and autonomy in the neighbourhood.
Khairullah Rahim is a Singapore-based artist working across mixed-media installation, object-making, painting, photography and moving image. He is a graduate of Rutgers University (New Jersey, US) with an MFA in Visual Arts from Mason Gross School of the Arts in 2023; and received a BA in Fine Arts (First Class Honours) from LASALLE College of the Arts (Singapore) in 2013, where he currently teaches as an adjunct lecturer. His explorations delve into complex strategies of resourcefulness for everyday survival in environments under constant surveillance. Through various means of collaboration and critical thinking, his practice considers mindful ways of shedding light onto the veiled narratives of his community while factoring in the necessity for opacity. Materially, he continues to experiment extensively with the sheen, reflection and refraction of synthetic polymers; most evidently through rhinestones. Recurring points of departure in his work premise around themes of queerness, desire, resistance, aspiration, labour and ethics of disclosure.
Khairullah’s works have been showcased in solo and group presentations at venues including the Barbican Centre (London), Tai Kwun (Hong Kong), Centre for Contemporary Arts (Glasgow), Tiger Strikes Asteroid (New York), Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (Bangkok) and National Gallery Singapore amongst others. He has participated in artist residency programs, namely with Salzburger Kunstverein (Austria), Facebook (Singapore), Hubei Institute of Fine Arts (China), Taipei Artist Village (Taiwan) and YOUKOBO Art Residency Programme (Japan). In 2019, his work was included in the 6th edition of Singapore Biennale led by Patrick Flores. Khairullah was the winner of the 2017 IMPART Awards for Visual Artist category. His works are in the collection of Singapore Art Museum and SUNPRIDE Foundation.