T:zi

About

Ahmad Tarmizi or better known as T:zi (b.1979, Singapore) is primarily known in the local community as a singer-songwriter. Having produced numerous albums and written songs for more than a decade, a little-known fact is that he is also a prolific, self-taught artist. Despite never attending any formal art classes, he has always expressed himself visually, gaining inspiration from various local and regional artists. Hence, his education in the visual arts was attained via reading numerous art publications and attending exhibitions over the years.

Having produced numerous paintings alongside his music career, as a multidisciplinary artist, he has been steadily participating in local and international art exhibitions and recently in august 2022, had his third solo exhibition in Singapore. Having always seen his paintings and songwriting as mutually feeding off each other, T:zi’s paintings offer multiple readings and interpretations. Ultimately, his paintings are often inspired by his introspective thoughts about spirituality with man and nature.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Forms, colour, rhythm, strokes and grace are visible to my paintings. The ‘form’ is interesting for me in the overall harmony. ‘Colours’ tell the story of my feelings and certain moments in my life. ‘Rhythm’ symbolizes my culture and identity. ‘Strokes’ reveal the message of what I am sharing. ‘Grace’ is the understanding and acceptance that exist in my soul.

For me, whatever that is visible starts from the inside and from there I paint to share what is concealed in the depths of my heart. Amongst the forms that keep appearing in my paintings is a sharp form which curls and gracefully merges into the background.The sharpness of the form symbolizes the amount of knowledge that has been acquired so much till the end dissipates. The less visible it is, the more narrow it becomes like a lethal knife.

The curled formations instil a sense of something fresh and emerging. Taking inspiration from the natural world, a new plant curls as it grows before forming into leaves ready to take shape into a tree.

The final form ends and merges into the background representing the fact that knowledge and understanding, alongside our actions – all come from a single source afterwhich we all return to nature.

Colours tell the stories of my feelings and specific moments in my life. White and yellow symbolizes the finer aspects of my life. Red symbolizes both the intensity and anguish that comes with love, while the rest of the colours complement the environment of the natural world.

I often paint with the brush, my fingers, palms, the palette knife to achieve an effect that is closest to what I am feeling and what I am inspired by. The brush, my fingers and palms are used for the broader strokes and bigger landscapes – what I am seeing from a vantage point. The palette knife and smaller brushes are used for the finer strokes which I paint till I achieve a sense of union between my body and my soul.

I wish to share that everything starts from a singular source which is manifested into multiple forms as wide as our imagination, and as much as our understanding is able to humanly comprehend. 

Solo Shows

The Weight of The Skies V2.0 Fergana Art Gallery Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, March 2023

The Weight of The Skies ,The Arts House Gallery 2, Singapore 2022

No Empty Canvases, HEARTH by Art Outreach Gilman Barracks, 2021

Cakar Langit (Scratching Skies) – Showcase XY Hotel Bugis, Singapore, 2020

Group Shows

London Biennale, Old Town House Chelsea, Kings Road, London, July 2023

Art In Mind & Abstract, Annexe The Brick Lane Gallery, London, April 2023

Perceived Realities, The Brick Lane Gallery London, April 2023

Aspirasi Seni Madani, MY GALLERY Kota Bahru, Kelantan, Malaysia, March 2023

Biennale Chianciano, Chianciano Art Museum Italy, 2022

ASEAN International Contemporary Art China Contemporary Research Ctr, China, 2022

SeniKita, organized by Kamal Arts Kamal Arts Gallery, Singapore, 2021

SeniKita, organized by APAD Kamal Arts Gallery, Singapore, 2020

Kontemporari 2019, organized by APAD Kamal Arts Gallery, Singapore, 2019

Kontemporari 2017, organized by APAD ION Orchard Art Gallery, Singapore, 2017

Play Me I’m Yours, community arts project organized by Playtent and streetpianos.sg at Kallang Sports Hub & Esplanade, Singapore, 2016

Malaysian Artist Art Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, 2002