It is no mean feat to make steel and wood look graceful and fluid, but Zulkifli Lee has done it with the sculptures in his solo exhibition Interdependence at Taksu Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. With the gallery closed since Jan 13 due to the movement control order (MCO), art lovers can view the exhibition online

Even with online viewing, it is obvious that these sculptures have interlocking components that click and mesh in perfect synchronicity, a perfect fit every time. These small units can stand on their own, while simultaneously existing as part of a larger whole.

“The works are basically created by fitting different components together, with each component strengthening and complementing each other. However, rather than narrowing this down to merely components, let’s broaden the perspective by looking into the other elements like the essence, character, material and discourses that are present in the works. The intention of these works revolve around the paradoxical coincidence of opposites, ” says Zulkifli..

“By presenting the entangled binary relation – between disturbing and comforting, human and nature, space and forms, void and mass, singularity and duality, perfection and imperfection, and so on – it reconfirms the appeal of a familiar, interconnected relationship. Thus, the material is both autonomous and dependent at the same time, ” he adds.

Zulkifli’s sculptures utilise wood and steel to explore the notion of interdependent relationships. Here is an artist who has always been interested in exploring the relationship of “contradictory opposites” in his sculpture-making. With wood and steel, they not only provide great visual contrast but Zulkifli enjoys working with them in different ways.

In 2019, he completed his art residency with ACME Studio in London. His artworks are in numerous public collections such as Khazanah Nasional, Malaysia and Singapore Art Museum (SAM).“In the case of the sculptures in this show, the approach I use for wood involves a process of subtraction, where I carve it off. Meanwhile for the steel, it is always a process of addition, as I construct it. To work with two materials with such distinctly different properties is fascinating for me. I want to celebrate the opposites, acknowledge the differences and learn to find beauty and value in it, ” he explains. Additionally, his work also acknowledges the “non-human element” in art-making, demonstrated through the “ageing” effect of his chosen materials. Over time, the wood and steel sculpture will develop a patina and its colour and texture will change.

“This is a kind of beauty that cannot be faked by the human hand. I want my works to resemble nothing known, an art which works solely through invented forms, like music through freely-invented combinations of notes, ” he says. And just like how integration in such relationships can be rocky, his sculptures also bear the marks of their creation.“It requires sacrifice, tolerance and it isn’t always a romantic or smooth process. I don’t hide these traces in my sculptures, so if you look closely, you can spot burn marks left by the welding, or the cracks in the wood that happen when you insert steel into it, ” he notes. The creation of these sculptures are inspired by geometric forms and mathematical principles, a nod to his belief that our reality hinges on networks of relationships, and we are all connected to each other. A small tweak can set off a series of events that might result in something much bigger elsewhere.

“This can be applied to the relationship between humans, as well as our relationship with nature. Coincidentally, while developing this body of work, the pandemic hit and showed how connected we really are. During lockdown, I realised how dependent I am on others for food, security, hospitality. Being alone takes a spiritual and mental toll on you. This situation made me realise how people, even a passing stranger, affect our daily lives and how we live, ” he says.

He muses that we live in a world where individuality is celebrated more and more. This, compounded by the enforced physical distancing that is now the new norm all over the world due to the pandemic, has given new meaning to the idea of interdependency.

“I hope to spark a discussion about this relationship with each other and hopefully give a fresh perspective on the way we think about the existing system and structure of relationships. In this age of division, to accept, share and lean on each other is not a form of weakness but a strength and value that we can hold on to. After all, we are all just interdependent forms. Nothing more, and nothing less, ” he concludes.

Interdependence is on at Taksu Gallery in Kuala Lumpur till Feb 13.