Fajrina Razak is a Singaporean visual artist, cultural worker, curator and educator.
As a visual artist, her work takes on an analysis-approach practice, using traditional materials and contemporary mediums as conduits for the archival of knowledge and by extension, forming inquiries on historical references related to Nusantara and Southeast Asia. These are entwined with an ongoing interest in issues centred around the dichotomies of ‘secularity and spirituality’ and ‘individuality and collectivity’. Working primarily with batik, her works are also translated across mediums such as image-making, installation and text-based art.
Her notable projects include hosting a residency programme 405 Art Residency (2020-23) and a curatorial project Between the Living and the Archive (2021). Her works are in the permanent collection of the Singapore Art Museum and private collections. She was the President of Angkatan Pelukis Aneka Daya (APAD, Association of Artists of Various Resources) in the term 2020-22. In 2023, she was the artist-in-residence of Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia and the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Philippines.
Her current research takes on observations of ethnobotanical and ethnoecological practices in rural and urban livelihoods, textile traditions and folk healing rituals.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Bridging Through the Age: An Intergenerational Collaborative Exhibition by APAD, Maya Gallery, Singapore
2021 Rewang, Maya Gallery, Singapore
2021 Voices & Visions: Singapore Women Artists Exhibition 2021, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
2020-21 An Exercise of Meaning in a Glitch Season, National Gallery Singapore
2020 Pneuma: Of Spirituality in Contemporary Age, Stamford Arts Centre, Singapore
2019 Of Wax, Dyes and Labour, Singapore Art Week 2019, Malay Heritage Centre, Singapore
2018 Untapped, Visual Arts Development Association, Chan + Hori Contemporary, Singapore
2018 Imago Mundi, HULO Hotel & Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
2017 Kontemporari 2017, ION Art Gallery, Singapore
2017 Ruang, 81 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore
2017 Singapore Arts Federation 50th Anniversary Art Exhibition, China Cultural Centre, Singapore
2017 Noise Art Mentorship Showcase: Proposals for Waterloo, Waterloo Centre Block 262, Singapore
2016 Contemporary 2016 Show, Visual Arts Centre, Singapore
2016 Beyond the Surface, part of Singapore Art Week 2016, Galeri Utama, The Foothills, Singapore
2015 SG50 Feature Wall, Affordable Art Fair, F1 Pit Building, Singapore
2011 Equilibrium, Goodman Arts Centre Gallery, Singapore
2011 Contemporary 2011 Show, National Library Building, Singapore
2010 EXPOSE(D), The Substation Gallery, Singapore
2010 Bedlam Lull, NAFA Fine Art Graduation Show (Diploma Show), Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore
2010 Upfront, 2902 Gallery, Old School, Singapore
2010 Women in Arts Festival: Poetry in Action – Women’s Lives, Singapore Council Of Women’s Organisation
2009 Framing the City, Goethe Institut, Singapore
RESIDENCIES
2023 NAC-Metropolitan Museum of Manila International Artist Residency, Philippines
2023 6-week Southeast Asian artist residency at Rimbun Dahan, Selangor, Malaysia
2019 Four-month Community Arts Residency, project culminated in a showcase titled Of Motifs and Movements. An initiative of the National Arts Council in partnership with Taman Jurong residents and Community Arts & Culture Clubs (CACC), Singapore
CURATORIAL-MAKING PROJECTS
2023 “The multi-faceted corners of #05-478” solo presentation for Priscilla Quek, The Arts House, Singapore
2020-23 405 Art Residency (with digital presence on @405artresidency and www.405artresidency.com)
2022 Grounding Commonalities, Art Outreach, Gillman Barracks, Singapore
2021 Between the Living and the Archive, Gillman Barracks, Singapore
2020 Pneuma: Of Spirituality in Contemporary Age, Stamford Arts Centre, Singapore
2019 Of Wax, Dyes and Labour, Malay Heritage Centre, Singapore
AFFILIATIONS
Founder of Vabrika Arts textile studio. @vabrika.artstudio
Ordinary Member of Angkatan Pelukis Aneka Daya (Association of Artists of Various Resources). Served as President for term 2020-2022, Honorary Secretary for term 2018-2020, Treasurer for term 2016-2018
For an extended CV, please write in here.