LOT 87
KELVIN CHAP
(B. Indonesia, 1974)
The Land of the Headhunters (Borneo Series), 2003
Signed and dated “Chap 2003” on lower right
Titled and dated on verso
Mixed media on canvas
131 x 131 cm
Provenance
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
SOLD – RM 8,960
The Land of the Headhunters (Borneo Series
Kelvin Chap grew up in Sabah, despite having been born in Indonesia. There, he developed an intense fascination for the Borneo tribal culture and symbolisms, which are always present in all his artworks. The masks, totem poles and everything iconic from Borneo is present in this artwork, clashing with fluorescent colours to represent modernity along with totems from the ancient Borneo headhunter culture.
The artist explained that the idea behind this piece is simply a social commentary; the overlapping of tradition and culture with modernization, of how they clash, and the portrayal of a society that is too eager to accept urbanization, so much so that the lines are blurred and almost obscure the original culture identity.
Kelvin Chap Kok Leong graduated from the Malaysian Institute of Fine Art in 1994, after majoring in print-making. He has won many art competitions such as the Pilihan Negeri Sabah 1993, 1994, 1995 and the Philip Morris Art Award Honourable mention in 1995.