Works
-
The Masculine Man, 2021 -
Still Blue, 2021
-
In the land of Gods and Monsters, 2021
-
Silent Lover, 2022
-
Opulent Ways , 2022
-
Influence of the greatest extent, 2022
-
The other woman, 2022
-
No Rest for the Wicked, 2022
-
Sebastian’s Replica, 2022
-
I’ll Still Look Pretty When I Cry, 2022
-
One Comes After the Other, 2022
-
Attraction in Its Truest Form, 2022
-
Opening, 2023
-
Evening Dew, 2023
-
Carbon Copy, 2023
-
Changing Myself for All the Wrong Reasons, 2023
-
Should've Gone for the Heart, 2023
-
Waiting for Love Was Never My Virtue, 2023
-
Tell Them That You Love Them, 2023
-
And for You I Keep My Legs Apart, 2023
-
In the Voice of Asmahan, 2023
-
Real Life, 2023
-
I'll Tell You What the Clairvoyant Said, 2023
-
If Touch Is What I Desire, Cut It Off, 2023
-
Conditioned to Think That the Grass is Softer, 2023
-
The Letter I Never Sent, 2023
-
I Was Always Quick to Admit Defeat, 2023
-
The Tiles Are Colder, 2023
-
This Time I'll Leave First, 2023
-
Maybe You Have to Forget and I Have to Move On, 2023
-
It’s buzzcut season anyway, 2021
-
Touch as a Love Language, 2021
-
Italian Riviera, 2021
-
Easy Rider (Diptych) , 2021
-
Into The Grass Fields, 2021
-
Redemption Through Chaos, 2021
-
The Alternate Sin/Scene, 2021
-
Malay Renaissance, 2021
-
Not As Blue Anymore, 2021
-
On & On, 2021
-
The Sun Also Rises For Those Who Fail The Call, 2021
-
Don't Blame The Devil For Your Lust, 2021
-
Vesuvius As A Woman, 2021
Biography
Opening, 2023
Singaporean artist Israfil Ridhwan (b. 1999) is a visual storyteller. He transposes the lived and dreamed experiences of the people around him into a colourful arrangement of warm hued canvases.The oil paintings of Israfil feature neo-expressionist poster-like compositions, an alluring medley of relayed narratives and inspirations. Vivid colours, bold outlines, and rhythmic figures welcome audiences to walk through a series of cinematic events.
Mysticism, movement, and drama breeze through Israfil’s latest collection of work as he crafts a harmonious marriage of local encounters with neo-latin cultural influences. Inspiration from baroque masters is apparent in the strong contrasts between light and shadow, or chiaroscuro, of Israfil’s paintings.
Israfil Ridhwan graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts 2020 with a Diploma in Fine Arts and has since shown in group exhibitions including Little Red Dot – Singapore Edition (2022), Fresh Take (2021) and held his first solo exhibition, The Divine Comedy in 2021 at Cuturi Gallery.
Exhibitions
-
Spaces In-Between
Israfil Ridhwan 2 Sep - 1 Oct 2023 SingaporeRead more -
Summer Group Show 2023
Group Exhibition 15 Jul - 27 Aug 2023 SingaporeRead more -
ART SG
Aisha Rosli, Faris Heizer, Israfil Ridhwan, Khairulddin Wahab and Shen Jiaqi 12 - 15 Jan 2023 Art FairsRead more -
Little Red Dot - London Edition
Group Exhibition 26 Oct - 6 Nov 2022 LondonRead more -
Little Red Dot - Singapore Edition
Group Exhibition 20 Aug - 4 Sep 2022 SingaporeRead more -
The Divine Comedy
Israfil Ridhwan 24 Jul - 15 Aug 2021 SingaporeRead more
Press
-
Singapore Art Gallery Weekend 2023
ArtAsiaPacific, September 13, 2023 -
Knockout shows at Singapore Art Gallery Weekend
Helmi Yusof, The Business Times, September 7, 2023 -
Spaces In-Between
Mingli Seet, Timeout Singapore, September 5, 2023 -
Arts Picks: Walking musical tour of Katong, exhibitions by Kumari Nahappan, Israfil Ridhwan
Shawn Hoo, The Straits Times, August 31, 2023 -
Things To Do In Singapore: A Y2K Film Festival, A Korean Marketplace & More
Keng Yang Shuen, Female, August 31, 2023 -
The Best Things To Do In Singapore This Week: 28th August 2023 to 3rd September 2023
City Nomads, August 27, 2023 -
Growing global demand for Singaporean artists' works, but more needs to be done to draw youngsters into sector
Cherie Lok & Fabian Koh, Channel News Asia, July 26, 2023 -
14 July 2023 — Cuturi Gallery to open its Summer Group Show
Stephanie Yeap, Plural Art Mag, July 14, 2023 -
Things To Do In Singapore: A Group Show For Emerging Artists, The Return Of Enclave Bar & More
Keng Yang Shuen & Nicholas See, Female Singapore, July 13, 2023 -
Lima pelukis muda giat ukir nama di persada seni
Puad Ibrahim, Berita Harian, March 13, 2023 -
Israfil Ridhwan is Part of The New Generation of Talented Artists Coming Out of Singapore
Rubén P, Overstandard, January 21, 2023 -
Big business for some galleries, consolation for others at Art SG
Arthur Sim, The Straits Times, January 16, 2023 -
Cuturi Gallery's Exhibition Celebrates Singaporean Artists Who Tanked Through Covid
Jolene Teo, Alien Space Crab, August 22, 2022 -
Arts Picks: 29 Singapore artists in 3 group exhibitions show new work
Arthur SIm, The Straits Times, August 19, 2022 -
In Singapore, Five Young Artists Expanding The Limits Of Masculinity
Keng Yang Shuen, Female Singapore , June 7, 2022 -
Young Artists To Place Your Bets On
Arthur Sim, The Straits Times, February 20, 2022 -
Unruly Compositions Of The Nanyang Style From The Eyes Of Three Young Artists
Manfred Lu, Men's Folio Singapore, December 23, 2021 -
11 up-and-coming artists in Singapore that you should know
Tanya Singh and Dewi Nurjuwita, Time Out Singapore, June 11, 2021
News
Bibliography
Opening, 2023
Artist statement
One quote I’ve always stuck with is, “life imitates art”. Being someone who’s a little too in-touch with his emotions can be very draining. I’ve been blessed with the life I have- to live around people who express their thoughts and emotions to me. I see violence, lust, love, joy and so many more. Being inspired by this, I’ve made it my genre of art. When I paint something, it’s a parallel reflection of an emotion, valid or not. I’d like to think that I’m a mediator of some sort. My art style has been described as poster-like or figurative. I think it’s nice knowing that it is the way it is, as if life is a movie and my work is the summary.