About the Artist
Born in Kedah, Malaysia, studied Fine Arts at the Universiti Institut Teknologi MARA, Malaysia, and earned his MFA in Creative Practice with Transart Institute, Plymouth University, United Kingdom. Sabri is devoted to experimental approaches in painting, combining his training in graphic design and mastery of industrial materials. His belief in art making is that the process is inherently social in nature, submerging him in a dialogue of experimentation towards technical and material advancement. He has been exhibiting with local and international galleries since early 1990’s, participating in regional art fairs in Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Art Basel, Hong Kong and back home in Malaysia. Sabri's portfolio ranges not only from painting works, but also publication and graphic design, multimedia and video production, installation and sculpture.
Solo Exhibitions
2018 POWER: NOW AND THERE, Gajah Gallery, Singapore
2017 TRANSFORMATION AND DARKNESS. E-Tay Gallery, New York, USA.
2015 RECOVERY PLAN. Gajah Gallery, Singapore
2012 ANTARA. Taksu Gallery, Singapore
2010 MUFAKAT: SPACE FOR THE PUBLIC. The Painting Garage, Bandung, Indonesia
2010 MASA SERIES: A REDUCTION PROCESS. Taksu Gallery, Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia
2009 IN TRANSIT. MALAYSIA-POLAND . Aula Gallery, University of Arts, Poznan, Poland
2006 KERONCONG SERIES, Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
2004 LOREK-LOREK, The Townhouse Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
1999 THE SEARCH OF THE UNCERTAINTIES, The Painting Hall, Selangor, Malaysia
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 Rimas Mereneh, Restlessly Simmering, Fergana Art, Publika, Kuala Lumpur. Time Together: Exploring Art Through Khazanah National Berhad’s Collection (virtual: galeri.khazanah.com.my) , and at Slate @ The Row, Kuala Lumpur. A Paradigm Shift – Reflecting on Twenty Years of The Malaysian Art Scene, Wei Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, & The China House, Penang. Abstraction Now!, Wei Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur. 2021 The Transart (notso) Short Fest, Ely Center of Contemporary Art, New Haven, CT, USA. Bridging the Distance, Fergana Art, Publika, Kula Lumpur. 2020 UOB Painting of The Year Regional Winners’ Showcase, UOB Gallery, Singapore. A Transart (Not So) Short Fest, New York, and Berlin. SeSumpah, Fergana Art, Blackbox, Publika, Kuala Lumpur. Genset, Gajah Gallery, Singapore 2019 Patterns of Making–Two man show with Andrew Cooks, E-Tay Gallery, New York Genset, Gajah Gallery Singapore and Tabularasa Studio, Malaysia Good Morning, Gyeongju! Gyeongju Art Center, Gyeongju, South Korea Monumenta, Gajah Gallery, Singapore 2018 Power, Plan and Perception, Gajah Gallery Singapore and Tabularasa Studio, Malaysia. Di Antara Itu dan Ini, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Donut Project (A participatory project for Di Antara Itu & Ini), National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Rupa-Rupa(Nya) Fergana Art, Whitebox, Publika, Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia. 2017 The Unreal Deal: Six Decades Of Malaysian Abstract Art, Bank Negara Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2016 Bantul Art Summit, Gajah Gallery Yogyakarta, Indonesia 2015 Prudential Eye Zone, Art Science Museum, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Loose Affairs, SomoS, Berlin, Germany 2014 Eye Zone (curated exhibition), Start Art Fair, Saatchi Gallery, London, United Kingdom. Malaysia-Australia Visual Arts Residency, Disruptive Nature: Sabri Idrus (Malaysia) + Habitat: Sean Cordeiro & Claire Healy (Australia), Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia 2013 UTP STANZA, University of Technology and Life Sciences , Bydgoszcz, Poland. 2012 DUA: Sabri Idrus & Tony Twigg, Taksu, Malaysia and Singapore. 2009 Malaysia-Poland Cultural & art exchange, Pyzdry and Lagow, Poland.
AWARDS: 2020 The UOB Painting of the Year Award (Malaysia). 2015-2017 The Transart Social Change Award. Transart Institute. 2014 Malaysia Open Show, Juror’s Award, National Art Gallery, Malaysia. 2011 UOB Art Award – Special Mention. 2004 BMS04/The Young Contemporary Art Award (Painting), National Art Gallery, Malaysia.
SELECTED RESIDENCIES 2019 Gyeongju International Residency Art Festa, Gyeongju, South Korea 2015-2017 Transart Institute, Low Residencies, Berlin and New York. 2013-2014 19th Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia –Australia Visual Arts Residency, Selangor, Malaysia. 2013 Artist in Residence: University of Technology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz, Poland. 2010 Artist In Residence, Hegarbudhi Community, Bandung, Indonesia. 2009 Artist In Residence Poland – University Of Arts, Poznan, Poland
