Scenes from Another Life:

Anum’s set comes to life through music and dancing, decorated much like her own living room. She draws her inspiration from her personal experiences, yet the environments she paints are fictional renderings of a domestic setting. From the geometric rug and bookshelf to her own books and records, you’re invited to listen to a playlist, including the soundtrack that inspired her painting An Evening (2026). Music from the Bollywood movie An Evening in Paris (1967) wafts through the space – evoking Anum’s memory of her sister dancing to these songs on stage at school.

Adding to the celebratory atmosphere is Disc (2026), where a woman dances in a beautiful green dress with a disco ball above her head – at a birthday party according to the artist. The green in her dress is a colour used by Anum frequently, as an ode to the Arnolfini Portrait (1434) by Van Eyck, and the outfit worn by Sharmila Tagore in the film An Evening in Paris. The recurring patterns of Penang floor tiles echo throughout the space, conjuring a homely feel, with sunset pink walls and sky-blue watercolours (aptly named the Blue Monday series after New Order’s famous 1983 song), complementing Shayne Phua’s nearby curtains.

Further Notes:

Disc (2025) evolved from a small oil study titled Disco, inspired by the artist’s lifelong love of music and dance. Growing up on the East Coast in the 1970s, community gatherings often revolved around traditional dance and singing performances — moments of shared rhythm and joy. Disco draws from a recent real-life celebration: the birthday of a close friend, Christine, held at a live music venue where an ‘80s cover band played familiar tunes. The shimmering green sequined dress worn by Christine caught the artist’s attention — its glittering surface and mermaid silhouette now immortalised on canvas.

In Disc, the figure appears to float on a wooden stage alongside a potted rubber fig plant, borrowed from Green Tee (2024). The composition recalls earlier works such as Killing Me Softly (2000) and A Song for Two (2000), where music, reflection, and emotional resonance merge. The title hints at both “disco” and “discourse” — the circular motion of spinning records, ideas, and memory — a visual rhythm echoing through the artist’s body of work.