Two artworks which were part of a premier art competition were removed from the state-sponsored show at the National Visual Arts Gallery (Balai Seni) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. 
 
One artwork was a painting bearing the words "ABU = ASHES" by Cheng Yen Pheng, while the other is an installation featuring T-shirts printed with the Arabic letters Fa and Qof , by artist Izat Arif Saiful Bahri. 

The two artworks were removed ahead of an award ceremony for the Bakat Muda Sezaman 2013 (Young Contemporaries) competition graced by the Tourism and Culture Minister Mohd Nazri Aziz last night.

The painting titled "alksnaabknuaunmo" by Cheng was believed to be removed yesterday afternoon, even though both works made it to the finals of the competition.

 

According to juror Nur Hanim Khairuddin, there was no explanation given by the gallery for the sudden removal of the painting which had been on display there since October.

 

“Actually we were surprised because there was a roundtable session between the jurors and Balai administrators and the green light was given for the artworks.

“From the jury’s point of view, the artworks had been chosen to be included in the catalogue and we were not informed they will be removed.

“I question the ethics of Balai on this,” she said when contacted.

YouTube video

In a video uploaded onto YouTube in Nov 2013, Cheng is shown spray painting the words 'ABU=ASHES' onto her painting to “complete the word”, which was already displayed in the gallery.

She then goes on to explain to a small audience the definition of the word 'abu' and the word 'ashes'.

In a separate clip, Cheng is shown decrying the removal of her painting last night.

 

Holding a postcard of her painting in front of an empty wall where her painting was earlier displayed, she repeated: “This is my painting. It was here the last few days but right now, no more. I am so surprised.”

 

Cheng was approached by security guards who tried to snatch the postcard away from her and escort her out, but those present intervened on her behalf and applauded her actions.

 

ABU, while meaning ashes, also stands for 'Anything But Umno'. The Bahasa Malaysia version 'Asalkan Bukan Umno' is also an anagram of the painting's title.

 

The letters ABU have been spraypainted onto walls throughout Malaysia in protest of Umno hegemony.

Four decade history

 

When contacted, Balai said that it cannot make an official statement yet as director general Haned Masjak is not in Kuala Lumpur for the next few days.

Bakat Muda Sezaman competition is a biennial art competition for young artists founded in 1974, and has springboarded artists including Noor Azizan Rahman Paiman and Tan Chin Kuan.

Cheng and Izat's artwork were also featured on Bakat Muda Sezaman's official 

Facebook page and Balai's official publicity material for the show which is still available on the national gallery's website.

Last year, artist Anurendra Jegadeva was investigated by police over his painting which allegedly was an insult to Islam .
 
The painting was exhibited as part of the Balai-curated 'M50' show in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the formation of Malaysia.  
 
The painting was removed by the co-curators at Publika Mall, Kuala Lumpur following the controversy to avoid damage, as it was exhibited at the mall's thoroughfare.