HOPE is a collaborative exhibition that follows the artistic journey of Khairul Ikhwan and his battle with cancer. It is a therapeutic and inspirational avenue for creativity, dialogue and awareness. Hope is a feeling of trust. It is an essential ingredient that allows one to reflect daily. It is about trusting in something that we treasure or desire; a purpose or catalyst to strive in life. The show brings together works of these young artists and their personal meanings into a shared envisioning of HOPE with Khairul. It draws strength through the essence of art creation and formation of community to put these hopes into action. HOPE reveals these young, diverse histories in the present of coping, caring and healing, painting their hopes for a better tomorrow, not an abstract distant future.

Muhammad Khairul Ikhwan (born August 15, 1993) is an artist that focuses on painting, drawing, illustration, performing arts and new media works. His work often deals with representation of his body and face synthesising with imaginary ‘creatures’, based on subconscious thoughts. Khairul conjures images that extend his own identity while alluding to the nature of human behaviours. Here, amorphous forms similarly suggest beings that are gender fluid and one that exist in a spectrum. Khairul was diagnosed with colorectal cancer stage 4 in 2015, which eventually led to disruption in his hearing and vision. He is still receiving treatment.

This exhibition also includes 7 other artists whom the artist have collaborated with:
Aiden Taufiq
Amanda Sue
Azura Kathleen Mckwraith
Li Zhongren
Marla Bendini
Mohammad Afham (Afan)
Zulkhairi Zulkiflee

Opening Exhibition: 21st April 2016 , 6:30 PM

Venue: On Air Gallery, Level 2, NAFA Campus 1, 80 Bencoolen Street, Singapore 189655

When: 21 Apr - 1 May 2016,

By: NAFA