Anne Samat

Trained as a weaver, Anne Samat both draws on, and departs from traditional weaving techniques and aesthetics belonging to different cultures in Malaysia. Using synthetic fibers and rattan sticks in place of natural and ornate threads, she further incorporates a wide range of vernacular objects that together give shape to complex symmetrical figures. 

Beads or PVC sections become the veins and bones; a broom’s brush, the hair; or a mosquito coil holder, a face. Inspired by an ancient tale of love between a princess and a fisherman, Anne’s sculptures evince her desire to merge the feminine and masculine. Simultaneously stoic guardians and playful individuals, they demand our gaze, and we are compelled into relation with the Other.