joannelyj

[joannelyj]

A Ritual of Memory Exploring the physical consciousness of memories evoked through ritual practice. Papier–mâché, newsprint, gouache.

[joannelyj]

Tiga Rasa Sayang (Three Feelings of Love)

Food, fun, and fellowship: three things that bind Malaysians together. The vases in this collection are facets of local life and culture. It is common to hear the phrase ‘Jom Minum!’ (let’s get a drink!) amongst acquaintances. Catch-up sessions are rarely without the presence of food. ABC (Air Batu Campur/Ais Kacang) is often shared, A traditional breakfast is never complete without soft-boiled eggs, toast with kaya (egg jam) and butter, and piping hot coffee. And of course, snacks and all seasonal fruits (durian, anybody?) are enjoyed by one and all.  The Peranakan people have Straits Chinese Porcelain, the English their Jasperware, the Dutch their Delft Blue pottery. These quirky vases are an attempt to create a contemporary identity for local pottery and to capture the spirit of everyday Malaysians. Made with paper mache clay, gouache, and embroidery.

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A tropical toucan pattern, submitted for Gifted?’s Tropical brief. I was inspired by the heliconia rostrata (lobster-claw) plants that used to flower in abundance at my old home. The shape of each floral bract echo the bright beaks of toucans, so I combined both for a playful effect. The colours, though not commonly tropical, are contemporary and would fit well for as gift wrapping or bedding.

Gifted? (now known as Hallmark Competitions) is a competition held six times a year by Hallmark.

Painted with gouache, and combined in Photoshop.

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Bright citrus and leaves pattern!

Gouache and Photoshop.

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Shame Plant, a.k.a the little leaves that close when you touch them.

Oil pastels, Photoshop

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My very first zine: Keep Going. This 8-page zine is meant to give the reader a boost of motivation at any time of the day. Inside is a manifesto, tips on handling your ‘inner demons’ and other inspiring  ideas so that you may Keep Going.

Each page was painted in gouache before scanning and printed. The front cover has a intentional blank, to be personalised with the recipient’s name.

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Illustration for Projek Pinangan Puteri Pujaan by Mohamed Naguib bin Ngadnan. A modern take on a Malaysian legend ‘Puteri Gunung Ledang’, where a prince’s desire to marry an impossibly beautiful princess requires him to agree to her equally impossible marriage conditions. This retelling involves more updated criteria (credit cards, signed chequebooks and social media access, for example), and ends on a surprisingly happy note. 

Available to read on Cukaria (written in Malay).

Photoshop

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Personal illustration for a story I wrote: “A Droplet of Thought”.

Gouache and Photoshop.

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Mori inspired pattern.

Photoshop

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Hand lettered quote from Andy Warhol

Watercolour

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Summers in Malaysia for me means biting into a ‘jambu air’, or rose apple. The best kinds are those that have a crisp bite, with a slightly spongy but very juicy interior. Better yet if given time to chill.

Painted with gouache and Posca markers.

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Unikitty Kittycorn is magical and so are you!

Gouache

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Abstract blue and white pattern with no name. I call them eggplants in my head.

Copic markers, Photoshop

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Hilarious little pattern I made for Chinese New Year. Siu Har Har loosely translates to ‘Much Laughter’, a well wish for homes to be filled with love and joy all year round. The ‘har’ sounds like ‘prawn’ in Cantonese, hence the prawny, brawny pattern.  Made with gel pen, Prismacolor pencils and Photoshop

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Fun kitties wearing fruity hats!

Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils, Photoshop