The Bra Shark and Louise the Brartist

Fatal attraction by Louise Low (CNB 2013)

At the YMA II, contemporary artist Louise Low's art installation/sculpture entitled Fatal Attraction, is a narrative 'of abusive males and the lure of love', 'how victims are lured into believing that man is the protective gender of the weak, ... similar to domestic violence where women still believe in their abusive husbands'. It seems a rather creative way to spread awareness about DV; the shark being made mainly of brassieres, with bra straps for teeth.

We had walked into the Galeri Petronas to catch the remains of the YMA II exhibition and were kindly invited to sit in at a Petronita (tea & talk) event - the prize giving ceremony of their "Rethink Pink Photo Contest" and a talk by Louise Low, artist of  'Fatal Attraction' or more popularly, 'The Bra Shark'.

My 'Rethink Pink' selfie. Note the shark in a bra! (CNB 2013)

Louise talked about her art installation, which Lucien de Guise* wrote, was "the star attraction of this exhibition" (YMA II) and "a miracle of the seamstress' art". Louise explained that during her art school days in Australia, she did a similar project, only her lecturer limited it to a shark's head. So now she has achieved her wish of creating a whole shark with about 300 used pre-loved brassieres. The bras she acquired from donors who knew about her project via Facebook (facebook.com/louiselowseokloo). The bras have also earned her the moniker 'Brartist'.

Louise explains her art to Petronita members (CNB 2013)

With 'brartist' Louise Low Seok Loo (AB 2013)

A & Louise (CNB 2013)

Louise told us that her 'bra shark Fatal Attraction' will travel to Pulau Pinang and another state in the near future. I wondered where it would finally find a home. Not in the (rubbish) skip I hope, but maybe if there are no local eccentric billionaire art lover who will acquire this bra shark, then someone with a major fetish for brassieres (and art) will. Anyway, Louise is currently working on another bra project. Got any nice bras to donate? It will be your contribution to Malaysian art!

* Lucien de Guise. All about new idioms. New Straits Times, 1 December 2013.

29 November 2013