Artist Uses Black Dogs to Highlight Depression

“Dog Days” is the first solo exhibition of local artist Ping. (Theevya Ragu @ FMT Lifestyle)

AMPANG: In her first solo exhibition consisting of a series of sculptures and paintings, emerging Malaysian artist Ping tackles a subject often considered taboo: depression.

Titled “Dog Days,” it cleverly draws a parallel between the black dog and societal perceptions of mental health.

Ping, 29, said she first heard the metaphor of black dogs being linked to depression while studying in Melbourne.

“Since then, this idea has always stayed in my mind because they are two concepts at opposite ends of the spectrum. My pet brings me so much joy, but there is a connection with depression,” she told FMT Lifestyle.

Ping skillfully transforms abstract concepts into physical forms. (Photo Harta)

After quitting her job in accounting and finance, she began studying fine art in 2020. And it was during the pandemic that she drew her first black dog. “We had live drawing classes, and the only model I had at home was my own dog,” she said.

His current exhibition, which includes more than 10 works, took him a year to complete, with his most complex sculptures taking about three months. “A lot of his creations are inspired by the antics of my own dog.”

One of her most notable works, “One Among Many,” explores the feeling of loneliness in a crowd. Ping said the idea came to her when she saw a dog on the street with its head stuck in a plastic container.

“One Among Many” is a sculpture based on a real encounter between Ping and a dog. (Theevya Ragu @ FMT Lifestyle)

“I was struck by the uncomfortable parallel between what it must have felt like to be in his shoes and the experience of being lost in your own head – the darkness and the acute discomfort, the feeling of being alone even when surrounded by loved ones,” Ping explained.

Another notable sculpture, “Concerned First Party,” depicts a dog looking at himself in a mirror. “Sometimes my dog ​​recognizes himself in the mirror, sometimes he doesn’t. It reminds me of those strange moments when I look up and am surprised by the stranger I see reflected in the mirror,” she said.

“Self-Doubt,” meanwhile, features a small black dog surrounded by his toys. The work focuses on a question Ping couldn’t get out of her head: “Why does the idea of ​​taking medication for mental illness threaten to trigger an existential crisis?” she asked.

“Self-Doubt” addresses the stigma of taking medication for mental health disorders. (Theevya Ragu @ FMT Lifestyle)

“The reason the toys are that color is because it mimics the green Prozac pill, the mood stabilizer. I’ve always found it interesting that when people wear contact lenses or take blood pressure medication, it’s never really talked about as a problem,” she said, adding that taking medication for mental health issues, on the other hand, raises eyebrows.

“And it also raises an interesting question: What is the real me? Before or after taking the pills?”

In “Needs Must,” a painting composed of 27 individual oil drawings on paper that, when assembled, form the word “MINE,” Ping said it was about taking responsibility for every action she took, even embarrassing ones like pooping.

“Needs Must” consists of separate oil works on paper that form the word “MINE.” (Theevya Ragu @ FMT Lifestyle)

“The stigma around mental health makes people feel like time spent in poor health isn’t something they deserve to have. So I wanted to challenge that by saying that even those moments that are maybe embarrassing or that you don’t want to remember, are worth having.”

And what is his personal message to convey to those who view his work?

“Depression doesn’t have a single manifestation. And when you think of dogs, you think of different shapes and sizes, different breeds. I’ve come to appreciate that there are actually many facets, not just to the black dog, but to everything in life.”

Dog Days: A Solo Exhibition by Ping

Date: From August 2nd to 20th

Place: HARTA, Level 1, Lot 93-95 Lorong Memanda 2, 68000 Ampang, Selangor

Time: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Tuesday to Sunday (admission is free)

Visit HARTA website or follow them on Instagram.

Visit Ping’s website or follow her on Instagram.