Gahmen, 2026
synthetic polymer paint and mixed media on canvas,
dimensions variable
8 x (H) 60 x (W) 50 x (D) 6 cm max.,
7 x (H) 40 x (W) 30 x (D) 8 cm max.
Image: artist
“Gahmen” is a colloquial mispronunciation commonly used by Singaporeans when referring to the government. In this series, Gahmen becomes the title of fourteen still-life paintings of a folded uniform set, presented alongside a single unfinished panel. Together, they draw upon the recognisable visual attire of a political party: white shirt, white trousers, black belt, and logo.
Without access to the party’s actual uniform, Mah re-imagines his own clothes as stand-ins to construct each still-life composition. Every painting is marked with a general election year won by the party, anchoring the series within a political timeline. The garments are repeatedly folded, adjusted, and repositioned to produce subtle variations across small canvases. Through repeated acts of painting the same set, the works build a visual language that appears stable and coherent despite shifts between iterations.
Still-life painting operates openly here as a maintenance process. It holds forms in place, ensuring they remain legible, aligned, and ready for reactivation.
Without access to the party’s actual uniform, Mah re-imagines his own clothes as stand-ins to construct each still-life composition. Every painting is marked with a general election year won by the party, anchoring the series within a political timeline. The garments are repeatedly folded, adjusted, and repositioned to produce subtle variations across small canvases. Through repeated acts of painting the same set, the works build a visual language that appears stable and coherent despite shifts between iterations.
Still-life painting operates openly here as a maintenance process. It holds forms in place, ensuring they remain legible, aligned, and ready for reactivation.