Desmond Mah
Image source Desmond Mah
Desmond Mah / 马福民 (b. 1974, Singapore; Singaporean-Australian, based in Boorloo/Perth) explores the tactile richness of paint through line-based mark-making and a paint-weaving technique that evokes the textures of textiles. This technique, a tribute to his mother's seamstress work, suggests the processes of threading, unravelling, and reweaving. Drawing inspiration from the aesthetics of natural history illustrations and documentary practices, Mah critically engages with problematic colonial narratives, specifically those found within historical archives and museum collections. These archival materials become a resource to challenge and reframe perspectives. Furthermore, Mah expands his painting practice, like integrating audio to create immersive experiences that deepen the viewer's engagement with his work.
Mah earned a BA (Hons) in Painting from Loughborough University, UK (1998), supported by a Lee Foundation (Singapore) scholarship, and a diploma from LaSalle College of the Arts, Singapore (1997). Prior to beginning his practice in 2017, he worked in art education and horticulture. Of Hainanese, Kinmen, and Singaporean descent, Mah migrated to Australia as a teenager in the 1980s, a period of heightened hostility towards the Asian diaspora in Boorloo.
Mah's achievements include the E.SUN Bank Special Selection Prize (Taiwan, 2022) and the Southern Buoy Studios Portrait Prize (Australia, 2021). He has been awarded grants and participated in numerous exhibitions, residencies, and commissions, notably the Fremantle Arts Centre Studio Program (2023) and two Red Gate Residencies (Beijing, 2018). His works are held in notable collections. Recent highlights include being a finalist for the Collie Art Prize 2025 and participation in the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial at Mossenson Galleries (Australia, 2024).
