CANVAS OF CULTURE WHERE
TILES BECOME ART
A Creative Collaboration Rooted in Innovation and Local Pride
At Niro Ceramic Group, we believe that creativity flourishes through collaboration, especially when it’s grounded in purpose. When Else Gallery first approached us, the idea was simple yet powerful: to bring Malaysian artistry and material design into a shared space. After several exchanges, a concept emerged — to create a series of artworks inspired by the themes behind our upcoming product.
This campaign is more than just an exhibition. It’s a dialogue between material and maker, design and emotion, product and story. By supplying our tiles, engineered stones and mosaics to local artists and supporting them financially, we invited them to reinterpret our materials as canvases of self-expression, rather than surfaces confined to walls or floors.
MEET THE ARTISTS
ARTIST
Michelle Yap
A Malaysian abstract artist known for her bold, calligraphic-inspired large-scale paintings that reflect personal values and a deep passion for fine art.
ARTIST
Mark Lee
A fine art artist and contemporary landscape painter whose nature-inspired works explore existence and time through texture, flow, and space compositions.
ARTIST
Marisa R Ng
A visual artist whose abstract works explore human relationships, mental health, and spiritual transformation through innovative silicon-based mediums.
ARTIST
Syafiq Sabri
A contemporary sculptor and visual artist exploring identity, community, and nature through tile-based works inspired by East Coast Malaysian culture and modern aesthetics.
The Inspiration Behind Each Artwork
Each piece of artwork carries the spirit of a theme from our product, interpreted through the eyes and hands of talented Malaysian artists.
Among them, Mark Lee created a striking series of six illustrations drawn directly on engineered stones. His pieces flow organically across multiple themes, from Fairytale Woods to True to Life, embracing a spontaneous and intuitive process. He shared in an interview with us that the artworks unfolded, each one finding its place within the themes as they came to life. His approach embodies how inspiration can emerge naturally when form meets material.
In contrast, Michelle Yap took a deeply conceptual route in her artwork inspired by the Recomposition theme. Her piece reflects the emotional layers of life — moments torn, reshaped, and brought back together to form something entirely new. Through the juxtaposition of structure and abstraction, her work mirrors the process of fragmenting and reforming, much like the surface designs within our product innovations.
Marisa R. Ng brought her unique artistic flair to the theme Phenomenal, creating a standout piece that combines tiles with her signature silicone medium. The contrast between the softness of silicone and the hardness of tiles sparked a dynamic interplay, resulting in a composition that feels both tactile and expressive. Drawing inspiration from nature, the piece incorporates green elements and earthy tones, with the colour of the tiles serving as the artwork’s highlight. In our interview, Marisa shared that the collaboration opened up unexpected creative possibilities, transforming tiles from building material into integral elements of her masterpiece.
Exploring the theme Recomposition, Syafiq Sabri approached his artwork with the concept of turning deconstruction into renewal. He broke tiles by hand, letting random shapes emerge before piecing them back together into a visual narrative. In our interview, Syafiq shared how this process reflects his views on change, growth, and healing — a metaphor for how societies evolve. The irregular fragments revealed an unexpected beauty in imperfection, reinforcing the idea that reconstruction is an essential part of transformation.
These stories are just a glimpse into how each artist responded uniquely to our themes:
- City of Lights – urban vibrance and architectural brilliance
- Fairytale Woods – nature, imagination, and enchantment
- True to Life – high-definition realism and tactile design
- Phenomenal – breaking boundaries, challenging norms
- Recomposition – crafting beauty from fragments
Together, these works form a visual anthology, one that transforms tile and stone into emotionally resonant, visually compelling narratives.
Supporting Local Talent, Celebrating Innovation
This collaboration also aligns with Niro Ceramic Group’s CSR commitment under the social pillar of Cultural and Community Development. As part of our effort to uplift the creative community, we provided the four Malaysian artists with our tile materials and financial support to bring their visions to life. By offering both resources and a platform to showcase their work at a prestigious industry event, we aim to celebrate local talent and explore new creative frontiers. Through this initiative, we reaffirm our belief that art, design, and material innovation can enrich everyday spaces and spark meaningful dialogue within the built environment.
Innovation has always been part of who we are. From pioneering high-performance surfaces to reimagining tiles beyond floors and walls — as countertops, benches, tabletops, and now art, we continuously explore new ways to stretch the boundaries of what surfaces can do.
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ELSE GALLERY Level 1, D1-03, Anzen Business Park, Else Gallery, Kawasan Perusahaan Taman Bukit Maluri, 52100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. www.elsegallery.com |
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