Harta Space in Penang is hosting 'A Third Eye', an exhibition paying tribute to the late multi-dimensional artist Askandar Unglehrt. Born in Germany, Unglehrt studied at the Sorbonne in Paris during the 1960s, where he was influenced by Dadaism and surrealist poet Jean Hans Arp. He later settled in Malaysia, taught at Universiti Sains Malaysia, and developed a distinctive artistic practice rooted in collage, assemblage, and the concept of a 'third eye' that synthesizes Eastern and Western perspectives. The exhibition explores his humorous, esoteric works and his lifelong questioning of art's seriousness.
This exhibition matters because it re-examines the legacy of a lesser-known but culturally significant artist who bridged European avant-garde traditions with Southeast Asian sensibilities. Unglehrt's rejection of formal training and his embrace of Dadaist principles challenge conventional art hierarchies, while his focus on identity and hybridity resonates with contemporary debates about multiculturalism and decolonization in art. By spotlighting his work, Harta Space contributes to a broader effort to recover marginalized narratives in Malaysian and global art history.