Short Bio
Amir Zainorin @Amir Z, born in Malaysia in 1963, is a visual artist currently based in Copenhagen since 2002. Notably, he is the founding figure behind the artist collective Jambatan. Amir has served as an educator at the Danish Art Foundation House Artist Program. Throughout his career, he has orchestrated and curated numerous exhibitions, including The Malaysian Art Festival in Copenhagen (2009), Stateless Mind Festival in Copenhagen (2020), IPOH International Film Festival Malaysia (2019), and Pera+Flora+Fauna, at the 59th Biennale di Venezia (2022), among others.
Amir pursued Business Studies in Malaysia before continuing his education at the University of Kansas City, USA. Although initially involved in various occupations upon returning to Malaysia, he transitioned into the realm of art at the age of 32 after a fateful encounter with Jeri Azhari, a Malaysian Pop artist, in Kuala Lumpur in 1995.
As an interdisciplinary artist, Amir adeptly traverses mediums such as performance, video installation, prints, paintings, and text. His projects often includes interactive and participatory elements, reflecting his commitment to engaging with diverse communities, including migrants and indigenous peoples. Grounded in extensive interdisciplinary research, his artistic practice serves as a platform for meaningful dialogue and exploration with themes such as identity, belonging, and displacement.
Amir's works have graced venues worldwide, including the KL Biennale, National Art Gallery Malaysia, Museum of Contemporary Art Roskilde Denmark, Overgaden Institute of Contemporary Art Copenhagen, Immigrant Museum Denmark, and National Art Gallery Singapore. His contributions to the arts have been recognized through grants from esteemed institutions such as the Danish Art Foundation, Nordic Culture Fond, National Art Gallery Malaysia, and Cendana Malaysia. His artwork is in the permanent collections of the National Art Gallery Malaysia and Immigrant Museum Denmark.
CV
Amir Zainorin (born in Malayisa 1963)
www.amirzainorin.com
https://www.statelessmind.com/
https://www.instagram.com/amirzainorin/?hl=en https://portperakvenice.wordpress.com/amir-zainorin/
Education
1995-1998: Apprenticeship to popartist Ahmad Azhari, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1988-1990: University of Missouri, Kansas City, USA (Business Administration)
1986-1988: University of Central Arkansas (BBA)
1980-1983: Ungku Omar polytechnic, Ipoh, Malaysia
Selected Solo Exhibition
2025: Whispers of Comfort @Kunstpakhuset, Denmark (coming)
2024: Trash to Treasure @Kapallorek, Perak, Malaysia (coming)
2024: ‘Ephemeral Echoes’, Gudskul, Jakarta Indonesia (coming)
2020: ‘Covid Surreality’, Artemis Art, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
2015: ‘Going Back Home’, Melaka Art Gallery, Malaysia
2014: ‘Dear Helle...’, Immigrant Museum, Farum, Denmark
2014: ‘Papercuts‘, Gallery Alstrup, Alstrup, Denmark
2011: ‘Subject to Change’, MAP Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2011: ‘Most Wanted’, Poetisk Bureau, Copenhagen, Denmark
2010: ‘X Box’, Performance Art at Peti Seni, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2009: ‘Mad (e) in Malaysia’, Brick lane Gallery, London, UK
2007: ‘The Opening’, Gallery Pelita Hati, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2004: ‘Breathe’, Embassy of Malaysia, Stockholm, Sweden
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023: ‘Transdicilinary Church’, Alte Handelsschule. Leipzig Germany
2023: ‘Cotidianidad freedom’, Pilotenkueche, Leipzig, Germany
2023: ‘In from the Margin’, Edinburg Print, Edinburg, Scotland
2021: ‘The Space Between’, Statelessmind Art Festival, Laterna Magica, Museum for Visual Knowledge, Copenhagen, Denmark
2019: ‘Climate’, IPOH International Art Festival, Malaysia
2019: ‘Minta Perhatian- New Media’, National Art Gallery Malaysia
2018 : ‘Di Antara Itu dan Ini’, National Art Gallery, Malaysia
2018 : NORDic Islands Action, Gothenburg, Sweden
2017 : ’Dream’, Fresh Winds Art Biennale 5th Edition, Gardur, Iceland
2017 : ’ Belas’, KL Biennale, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2017 : ’Body Landscape’, International Performance Art Festival’, Copenhagen, Denmark
2017 : Matkalla Onneen ́, Tehdas, Nokia, Finland
2017 : Hands On’, Wei Ling Contemporary, Malaysia
2016 : ’ Art in Exile’, Museum of Contemporary Art Roskilde, Denmark
2016: ‘ A Fact Has No Appearance, Art beyond the Object’, National Gallery, Singapore
2104: ‘ Bela Biennale’, Museum of Historico, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
2014: ‘Nordic Countries and Football’ AVA Gallery, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
2014: ‘Land Art’ , MNKK and Rebild Kommune, Rebild, Denmark
2013: ‘April Udstilling’, Vrå Højskole Kunsthal, Vrå, Denmark
2012: ’24’, two persons show with Camilla Blachmann, Oxholm Gallery, Copenhagen
2012: ‘Power, Hope and Land’, National Art Gallery, Malaysia
2011: ‘Generous Gestures’, Den Fri Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Denmark
2010: ‘Invitation to the possible’, Overgaden Institute of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen
2009: ‘Uncut’, Museum of Contemporary Art Roskilde, Denmark
2009: ‘Sculpture Festival’, Svankjær, Denmark
Selected Performance
2023: 'The Last Supper remix'-‘Transdicilinary Church’, Alte Handelsschule. Leipzig Germany
2022: ‘Me/We’, Port Perak 59th Venice Biennale , Italy
2020: ‘Covid Surreality’, Home Studio, Copenhagen
2016 : `Media Junkie`, Museum of Contemporary Art Roskilde, Denmark
2015: ‘Batu Api – One Click Art Performance’, Melaka Art Performance Festival, Malaysia
2014: ‘Dart’, Global Village, Brønshøj Library, Denmark
2014: ‘Think Tank’, The Mall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2012: ‘Sign of Times’, Public Art Performance Copenhagen,
2011: ‘Most Wanted’, Tupada Action Media Art Performance festival, Phillipines
2011: ‘Stateless Border’, Den Fri, Copenhagen, Denmark
2011: ‘Subject To Change’, MAP Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2010: ‘Classification’, Overgaden, Copenhagen, Denmark
2010: ‘X-box’, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2010: ‘Love Stamp’, Brorsons kirke, Copenhagen, Denmark
2010: ‘Love and Fragile’, Vanløse, Denmark
2010: ‘Stamp Over’, Public Art Performance, Immigration Office, Copenhagen, Denmark
2010: ‘Stamp Over’, Public Art Performance, Den Fri, Copenhagen, Denmark
2009: ‘Uncut’, Malaysian Arts Festival, Verdenskulturhuset, Copenhagen,Denmark .
2008: ‘Paradise Now’, Gallery Shambala, Copenhagen, Denmark
2004: 'Live portrait drawing’, Heerup Museum, Denmark
2004: 'Language barrier', Roskilde Festival, Denmark
2003: ‘Journey', Images of Asia Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark
Curated exhibitions
2023:Callin it Home-Stateless Mind Festival-Copenhagen
2022: Pera+Flora+Fauna, Port Perak 59th Venice Biennale Collateral event, Italy
2022: Stateless Mind Festival, Archivi della Misericordia, Cannaregio, Venice, Italy
2021: Space Between-Stateless Mind Festival, Laterna Magica, Museum for Visuel Kunst Copenhagen
2019: Stateless Mind Festival, Sorte Firkant, Copenhagen
2019: Ipoh International Fim Festival, Ipoh, Malaysia
2019: Stateless Mind Festival, Laterna Magica, Museum for Visuel Kunst Copenhagen
2008: Malaysian Arts Festival, Gallery Shambala Copenhagen and Museum of Contemporary Art Roskilde, Denmark
Awards and Residencies
2024: Resident artist at Gudskul, Jakarta, Indonesia- - Danish art Foundation
2023: Resident artist at Pilotenkueche, Leipzig, Germany- - Danish art Foundation
2023: One Year Working Grant- Danish art Foundation
2023: ‘Children festival’, Istanbul - Dansk Kultur Institut
2023: House artist Program ‘Art as Therapy, Henrikholmskole, Rødovre - Danish art Foundation
2022: Resident Artist at Fyns Grafisk Værksted, Odense-Creative Europe
2022: House artist Program Denmark -Somalisk Forening- Danish art Foundation
2022: Curation for Pera+Flora+Fauna Port Perak- Perak State Government
2022: Resident artist at Port Perak, Malaysia - - Danish art Foundation
2021: One year working grant - Danish Art Foundation
2020: Production grant for Gudskul, Jakarta- Danish Art Foundation
2019: ‘Climate’, IPOH International Art Festival, Malaysia – Perak State Govt, Malaysia
2019: Production grant for Video - Voice of the Jungle – Cendana Malaysia
2018: Mobility grant -SEA artist Research in the Nordic country - Nordic Culture Fund
2018: ‘Children festival’, Istanbul - Dansk Kultur Institut
2018: House artist Program -‘Ude og Hjem’, Rødovre FlygtningVenner, Rødovre – Danish Art Foundation
2017: Production grant for ’ Belas’, KL Biennale, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -National Art Gallery Malaysia
2017: House artist Program ‘Kaffe, Kunst og Krydderier’, Somalisk Forening, Rødovre - Danish art Foundation
2014: Bela Biennale, Museum of Historico, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil-National Art Gallery Malaysia
2011: Production grant – Criss Cross ‘ at, Poetisk Bureau, Copenhagen- Danish Art Foundation
2011: Production grant -‘Generous Gestures’, Den Fri Contemporary Art- Danish Art Foundation
2010: Production grant for ‘X Box’, Performance Art at National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur- Danish Art Foundation
