David Mah is an artist who moulds materials such as cement,wax, and bronze to create powerful figures that touch you with such clarity that it’s difficult to forget them. Whether it’s through a gesture of the hand, or a cocky facial expression, his sculptures come to life and speak for themselves.

David Mah learned his craft at Central Tech and he believes it has the best sculpture studio in the city. He decided early on that he would not sell his work because he did not want the pressure of having to make a living from it. He worked at another job to support himself, and spent as much time as he wanted with his sketches and sculptures to arrive at a final form of expression that would please him. His work is not premeditated. He prefers to feel the material and let it decide. For example he likes “wax because it can hold an immediate spontaneous feel to it whereas clay is softer and you lose the shape easily.” David is an artist who is willing to spend innumerable hours experimenting and creating. For that reason it is impossible for him to put a price tag on his work. To him, the true value of his creations is the pleasure they can give to viewers. Even though David believes “art is an antidote to being cynical,” and each piece is very much part of his expression of life, he hasn’t discounted parting with one of his pieces if the right person comes along.

David Mah is thrilled to be at Side Space Gallery, an unconventional venue on the North West corner of St. Clair West and Lauder. The glassed-in space, which looks like a greenhouse attached to a corner building, was used as a storage for many years before Schuster Gindin had a brainwave and saw it not only as an art gallery where people could enjoy art from the sidewalk without the intimidation of walking into a gallery, but also as a step towards improving the image of the neighbourhood. With the generous offer of business owner Joe Lo Curto, Schuster transformed the messy storage into Side Space Gallery. This unusual gallery appeals to David Mah because selling his work is not as important as having passers-by enjoy his creations.

Side Space will be exhibiting the work of different artists every month. For more information, you can check its website:
http://www.sidespacegallery.com/

Contributed by: Peggy Lampotang