Chuah Shu Ruei is an emerging contemporary artist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She apprenticed with Long Thien Shih (veteran Malaysian artist), holds a Diploma in Fine Art from ASWARA (National Academy of Arts, Heritage and Culture), and is a member of Studio TERUSI (a Malaysian artist collective).

Within Malaysia, her work has been exhibited in Pelitahati Gallery, G13 Gallery and Map Publika, amongst others. Her artworks have also been exhibited in Italy, Poland, Singapore and Sydney. In 2011 she received a Rasa Alam Exhibition Special Jury Award from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia). Recently, she was the only Malaysian artist selected to join the SpotArt Young Artists Festival 2013; a Singapore Biennale 2013 fringe event which showcases jury selected emerging ASEAN artists.

Traditional aspects of Malaysian heritage inspire and are incorporated into contemporary artworks, which at present are primarily mixed media installation art, printmaking and collages. Primary materials used include rattan, aluminium, synthetic fur, light boxes and assorted papers and plastics.

Her current series ‘Manusia’ (Human) dwells on the subtle, everyday forms of ‘dehumanisation’ (particularly ‘animalistic dehumanisation’). ‘Manusia’ draws a parallel between Southern Chinese Lion Dance and the way we perceive or dehumanise ourselves and each other in terms of identity. Her other artworks in the form of collages and installations also address the themes of perspectives, perception, change and ambiguity.