Multidisciplinary artist Nawwar Shukirah Ali, known as Bono Stellar, has illumtinated the contemporary art scene with her iconic creativity. The architecturally-trained artist, whose works have captured the likes of global brands BMW, Google, and VANS, outputs her artistry in a lethal combination of spatial storytelling, multidimensional creativity, and personal truth. She joins AM in elaborating her journey of self-discovery, with the help of iridescent materials.
MERGING MATERIALS AND MULTI-DISCIPLINE
AM
What initially sparked your interest in art and design? How did you develop this interest over time?
BS
I’ve been introduced to the art world since I was three. I believe that everyone is born an artist, with a personal responsibility to curate our daily life. We are free to express ourselves in any way. My academic background in architecture helped me understand spatial design and has enabled me to explore different avenues of art through mediums of drawings, visual merchandising, product design, set design, and interior design.
At first impression, Bono’s works are a fusion of vivid colours, geometric forms, and playful transparency. An artist determined to step beyond conventions, she favours using plexiglass and iridescent film but has been known to use electric paint and convex mirrors.
Each artwork is customised to its intention and context, resulting in a portfolio of one-of-a-kind masterpieces that have been showcased all across KL’s public spaces. She finds particular joy in site-specific projects, where understanding the interplay between medium and environment becomes a central focus.
In 2021, her collaboration with Vans Malaysia led her to take over Masjid Jamek LRT Station and LRT Train 147. Drawing inspiration from the dynamism of Optical Art and Kinetic Art, she translated her ideas into kaleidoscopic patterns that wrapped the station’s surfaces in mind-bending graphics. The abundant abstract geometry did not overwhelm the stairwell. Instead, its interplay of directions and scale gave depth and visual interest to an otherwise austere space. The project was part of a global campaign to celebrate creatives, and her visuals sought to brighten up the community’s routine daily commute.
A JOURNEY WITHIN
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BS
In her practice, she has resisted rigid systems and processes, favouring instead an intuitive and experimental approach. Much of her works delve into themes of subconscious discovery and empowerment, evoking a journey of personal growth and healing.
Her largest work to date, Theta, named after the brainwaves associated with deep relaxation and heightened receptivity, was presented at the KL National Art Gallery in 2023. Given full control of the project, she transformed the gallery’s lobby into a contemplative and whimsical landscape, created through reflective materials, bright colours, and dreamy illusion effects. The spatial piece examined ideas of subconscious creativity and human potential, inviting visitors to walk through, sit, and interact with the art. Its centrepiece featured a perspective view that focused towards a circle on the wall, covered in her signature warped grid pattern, indicating an introspective journey beyond the artwork. Tall blue plinths and piles of metal cubes were contrasted with a scattering of white cotton ‘clouds’ on the floor, giving the space a textural depth and conveying her message of a path’s obstacles and hope.
In her 2024 Dreamweaver and Oculus, she fabricated bright steel structures with luminescent panels around the city’s iconic River of Life and Central Market. Both installations explored topics of the subconscious mind, quantum physics, and mental resilience. Oculus, an octagonal open-air pavilion made of white steel flat columns and colourful film, allowed visitors to step inside and look up to a halo of mirrors and the sky. The installation would change in experience, depending on the time of day as the structure casts a shadow. On the other hand, Dreamweaver impacted visitors via clashing prismatic reflections. Its bold colours and simple geometry encouraged visitors to explore it in a ‘dreamlike’ state.
INFLUENCES BEYOND ARCHITECTURE
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From her academic experience in the field, Bono acknowledges its lasting impact on her artistic perspective. This training is evident in her meticulous understanding of transforming form, space, and materiality, and the technical expertise required to construct her large-scale pieces. Despite the free-spirited approaches to her creations, they project a masterful understanding of technical elements that, when put together, form a 3D sculpture of her artistic message.
She is also influenced through her admiration of artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Vincent Van Gogh, and Frida Kahlo. Each has shaped her understanding of resilience and bold expression. A personal trip to Auverssur-Oise deepened her connection to Van Gogh, whose story of perseverance resonated deeply with her own values. Similarly, Frida Kahlo’s unflinching honesty inspired Bono to create art that is both personal and universal. Beyond fine artists, she takes inspiration from music, lyrics, and creative documentaries.
CULTIVATING CREATIVE CONVICTION
AM
BS
Don’t think, just do. It’s important for me to find my own voice and identity in my work as I create Art as a powerful tool to express and share. I will always choose to project hope and love in my work.
When asked to distil her philosophy, Bono emphasises action over hesitation. She encourages embracing fear, making mistakes, and learning from the process. This mindset reflects her belief in the transformative power of creativity and curiosity, not just as a means of self-expression but as a path to self-discovery and growth. It has led her to an innovative artistic path that transcends medium and form.
ART OF THE FUTURE
AM
In your opinion, what is a strength and a challenge for the Malaysian arts industry?
BS
While Bono appreciates how visitors interact with her works in public settings, her hope lies in fostering deeper connections between audiences and art, beyond superficial interactions. Engaging with art should go beyond simple encounters, and create an environment for contemplation and reflection. Her intentions for the future involve a deeper study into the subconscious mind reprogramming, to find avenues for works that invite new ways of thinking. She aspires to create more pieces that resonate with self-exploration and encourage individuals to connect with their inner selves. “My vision remains rooted in joy, love, and the boundless possibilities of human creativity.”
Fast Facts:
Dream Collaboration:
Michel Gondry or Olafur Eliasson
Favourite Material: Transparent, colored mediums for shadow play
Favourite Music: Rock, in all its forms
Favourite City: New York City
Essential Item: Her iPad
