Noor Mahnun (Anum) | New Shoes

Courtesy of the artist and Yeo Workshop

Noor Mahnun, also known as Anum, is a painter known for her figurative works of domestic scenes and still-lifes that fuse elements of realism, allegory and the whimsical. Her compositions are thoughtfully constructed and imbued with a sense of psychological narrative. She completed her Master’s in Fine Art at Hochschule für Bildende Künste, Braunschweig in 1996. Anum was artist-in-residence at Rimbun Dahan in Kuang, Selangor (2000–2001) and received a scholarship from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a printmaking course at Il Bisonte, Florence (2002–2003). She has presented solo exhibitions at The Edge Galerie (2017), The Back Room (2021) and Yeo Workshop (2025).

New Shoes is an oil painting based on a personal photograph of Anum’s nephew during an outing after receiving a new pair of sneakers. For the artist, new shoes symbolise new beginnings, prompting reflective questions like “Where will you go,” and “What will you do next?” Anum’s signature red-toned underpainting peeks through, lending the scene a warm glow and emotional resonance.