We live on a quiet street, a cul de sac. Just eight houses, fronting a little hill. Most of the homes here are bare and cemented. Electric gates stand guard against trespassers. Then there is our house. So different from the barren rest.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
A visit from an old friend
Since we started living in this house, which we call The Art Room, and established it as our home, studio and gallery, my wife and I feel happy to have received many guests over.
Some come for our intimate dinners, some to feast on our kampung cooking (gulai tempoyak, ulam-ulam and rendang Perak), some to chow down on some seriously delicious barbecues, and some, to view the paintings. We've had neighbours, families, friends, artists and collectors over for Hari Raya, for weekends, for no reason! On special occasions, we bring out the acoustic guitar and sing some songs off-key (no karaoke, please)!
It's always nice to have people over, and we've had an interesting assortment of guests...but last week's visit from an old friend was particularly nostalgic.
Ucop, as I call him, used to work for me some twenty years ago. As a boss, those days, I was a very no-nonsense guy who worked 24/7 and was always on the go...Yes, very different from the "Zainal" now!
Ucop came to my office to apply for his first job in client servicing. During that first meeting, I made him wait for several hours as a preview of what he would be facing on the job. He patiently waited for me to see him and my first impression of Ucop was that here was a guy who was smart and willing to learn. But he was also soft-spoken and thought little of what he could achieve. In client servicing, you had to be tough around the edges, I thought.
Anyway, I gave him the job. Taking him under my wing, I taught him everything he needed to know. From the basics of a good handshake to the details of charming a client. I told him that in my book, impossible is nothing, and challenged him to break the ceiling of his pre-conceived abilities.
In the process, we learned that we both liked jazz (I, Michael Franks, he, Sheila Majid), bonded well, and became good friends.
When he left the company to pursue his studies in the UK, I was upset. Some weeks later, I received a long letter from him. He wrote to thank me for all the things I taught him to change and better himself, for being his mentor. I was very touched...the letter is still in my keeping.
When he came to visit me last week, it was a nice surprise. We had not been in touch for many years. He had read about me and my paintings in a local daily and finally came up for a visit to catch up on news and look at my paintings.
Though he is now the president of a big company, I still recall him as that young chap whom I kept waiting for that job interview! He has definitely become his own man and I am happy for him and the success he has found today.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Visiting Tengku Sabri
When I arrived at Tengku Sabri’s (Yi) house on Tuesday evening, I was on a mission. However, by the end of our long chat into the late hours of the night, the meeting had turned into a reminiscence of our teenage years at UiTM, an enlightening lecture on Yi’s views on art, and much more.
Stepping into Yi’s house, you would immediately notice the shelves overflowing with books. Children’s books, fiction, non-fiction, religious books, art books, classic literature, the Quran, the Holy Bible, and whatnot. I am sure that if I looked properly, I would find the original Kama Sutra text too, sandwiched between the Bhagavad Gita and something by Stephen Covey. He is a voracious, unsatiable reader, that man.
His home resembles an academician’s office rather than an artist’s residence. This is even more ironic when you understand that he and his wife are both artists. They are well-read individuals and the initial assumption isn’t all that wrong as both of them do teach at the Multimedia University.
An aspect about this couple that truly fascinates my wife is the fact that they are both Ariens, known, perhaps stereotypically, as dominating, creative, impatient, intelligent people – characteristics that perhaps these two display to varying degrees. My wife finds it a little intimidating to be in a room full of Ariens, and she wonders sometimes, how a Pisces like myself survives the triple fiery vibes of the ram when she, herself an Arien, joins them!
But I digress. They are fascinating characters, these two…but the main point of my visit there was to enquire on behalf of a collector about Yi’s works.
When he heard of this interest, Yi went into a room and came out bearing two sculptures – his early, and now considered, rare works. One was “Pengantin” and the other was “Mother.”
“This is the last piece of Pengantin that I have,” Yi explained. The others in the series were already bought by Pakharuddin and Senator Kamarul Ariffin many years ago.
“I’m not happy to have to part with them,” he said, gesturing to Pengantin and Mother, “but if I do, I’d like to know the person who will treasure it.”
I nodded because I understood his feelings. As an artist, we produce our works and a little part of us is forever embedded into it. Maybe a little bit of our emotional state during that period, our artistic knowledge or level, the things we held dear. Each piece says something about that part or period of our lives. Once it is sold, we know we will never get it back.
A piece of our art is like an old photograph of us. A picture captured of our youth. When we lose that photo, we can never study it anymore and see what we were like as a child. We will never see that raw look in our eyes, the innocence, the naivete…
Ah…sentiments of an aging artist….!
Again, Yi got up to show some other works he had in his keeping, as well as photos of his installation works from his residency in Japan some years ago. So many of them were absolutely impressive…the works of a brilliant mind.
One in particular, the Gunung Daik sculpture, done in the late 1980s, caught my interest. Others in the Gunung Daik series are in the possession of U-Wei, Pakharuddin and the Balai Seni Lukis Negara.
As the hours went by, Yi pulled out his photo album of his days at UiTM. So carefree, so spirited, so idealistic, so in love! So much different from the Yi of today, and yet, in some ways, still the same.
Today, he is more philosophical about art. His views are much bigger, more mature, less selfish. He said, “Beauty is not anymore for pleasure but for thought.”
His role as a teacher has perhaps expanded his views of his role in art. He doesn’t see himself as a creator for the sake of self-expression, but more accurately, perhaps, as a guide to open the minds of the many who attend his lectures. Perhaps even, as an advocate for “art for the masses.” He talks about wanting to “merakyatkan seni” in the belief that art should be accessible to everyone, that it should be part of everyday life, like it once was in the days of our forefathers.
His progress as an artist and maturity in thought has perhaps led him to believe that art should provoke sentiments, challenge pre-conceived notions and thoughts, and even instigate action. His understanding of art is of a higher level, while the rest of us still continue to paint and create for the sheer individualistic pleasure it gives.
There is nothing wrong in either because art, too, is personal. Every artist embarks on his own journey, at his own pace, appreciating different aspects of the journey. Some may have already found their destination. Others, reluctant to end the journey, amble along, or pause at a particularly pleasing location to enjoy the scenery for as long as it lasts.
Yet another sentimental reverie here? Perhaps…
But yes, this is, essentially, Yi’s involvement in art right now. He never left the art scene but was quietly absorbing everything that was going on in his head. His love for and strongly-held thoughts on art still simmer in his mind. When the time is right, we will be fortunate to see his new works, a reflection of the Yi of today.
Until then, we can at least look forward to his solo exhibition some time next year which will be a retrospective of Yi’s past works, They include an archive of sculptures, installation works and various documentations of these works.
Stepping into Yi’s house, you would immediately notice the shelves overflowing with books. Children’s books, fiction, non-fiction, religious books, art books, classic literature, the Quran, the Holy Bible, and whatnot. I am sure that if I looked properly, I would find the original Kama Sutra text too, sandwiched between the Bhagavad Gita and something by Stephen Covey. He is a voracious, unsatiable reader, that man.
His home resembles an academician’s office rather than an artist’s residence. This is even more ironic when you understand that he and his wife are both artists. They are well-read individuals and the initial assumption isn’t all that wrong as both of them do teach at the Multimedia University.
An aspect about this couple that truly fascinates my wife is the fact that they are both Ariens, known, perhaps stereotypically, as dominating, creative, impatient, intelligent people – characteristics that perhaps these two display to varying degrees. My wife finds it a little intimidating to be in a room full of Ariens, and she wonders sometimes, how a Pisces like myself survives the triple fiery vibes of the ram when she, herself an Arien, joins them!
But I digress. They are fascinating characters, these two…but the main point of my visit there was to enquire on behalf of a collector about Yi’s works.
When he heard of this interest, Yi went into a room and came out bearing two sculptures – his early, and now considered, rare works. One was “Pengantin” and the other was “Mother.”
“This is the last piece of Pengantin that I have,” Yi explained. The others in the series were already bought by Pakharuddin and Senator Kamarul Ariffin many years ago.
“I’m not happy to have to part with them,” he said, gesturing to Pengantin and Mother, “but if I do, I’d like to know the person who will treasure it.”
I nodded because I understood his feelings. As an artist, we produce our works and a little part of us is forever embedded into it. Maybe a little bit of our emotional state during that period, our artistic knowledge or level, the things we held dear. Each piece says something about that part or period of our lives. Once it is sold, we know we will never get it back.
A piece of our art is like an old photograph of us. A picture captured of our youth. When we lose that photo, we can never study it anymore and see what we were like as a child. We will never see that raw look in our eyes, the innocence, the naivete…
Ah…sentiments of an aging artist….!
Again, Yi got up to show some other works he had in his keeping, as well as photos of his installation works from his residency in Japan some years ago. So many of them were absolutely impressive…the works of a brilliant mind.
One in particular, the Gunung Daik sculpture, done in the late 1980s, caught my interest. Others in the Gunung Daik series are in the possession of U-Wei, Pakharuddin and the Balai Seni Lukis Negara.
As the hours went by, Yi pulled out his photo album of his days at UiTM. So carefree, so spirited, so idealistic, so in love! So much different from the Yi of today, and yet, in some ways, still the same.
Today, he is more philosophical about art. His views are much bigger, more mature, less selfish. He said, “Beauty is not anymore for pleasure but for thought.”
His role as a teacher has perhaps expanded his views of his role in art. He doesn’t see himself as a creator for the sake of self-expression, but more accurately, perhaps, as a guide to open the minds of the many who attend his lectures. Perhaps even, as an advocate for “art for the masses.” He talks about wanting to “merakyatkan seni” in the belief that art should be accessible to everyone, that it should be part of everyday life, like it once was in the days of our forefathers.
His progress as an artist and maturity in thought has perhaps led him to believe that art should provoke sentiments, challenge pre-conceived notions and thoughts, and even instigate action. His understanding of art is of a higher level, while the rest of us still continue to paint and create for the sheer individualistic pleasure it gives.
There is nothing wrong in either because art, too, is personal. Every artist embarks on his own journey, at his own pace, appreciating different aspects of the journey. Some may have already found their destination. Others, reluctant to end the journey, amble along, or pause at a particularly pleasing location to enjoy the scenery for as long as it lasts.
Yet another sentimental reverie here? Perhaps…
But yes, this is, essentially, Yi’s involvement in art right now. He never left the art scene but was quietly absorbing everything that was going on in his head. His love for and strongly-held thoughts on art still simmer in his mind. When the time is right, we will be fortunate to see his new works, a reflection of the Yi of today.
Until then, we can at least look forward to his solo exhibition some time next year which will be a retrospective of Yi’s past works, They include an archive of sculptures, installation works and various documentations of these works.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Lights on the Water at Art Accent, Bangsar
Apparently, every time I do a solo exhibition, it is bound to rain on the launch day, and this time it was no different! It has happened maybe about three times already. But as they say, rain is a blessing from God for what is to come.
The launch of my solo exhibition at Art Accent, Bangsar Village II, was a casual get-together with friends, artists and collectors.
Tuan Haji Hajeedar, generous supporter of Malaysian art with a big heart, was there to officiate the event. I was deeply honoured to have him speak about me and my progress in art. In his enlghtening speech, he revealed our first meeting way back in 2003 when I had my first solo exhibition in the humble premises of Balai Berita, NST, from which our friendship only grew.
Although he enjoyed seeing my development into abstract works, he said that he still had a soft spot for my landscapes.
Another collecter, Bingley and wife Ima, were there too with their children. I was happy that they allowed me to show "Landscape of the Belum Moth" painting, which they bought earlier, at this solo. This particular painting was an important and highly relevant piece to the show not only because it was selected as the first-prize in the Passions International Art Competition 2007, but also because it was the piece that started me on my abstract series, Belantara. A few of the Belantara pieces are being shown at the solo now.
I was also happy to see Pakharuddin Sulaiman as a guest there. He is Malaysia's respected art collector whose inventory of paintings, sculptures, installation works, art books and knowledge, some would say, could easily put the National Art Gallery's to shame.
I'd like to thank Margaret and her team at Art Accent for the opportunity to exhibit my paintings at their cozy little gallery. I also wish to thank my friends and artists (Soon Lai Wai, Lim Ah Cheng, Ng Foo Cheong) for always lending me their moral support, my collectors for believing in my art, and my family for their constant love which has fuelled my passion in art.
The exhibition will run till Sep 2, and I hope that those who missed the launch will find the time to view my paintings there one of these days. In the meantime, I will try to squeeze some time in to post some pictures of the exhibition and the launch.
Thank you.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Solo exhibition in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur
"Lights on the Water"
21 August - 2 September
Art Accent Gallery, Bangsar Village II, Kuala Lumpur
Official launch: Sunday, 24 August, 3pm
My "Lights on the Water" collection of works was first exhibited at Alliance Francaise Kuala Lumpur in February. Having added a few more works to the collection, it then traveled to Penang for my first solo up north in May. The response in Penang to my works was beyond my expectations.
Now, "Lights on the Water" will make its appearance in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. Some 25-30 paintings will be showcased at Art Accent Gallery in Bangsar Village II.
Some new landscapes will be exhibited for the first time there. So, audiences can expect to see my sun, sea and sky landscape compositions of some places around Malaysia. My trip to Langkawi early this year gave me some pretty amazing inspirations.
I've also decided to show some of my latest abstract works which I've not shown before anywhere else. These abstracts are a development of my "Landscape of the Belum Moth" painting which won the first prize at last year's Passions International Art Competition. I'm excited to know how audiences will respond to them.
Well, I don't want to say too much about my works...I'd rather have you come over and view the works for yourself and enjoy them!
I cordially invite my friends, family, collectors and those new to me, to my solo exhibition in Bangsar. I appreciate the time you would spare for this. I will be there myself on Sunday, 24 August at 3pm.
21 August - 2 September
Art Accent Gallery, Bangsar Village II, Kuala Lumpur
Official launch: Sunday, 24 August, 3pm
My "Lights on the Water" collection of works was first exhibited at Alliance Francaise Kuala Lumpur in February. Having added a few more works to the collection, it then traveled to Penang for my first solo up north in May. The response in Penang to my works was beyond my expectations.
Now, "Lights on the Water" will make its appearance in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. Some 25-30 paintings will be showcased at Art Accent Gallery in Bangsar Village II.
Some new landscapes will be exhibited for the first time there. So, audiences can expect to see my sun, sea and sky landscape compositions of some places around Malaysia. My trip to Langkawi early this year gave me some pretty amazing inspirations.
I've also decided to show some of my latest abstract works which I've not shown before anywhere else. These abstracts are a development of my "Landscape of the Belum Moth" painting which won the first prize at last year's Passions International Art Competition. I'm excited to know how audiences will respond to them.
Well, I don't want to say too much about my works...I'd rather have you come over and view the works for yourself and enjoy them!
I cordially invite my friends, family, collectors and those new to me, to my solo exhibition in Bangsar. I appreciate the time you would spare for this. I will be there myself on Sunday, 24 August at 3pm.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Langkawi Triptych
The past two days saw me working furiously non-stop to finish this latest painting. It is for a show at Artseni gallery featuring XL-sized works by Malaysian artists.
It really is XL! This one is a triptych measuring 7 by 14 feet, done in acrylic. The painting is of a secret place near Kuah town, Langkawi.
I wanted to re-create the sounds and splashes of the sea waves against the rocks. I wanted to show the colours of the dipping sun reflected on the sea, without resorting to painting the sky. I wanted to differentiate the calm of the sea against the frothy surf in the foreground.
Well, at least, I hope that the viewer will see all these from my painting.
Of course, due to the size of this painting, viewing it from a distance is totally different from viewing it close-up. I had a difficult time painting this due to the size. Had to keep on moving back and forth, near and far, to see how my strokes affected the "big picture," so to speak.
I even had to "create" special brushes to do this piece. I attached long pieces of branches to my brushes so they would be longer and help me create the rough strokes for this painting.
The six pictures above show the different stages of the painting. It will be installed on the Muse Floor of Starhill Gallery this Tuesday, 2nd June. To see the final version, do come for the official opening scheduled for 15th June.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The minimalist
This is Hanafiah Waiman. Artist, friend, teacher, Phillip-Morris award winner. His works are defined by his simplicity. Every stroke, colour or line has to earn its place on his canvas. Nothing is in excess.
His subject matter are often things that are going on in the life he knows, in the kampung he lives. You will see the chess player, the telephone man, the girl with flowers.
Then there are the fairytale series, inspired by the stories he reads to his children. All done with a light hand, making the final work an art piece that really shows off his masterly skill and fine talent in drawing.
His works reminds one of those produced by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele. Raw with an unfinished quality, melancholic yet modern. His works look like they have been carelessly put together with scribbles and patches, but they are the work of a precise artist.
Just a few nights ago, Hanafiah came over to my studio bearing some of his 2008 works. These are new works that bear the same Hanafiah style but with a marked development.
My wife and I have sold some of his works to some collectors previously. The new works are currently at our studio for viewing.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The secret places in Langkawi
Untitled as yet: A painting of the evening scene somewhere near Kuah jettyI am working on a series of paintings of Langkawi based on my trip there early this year. The painting featured here is just one of them. It will be submitted for a group show at Art Accent Gallery, Bangsar Village II on 24 May.
I remember the trip to Langkawi very well. I was actually torn between leaving my wife who was in confinement at the time, and going to Langkawi to gather material for this year's paintings (I knew that after my son Musa's birth, it wouldn't be easy to just take off). In the end, my wife and I decided that it was best that I go at the time.
Anyway, this piece is of a place near Kuah jetty. If you have been to Kuah, you will know that there is nothing worthy of a second look there. However, on the last evening in Langkawi, my travelling buddy and artist friend, Suhaimi, showed me this "secret" place in Kuah that few people know of or care about.
To get there is an adventure in itself. We had to drive off the main road uphill towards a dead end. We parked the car and made our way on foot down a steep and narrow path lined with bushes and trees. We then came upon a small clearing of rocks and the view of the sea.
I remember being there and waiting for the right moment to come. The sun was dipping into the horizon, the waves were crashing against the rocks, colours were changing by the second, and all of a sudden, the entire scene was bathed in light. The water shimmered, the sky glowed and the rocks were glistening with water and froth.
I took the shot just as the waves crashed against the rock, creating a swirling, frothy surf in the foreground.
After that, the lights diminished colour by colour until it was too dark to see.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
What happens after the Belum moth?
People say that when you do something the same way over and over, it breeds familiarity and boredom...but that is not a bad thing really.
In my case, I have been doing landscape paintings for many years, and yet I never bore of it. The opposite happens, in fact. With each landscape painting that I do, I always learn something new from it -- a new colour to introduce, a new technique to use, etc.
When I look at my works from the late 1990s and compare them with those that I do now, I see a definite progress.
Now, after many years of painting landscapes in my usual way, I have become aware of the many opportunities for me to develop my painting style even further.
A turning point in the development of my paintings can be seen in the piece, "Landscape of the Belum Moth," the winning submission for the Passions International Art Competition last year. The piece is a stark contrast from the usual landscape pieces that I have been known to produce.
I was further prompted to explore this style of painting after having received some positive comments from fellow artists and collectors. I am now working simultaneously on several pieces exploring this new direction. The subject matter is based on my trips and captivating scenes of Langkawi, Janda Baik and Pulau Perhentian.
In my case, I have been doing landscape paintings for many years, and yet I never bore of it. The opposite happens, in fact. With each landscape painting that I do, I always learn something new from it -- a new colour to introduce, a new technique to use, etc.
When I look at my works from the late 1990s and compare them with those that I do now, I see a definite progress.
Now, after many years of painting landscapes in my usual way, I have become aware of the many opportunities for me to develop my painting style even further.
A turning point in the development of my paintings can be seen in the piece, "Landscape of the Belum Moth," the winning submission for the Passions International Art Competition last year. The piece is a stark contrast from the usual landscape pieces that I have been known to produce.
I was further prompted to explore this style of painting after having received some positive comments from fellow artists and collectors. I am now working simultaneously on several pieces exploring this new direction. The subject matter is based on my trips and captivating scenes of Langkawi, Janda Baik and Pulau Perhentian.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Back from Penang
(From L-R): Ch'ng Huck Theng, artist Eric Quah, me, my former student I-Ming, and Lee Khai
Exchanging thoughts with veteran photographer in Penang
It was nice to see even children appreciating art at such a young age!I just came back from Penang today. I guess you could say that the trip had a 4-pronged mission:
1. Attend the launch of my first solo exhibition in Penang (you can view the online exhibition here)
2. Buy art supplies
3. Look for the Merc classic rims and caps for my car
4. Makan...
Glad to report that all 4 missions were accomplished!
The exhibition in Penang went quite well (a story on it appeared in the Star Metro, Northern edition). I met some excellent people -- Eric Quah, a respected artist now based in Penang; Ming, a former student of mine who has some good plans for the Penang art market; and Tun Daim Zainuddin who visited the show today!
The Penang crowd was a pleasant surprise for me. Quite a number of old-time artists, water-colourists, self-taught artists, and photographers came to the show. It was a nice feeling to know that all these people came over to see my works and give their support and feedback. Penang has always been known as the venue for modern art and has her huge share of talented and creative people. Having some of these people at the show was quite an honour.
When A2 art gallery approached me to show my works up north, I was happy to do so and share my works with the people of Penang. It was an opportunity for me to explore the market there and see the people's response to my art.
After just three days into the show, I guess you could say that there is a market for art there. Perhaps it is small, but it is growing and I think with more art exposure and education, the Penang people, especially the younger generation, will appreciate art more.
I also replenished my art supplies at the famous art supply shop, Nanyang. I bought more canvas, brushes, and paints. Due to the amount spent, I think they should make me their honorary customer of the year!
I was also very lucky to have found the original rims and caps for my 200T Merc station wagon. I got the lead to the supplier from my wife's uncle who told us to visit the Chin Fook service shop near the jetty. My car will now have some proper, "new" shoes!
Malaysia is known for its variety of food and culture of eating, but Penang is the capital city of food in Malaysia! During my Penang trip, one of the best meals I had was with Eric and Ming at Restoran Kapitan somewhere near Little India. The tandoori and briyani chicken was just fantastic.
After dinner, we made our way to Eric's house and that was also quite an honour for us. We got to see his personal collection of works and art books and taste a mean brew of imported coffee.
I've always enjoyed Penang and this trip was one of the most memorable ones.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Solo in Penang
Pulau Besar, Mering -- Sunset 110 x140 cm,, acrylic on cavas, 2007
This morning, the lorry driver came to pick up 29 pieces of my paintings for my solo exhibition at A2 Gallery in Penang.
Now, my studio feels uncluttered, spacious...empty...a far cry from what it was just days ago when I was running around to meet deadlines for the exhibition!
People always say that it's easy being an artist, but they don't realise that there's a lot of work going on besides painting and "seeking inspiration."
Anyway, the exhibition will showcase pieces from my trips to Penang, Mersing, Perhentian island, and Redang island. The exhibition is kind of an expansion from the one I did early this year at Alliance Francaise. Besides works in oils and acrylic, I have also developed some paintings using pastels on paper. They are sketches developed from my studies of some Penang landscapes at Gurney Drive where I stayed.
The exhibition, "Lights on the Water," will be at A2 Gallery in Bangkok Lane, Penang, from 1-20 May.
If anyone happens to be in Penang during that time, you are welcomed to view my works at the gallery. I will be going up there myself for the launch on Labour Day.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Art talk at Starhill Gallery
On 29 March, I participated in an event organised by Artseni Gallery at Starhill Gallery to promote art appreciation to the public. The event was just one in a series of many on the issue which gallery owner, Philip Wong, wanted very much to highlight.
He was interviewed in the papers recently:
ART gallery owner and artist Phillip Wong believes that what people believe about art and how they perceive it changes over time, and art appreciation is not as daunting as it may seem.
“Art is for everyone,” declared the 40-year-old who will be conducting a fortnightly art talk show on How Art Relates To People where he will share his knowledge on how to buy and sell art, how to appreciate good works of art and on how to conserve them.
The talk is open to everyone - from people who are new and who would like to learn to appreciate art, to art lovers, collectors and artists. It's an opportunity to learn and get better exposure, while keeping up with the global art industry,” he said.
For details or to register for the talk, contact 03-2144 0782 or pw@artseni.com.
The event started off with a screening of my NTV7 interview by The Breakfast Show. It was followed by the talk conducted in a Q&A format by Philip Wong. At one point, Philip presented a slide show of my works.
The crowd was intimate and I was able to present my thoughts about my painting and works. When it comes to my work, I guess I just want people to know that I paint because I truly enjoy the act of painting rather than highlight social issues in my works. Yet, in a way, the choice of my subject matter, the landscapes, is a statement of protest in itself -- that I want to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city and the ugly side of man.
When people come to me and ask me how to appreciate my works, I just encourage them to lose themselves in the colours and the feelings of the paintings. Some things don't have to be over-analysed.
He was interviewed in the papers recently:
ART gallery owner and artist Phillip Wong believes that what people believe about art and how they perceive it changes over time, and art appreciation is not as daunting as it may seem.
“Art is for everyone,” declared the 40-year-old who will be conducting a fortnightly art talk show on How Art Relates To People where he will share his knowledge on how to buy and sell art, how to appreciate good works of art and on how to conserve them.
The talk is open to everyone - from people who are new and who would like to learn to appreciate art, to art lovers, collectors and artists. It's an opportunity to learn and get better exposure, while keeping up with the global art industry,” he said.
For details or to register for the talk, contact 03-2144 0782 or pw@artseni.com.
The event started off with a screening of my NTV7 interview by The Breakfast Show. It was followed by the talk conducted in a Q&A format by Philip Wong. At one point, Philip presented a slide show of my works.
The crowd was intimate and I was able to present my thoughts about my painting and works. When it comes to my work, I guess I just want people to know that I paint because I truly enjoy the act of painting rather than highlight social issues in my works. Yet, in a way, the choice of my subject matter, the landscapes, is a statement of protest in itself -- that I want to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city and the ugly side of man.
When people come to me and ask me how to appreciate my works, I just encourage them to lose themselves in the colours and the feelings of the paintings. Some things don't have to be over-analysed.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
In the news
This article appeared in the New Straits Times on 8 March. It was written by my wife's sister who is a writer. I really liked how she wrote the article and articulated my thoughts. In case the link doesn't work, I copy it here (text only) for your reading pleasure:
"Pieces of participation"
by Anis Ramli
Lovely, breathtaking moments are on Zainal Abidin Musa's art works. ANIS RAMLI is enamoured.
At the first meeting with artist Zainal Abidin Musa, he had just completed a collaborative 2008 calendar project with a local non-governmental organisation, themed Paradise, allowing free use of his favourite artwork for charity.
It was the first time his works were immortalised in a calendar and till today, he remains grateful for the opportunity to work on such a collaboration.
“At first it was just the excitement of the entire project,” Zainal began. “It started as a chance to do something good for charity and a way to give back to the community.”
(All proceeds of the calendar sale go towards aiding Pertubuhan Al-Khaadem’s charity home, Home of Hope, a sanctuary for the elderly, orphans and single mothers irregardless of race or religion, while Zainal pledges 20 per cent of sales of the artworks featured to the home).
As the project picked up speed, Zainal began to get excited.
“In terms of the medium and the message, I enjoyed combining art with charity. The calendar had selected verses of the Quran and hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad) that spoke of the promise of paradise in the hereafter.
“But ultimately, the project celebrates our connection to nature through beauty and metaphor. Whatever beliefs we have, one can not deny that we are undoubtedly the environment’s custodians.”
Zainal has always been passionate about the environment and his works often revolve around natural beauty.
Having grown up amidst the natural beauty of places like Parit and Batu Gajah in Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu, he certainly didn’t lack the inspiration.
Zainal’s landscapes are simple yet rich. Instead of ‘traditional’ scenes of a kampung house in a padi field, he keeps his compositions basic: land, sea and sky. They are often “silent”, peaceful, contemplative pieces. Some may even say meditative.
Yet they are also rich in the sense that they are not boring to viewers. There are a myriad of colours in each little square area of canvas. These are what make everything in that piece of art interesting.
His work, too, captures the present environment through contemporary sensibilities in terms of the use of light, colour and the expressive paint strokes.
“My landscape paintings are simple to understand,” he says. “The beauty that God has created in this world is already there. I am just conveying how I feel towards it and try to translate the aesthetics onto canvas in my own way.”
There is nothing philosophical about it, he laments, except to simply express his passion for natural beauty and to enjoy the pure act of painting.
In maintaining a dialogue with the environment, Zainal captures the light of day and the effect on the changing landscapes.
A play of light and colour congeals into shadows, waters and the horizon. They all interact with the shape and structure, where palm trees sway somewhat and rivers swirl, displaying Zainal’s expressive strokes in describing his work.
In fact, his has an almost impressionistic quality, to which he admits is very much influenced by the French Impressionists like Monet and his peers.
“There’s an emotional resonance between the painting and the environment,”he says, with the two existing independently.
So viewers are invited to look into rather than at his paintings, and experience the dialogue between what’s painted and what’s seen.
Zainal’s mastery in using colour to capture the fleeting passage of light is evident in each painting.
In Sunrise on the Water, Tok Bali, for example, yellow lights glitter against the blue seas, creating a shimmering effect of a peaceful morning.
And in Shadows on the Water, Pulau Besar, Mersing, rough strokes of blue, green, purple, yellow and red come together perfectly to create the effect of shadow and light of a late morning by the beach.
At a time when the market is flooded with abstract and modern art and experimental works, it’s refreshing to see Zainal’s works that hark back to the basics and his mastery of light.
In his Dusk at North Port #8, for example, the reds of a sunset sky flame fiercely juxtaposed against bold strokes of blues, while in Waterlilies at Janda Baik, fluffy white clouds are reflected against a serene pond of waterlilies.
During Zainal’s 2006 solo exhibition, friend and renowned artist Tengku Sabri Ibrahim says, “Zainal chooses to ignore the contemporary excitement of experimenting, exploring and working with ‘modern’ or ‘expressive’ images and approaches as practised by many artists of today. He hangs on to his romantic attitudes in reading and representing landscapes."
Zainal studied fine art with a major in printmaking at Institut Teknologi Mara (now Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara, UiTM) in the 1980s under the tutelage of various lecturers who themselves were influenced by different schools of thought.
It was an exciting time for the art scene as Malaysian artists were frantically searching for a Malaysian art identity, experimenting with various styles.
Zainal often describes being fortunate to be a part of that era.
After graduation, he completely left the art scene and joined the world of advertising.
Sixteen years later, without having followed the goings-on or trends in the art world, he started painting again.
“Not because I consciously wanted to start an art career, but because it was a means to de-stress from my advertising work, and the act of painting itself gave me a sense of calm and peace,” he explains.
Zainal would go on weekend trips to the East Coast and the surroundings that “naturally inspired me to paint again”.
Today, one can still find Zainal painting over the weekends, travelling to remote places to capture the essence of a special place and time.
He writes of his travels and artworks on his blog, www.zainalabidinmusa.blogspot.com, sharing with his audience the Malaysian landscape we have so often taken for granted.
His recent travels to Mersing and the islands off its coast are now immortalised in a series of artwork presently exhibited at the Alliance Francaise from Feb 27 to March 12, entitled Lights on the Water.
END
"Pieces of participation"
by Anis Ramli
Lovely, breathtaking moments are on Zainal Abidin Musa's art works. ANIS RAMLI is enamoured.
At the first meeting with artist Zainal Abidin Musa, he had just completed a collaborative 2008 calendar project with a local non-governmental organisation, themed Paradise, allowing free use of his favourite artwork for charity.
It was the first time his works were immortalised in a calendar and till today, he remains grateful for the opportunity to work on such a collaboration.
“At first it was just the excitement of the entire project,” Zainal began. “It started as a chance to do something good for charity and a way to give back to the community.”
(All proceeds of the calendar sale go towards aiding Pertubuhan Al-Khaadem’s charity home, Home of Hope, a sanctuary for the elderly, orphans and single mothers irregardless of race or religion, while Zainal pledges 20 per cent of sales of the artworks featured to the home).
As the project picked up speed, Zainal began to get excited.
“In terms of the medium and the message, I enjoyed combining art with charity. The calendar had selected verses of the Quran and hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad) that spoke of the promise of paradise in the hereafter.
“But ultimately, the project celebrates our connection to nature through beauty and metaphor. Whatever beliefs we have, one can not deny that we are undoubtedly the environment’s custodians.”
Zainal has always been passionate about the environment and his works often revolve around natural beauty.
Having grown up amidst the natural beauty of places like Parit and Batu Gajah in Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu, he certainly didn’t lack the inspiration.
Zainal’s landscapes are simple yet rich. Instead of ‘traditional’ scenes of a kampung house in a padi field, he keeps his compositions basic: land, sea and sky. They are often “silent”, peaceful, contemplative pieces. Some may even say meditative.
Yet they are also rich in the sense that they are not boring to viewers. There are a myriad of colours in each little square area of canvas. These are what make everything in that piece of art interesting.
His work, too, captures the present environment through contemporary sensibilities in terms of the use of light, colour and the expressive paint strokes.
“My landscape paintings are simple to understand,” he says. “The beauty that God has created in this world is already there. I am just conveying how I feel towards it and try to translate the aesthetics onto canvas in my own way.”
There is nothing philosophical about it, he laments, except to simply express his passion for natural beauty and to enjoy the pure act of painting.
In maintaining a dialogue with the environment, Zainal captures the light of day and the effect on the changing landscapes.
A play of light and colour congeals into shadows, waters and the horizon. They all interact with the shape and structure, where palm trees sway somewhat and rivers swirl, displaying Zainal’s expressive strokes in describing his work.
In fact, his has an almost impressionistic quality, to which he admits is very much influenced by the French Impressionists like Monet and his peers.
“There’s an emotional resonance between the painting and the environment,”he says, with the two existing independently.
So viewers are invited to look into rather than at his paintings, and experience the dialogue between what’s painted and what’s seen.
Zainal’s mastery in using colour to capture the fleeting passage of light is evident in each painting.
In Sunrise on the Water, Tok Bali, for example, yellow lights glitter against the blue seas, creating a shimmering effect of a peaceful morning.
And in Shadows on the Water, Pulau Besar, Mersing, rough strokes of blue, green, purple, yellow and red come together perfectly to create the effect of shadow and light of a late morning by the beach.
At a time when the market is flooded with abstract and modern art and experimental works, it’s refreshing to see Zainal’s works that hark back to the basics and his mastery of light.
In his Dusk at North Port #8, for example, the reds of a sunset sky flame fiercely juxtaposed against bold strokes of blues, while in Waterlilies at Janda Baik, fluffy white clouds are reflected against a serene pond of waterlilies.
During Zainal’s 2006 solo exhibition, friend and renowned artist Tengku Sabri Ibrahim says, “Zainal chooses to ignore the contemporary excitement of experimenting, exploring and working with ‘modern’ or ‘expressive’ images and approaches as practised by many artists of today. He hangs on to his romantic attitudes in reading and representing landscapes."
Zainal studied fine art with a major in printmaking at Institut Teknologi Mara (now Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara, UiTM) in the 1980s under the tutelage of various lecturers who themselves were influenced by different schools of thought.
It was an exciting time for the art scene as Malaysian artists were frantically searching for a Malaysian art identity, experimenting with various styles.
Zainal often describes being fortunate to be a part of that era.
After graduation, he completely left the art scene and joined the world of advertising.
Sixteen years later, without having followed the goings-on or trends in the art world, he started painting again.
“Not because I consciously wanted to start an art career, but because it was a means to de-stress from my advertising work, and the act of painting itself gave me a sense of calm and peace,” he explains.
Zainal would go on weekend trips to the East Coast and the surroundings that “naturally inspired me to paint again”.
Today, one can still find Zainal painting over the weekends, travelling to remote places to capture the essence of a special place and time.
He writes of his travels and artworks on his blog, www.zainalabidinmusa.blogspot.com, sharing with his audience the Malaysian landscape we have so often taken for granted.
His recent travels to Mersing and the islands off its coast are now immortalised in a series of artwork presently exhibited at the Alliance Francaise from Feb 27 to March 12, entitled Lights on the Water.
END
Friday, February 22, 2008
First show of the year
Well, I've just returned from my painting trip up north which included Langkawi (and all the secret and beautiful sunset/sunrise spots) and the magnificent area in Yan, Kedah, where mountains, padi fields, rivers and sea meet!
The trip was quite productive but I was disappointed that the weather wasn't too great. More on that exciting trip later.
But for now, I'm extremely busy with my upcoming show entitled "Lights on the Water," launching at Alliance Francaise on 27 Feb, at 7 pm. It will continue right up till 12 March and will showcase some of my old and new works.
The featured painting here is titled "Sunrise on the Water - Tok Bali," a three-panel painting, each measuring 135 x 155 cm in oil, available for sale, and which perhaps due to its size, will be the piece de resistance of the show.
The writeup about the show which appears on the Alliance Francaise website is here:
The trip was quite productive but I was disappointed that the weather wasn't too great. More on that exciting trip later.
But for now, I'm extremely busy with my upcoming show entitled "Lights on the Water," launching at Alliance Francaise on 27 Feb, at 7 pm. It will continue right up till 12 March and will showcase some of my old and new works.
The featured painting here is titled "Sunrise on the Water - Tok Bali," a three-panel painting, each measuring 135 x 155 cm in oil, available for sale, and which perhaps due to its size, will be the piece de resistance of the show.
The writeup about the show which appears on the Alliance Francaise website is here:
Zainal Abidin Musa, one of Malaysia's up and coming artist, will be presenting at Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur a series of paintings in an exhibition titled, "Lights on the Water."
The paintings are seascapes and landscapes of places around Malaysia that has inspired the artist. Through his masterful use of colour, Zainal has succeeded in capturing on canvas the fleeting moments of places like Mersing, Perhentian Island and Redang Island, with poetic grace.
His studies of clouds and water are simple and focused. His compositions are "silent" except for the impression of moving clouds and waves, and rippling light on water, so audiences feel as though they are part of the paintings. These impressions of time and place, captured on canvas, are reminiscent of paintings from the French Impressionist period, of which he very much admires.
Some twenty pieces of oil and acrylic paintings will be on display – some of them measuring between seven and 14 feet long.
Zainal recently received the Passions International Art Award 2007 (1st Prize), and was a minor award winner in the 1983 Young Contemporary Artist competition endorsed by the National Art Gallery.
The paintings are seascapes and landscapes of places around Malaysia that has inspired the artist. Through his masterful use of colour, Zainal has succeeded in capturing on canvas the fleeting moments of places like Mersing, Perhentian Island and Redang Island, with poetic grace.
His studies of clouds and water are simple and focused. His compositions are "silent" except for the impression of moving clouds and waves, and rippling light on water, so audiences feel as though they are part of the paintings. These impressions of time and place, captured on canvas, are reminiscent of paintings from the French Impressionist period, of which he very much admires.
Some twenty pieces of oil and acrylic paintings will be on display – some of them measuring between seven and 14 feet long.
Zainal recently received the Passions International Art Award 2007 (1st Prize), and was a minor award winner in the 1983 Young Contemporary Artist competition endorsed by the National Art Gallery.
Admission is free.
Opening Hours: from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 am to 8.00 pm
Opening Hours: from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 am to 8.00 pm
Venue: Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur, 15, Lorong Gurney, 54100 KL
Tel: 03-2694 7880
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
On the road
Painting plein air at Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi The Impressionist painters of the 19th century often went on trips together to some remote places to do some paintings. On these trips, they would pack their colours, brushes and canvas or sketch books to capture the fleeting light of day on site. It was called plein air or open air painting where they would spend hours outdoors in some field or beach as they sketched live.
The last time I went on such trips was way back in 2002 with my artist friend, Suhaimi. We had gone to the east cost of Malaysia, spending time painting the landscapes of Kijal, Pulau Perhentian and Balok. It's a great experience to be painting with another artist, comparing notes on how each can render different outcomes on canvas, but of the same subject matter! Painting with a fellow artist also allows you to learn from each other and it was an inspiring and motivating experience for both of us.
Suhaimi and I spent many days on the coast, traveling from one kampung to another, just enjoying each other's company and doing lots of painting. It was a simple trip, nothing fancy, financed with only a few hundred dollars, but the experience was invaluable.
When I returned from that trip, the paintings I produced were exhibited at the New Straits Times' Balai Berita, in what was my first solo exhibition after having left the world of art for many years. The exhibition was called "Weekends," and alhamdulillah it was quite successful for me.
In the next few days, I will again make a similar trip with Suhaimi but this time, we are going to Pulau Langkawi and Kedah. The northern part of Malaysia has some fantastic landscapes -- the padi fields, the ruggedness of kampung life, the beautiful beaches and islands. Upon my return, I hope to produce lots of works of northern and rural Malaysia.
I pray that the weather is good up north!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
My 10 minutes of fame!
I'm not sure if anyone caught it, but I was on TV some time in mid-Jan. My wife was probably the only one watching...heheh.
Anyway, the Breakfast Show (the show worth waking up for) on NTV7 interviewed me in their arts and culture segment. Daphne Iking and JP were the jovial hosts on that day and totally made me feel at ease as I talked about my art.
However, they made a mistaken comment about me being the first Malaysian impressionist artist which I corrected on the show. With its long history dating back to the 19th century, Impressionism has had many fans and followers, and I'm sure I'm not the first to have been inspired by it.
I hope that my 10 minutes of "fame" on the show managed to shed some light on Malaysian art and helped people appreciate it more. Of course, there is only so much that a show like that could do to promote art.
I spoke about the issue on the show -- how schools and the media can play a more active role in instilling a love and awareness for art (and culture). I remember in the old days when there was only RTM on the TV channels, there were a few programmes on art. The artist, with his brushes, paints and palette knife, would start with a blank canvas and by the end of the show, it would have been transformed into a beautiful piece of landscape.
In schools, these days, art has been relegated to a subject for the not-too-bright students! Subjects such as science and mathematics are given more importance. No doubt they are important, but we do need to balance our knowledge of such "hard" subjects with art which lends some beauty, culture and sophistication to our personalities.
Well, that's my two cents' worth, anyway.
I had planned to thank a few significant people but there was no time to do it on the show. So, I thought I would do it here. Firstly, my thanks to the NSTP group for providing me a space at Balai Berita for my first solo exhibition, "Weekends," in 2003. My appreciation also goes out to the following people for supporting me in my art career:
Tuan Haji Hajeedar and wife
Dato' Azman Mokhtar (formerly from Binafikir)
En. Muhammad Zainal (formerly from Binafikir) and wife
En. Danny (from Binafikir)
En. Rahimi Harun
Bingley and Fatimah
Anyway, the Breakfast Show (the show worth waking up for) on NTV7 interviewed me in their arts and culture segment. Daphne Iking and JP were the jovial hosts on that day and totally made me feel at ease as I talked about my art.
However, they made a mistaken comment about me being the first Malaysian impressionist artist which I corrected on the show. With its long history dating back to the 19th century, Impressionism has had many fans and followers, and I'm sure I'm not the first to have been inspired by it.
I hope that my 10 minutes of "fame" on the show managed to shed some light on Malaysian art and helped people appreciate it more. Of course, there is only so much that a show like that could do to promote art.
I spoke about the issue on the show -- how schools and the media can play a more active role in instilling a love and awareness for art (and culture). I remember in the old days when there was only RTM on the TV channels, there were a few programmes on art. The artist, with his brushes, paints and palette knife, would start with a blank canvas and by the end of the show, it would have been transformed into a beautiful piece of landscape.
In schools, these days, art has been relegated to a subject for the not-too-bright students! Subjects such as science and mathematics are given more importance. No doubt they are important, but we do need to balance our knowledge of such "hard" subjects with art which lends some beauty, culture and sophistication to our personalities.
Well, that's my two cents' worth, anyway.
I had planned to thank a few significant people but there was no time to do it on the show. So, I thought I would do it here. Firstly, my thanks to the NSTP group for providing me a space at Balai Berita for my first solo exhibition, "Weekends," in 2003. My appreciation also goes out to the following people for supporting me in my art career:
Tuan Haji Hajeedar and wife
Dato' Azman Mokhtar (formerly from Binafikir)
En. Muhammad Zainal (formerly from Binafikir) and wife
En. Danny (from Binafikir)
En. Rahimi Harun
Bingley and Fatimah
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Passions International Art Competition
.JPG)
"Landscape of the Belum Moth" which won first prizeI haven't entered an art competition in a long time. The last -- and significant one -- was the Malaysian Contemporary Art Competition organised by the National Art Gallery way back in 1983, in which I received an award.
But last year, I was invited to enter the Passions International Art Competition. I remember telling my wife that if I were to enter it, I wanted to enter it to win. She wasn't as self-assured about it as I was. Her argument was that it wouldn't be easy with entries from international competitors.
So, I set to work...mostly to prove her that I could do it!
The theme of the competition was "Conservation of Nature", and I produced two pieces. Of the two, I selected "Landscape of the Belum Moth" to be entered into the competition. It was a piece to show nature's rich offerings and how it could all disappear just easily. I was inspired by some articles I had read about our beautiful Belum forest.
"Ferns at Janda Baik" -- the 2nd piece submitted
The piece clinched the first prize in the competition judged by internationally-recognised artists, Raja Azhar, a well-known Malaysian artist; Eric Quah, an Australian-based Malaysian-born artist; James Sim, a Penang-born artist now based in London; and Donald Smith, founder of Jiiva Fine Arts in Jakarta and Starhill, Kuala Lumpur.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Happy New Year 2008!
The new year started out great for me...with a new-born son delivered on the last day of 2007. My wife and I now look forward to many exciting -- and exhausting -- years ahead with Musa Hashim! She thinks he'll inherit my passion for painting and I think he'll get his mother's writing style. Well, maybe he'll get the best of both of us.
In retrospect, last year was a great year in terms of my career. Two new galleries approached me to carry my works in their respective spaces. One is Art Accent Gallery in Bangsar Village II and the other is A2 Gallery in Penang. Of course, my works are also still available at Art Case Gallery in Great Eastern Mall and Artseni Gallery in Starhill.
I also made some new contacts with collectors who personally came to my studio to view my works. It's true what they say about the virtues of word-of-mouth promotion. Many of these collectors are friends of friends or previous collectors.
One collector was so nice that he even invited me to show my works to his friends during a Hari Raya gathering he hosted at his beautiful home. Thank you very much to Bingley and wife, Fatimah, for the wonderful opportunity!
Last year, I entered the Passions International Art Competition and won first prize for an abstract landscape piece I submitted. It impressed one of the judges so much that he offered to do a group show of my works at his gallery some time this year.
It was through the art competition that I also made friends with internationally-renowned artist Eric Quah, whose works I have long admired. In fact, at another function to celebrate Eric's solo exhibition in Starhill, I introduced myself to an individual whose opinions on Malaysia's art scene I respect, Pakharuddin Sulaiman. What followed a few weekends later was a personal tour of Pakharuddin's gallery of collected artworks at Ruang Pemula. Fascinating stuff to put our National Gallery to shame!
I also managed to do some pro bono work with a non-governmental organisation by offering images of my artwork for their 2008 calendar.
This year looks set to be another busy year for me, which is good! God willing, I will be participating in some group shows with various galleries, a tie-up event with Alliance Francaise and a solo exhibition up in Penang. I may also show my works in Indonesia along with three other "veteran" artists who haven't exhibited in a long while and whose works, I'm sure, will be something to look forward to.
These things will certainly keep my busy and I will have to make some trips to the coast and islands to gather new material.
Well, happy new year, everyone, and may 2008 be a great year for art!
In retrospect, last year was a great year in terms of my career. Two new galleries approached me to carry my works in their respective spaces. One is Art Accent Gallery in Bangsar Village II and the other is A2 Gallery in Penang. Of course, my works are also still available at Art Case Gallery in Great Eastern Mall and Artseni Gallery in Starhill.
I also made some new contacts with collectors who personally came to my studio to view my works. It's true what they say about the virtues of word-of-mouth promotion. Many of these collectors are friends of friends or previous collectors.
One collector was so nice that he even invited me to show my works to his friends during a Hari Raya gathering he hosted at his beautiful home. Thank you very much to Bingley and wife, Fatimah, for the wonderful opportunity!
Last year, I entered the Passions International Art Competition and won first prize for an abstract landscape piece I submitted. It impressed one of the judges so much that he offered to do a group show of my works at his gallery some time this year.
It was through the art competition that I also made friends with internationally-renowned artist Eric Quah, whose works I have long admired. In fact, at another function to celebrate Eric's solo exhibition in Starhill, I introduced myself to an individual whose opinions on Malaysia's art scene I respect, Pakharuddin Sulaiman. What followed a few weekends later was a personal tour of Pakharuddin's gallery of collected artworks at Ruang Pemula. Fascinating stuff to put our National Gallery to shame!
I also managed to do some pro bono work with a non-governmental organisation by offering images of my artwork for their 2008 calendar.
This year looks set to be another busy year for me, which is good! God willing, I will be participating in some group shows with various galleries, a tie-up event with Alliance Francaise and a solo exhibition up in Penang. I may also show my works in Indonesia along with three other "veteran" artists who haven't exhibited in a long while and whose works, I'm sure, will be something to look forward to.
These things will certainly keep my busy and I will have to make some trips to the coast and islands to gather new material.
Well, happy new year, everyone, and may 2008 be a great year for art!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Shadows on the Water -- Pulau Besar, Mersing
Shadows on the Water -- Pulau Besar, Mering
As a painter, my eyes and mind have been "programmed" to see the world and everything in it as compositions on canvas. It comes naturally to me to imagine the scene before me as a painting -- how it is cropped, how it colours, how it shapes.
Early last year, before the tourist season set in, I found myself on Pulau Besar, Mersing, very much alone. Walking along the long stretch of beach, I felt like a castaway on an island. At one point, having walked for some time, I turned around to face the journey I had made. I immediately saw the scene before me on canvas.
It was an interesting composition of long shadows of trees being cast from the right, onto the beach, the wet sands, on the frothy lips of the waves, and onto the rolling sea coming ashore.
The reflection of the blue sky on the water created a contrast between the shadow and light, creating space and depth.
It was a very quiet and silent composition with only the sounds of the waves breaking the serenity.
Back at my studio, the scene was captured on a canvas measuring 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 feet. It was a challenge to capture the different levels of light and shadow on a single composition. I wanted to contrast the coolness of the shade with the late morning brightness, while showing the depth of that stretch of beach.
Now, this piece, "Shadows on the Water -- Pulau Besar, Mersing," is available for sale at Artcase Gallery, Great Eastern Mall, Jalan Ampang.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
First exhibition in Penang
I was in Penang over the weekend for the launch of my first exhibition in Penang. It was a group show entitled "Black and White" organised by A2 Art Gallery.
The gallery is located on Bangkok Lane (off Burmah Road) and is a beautifully-restored heritage house from the pre-war days.
Three of my black and white works are currently on display there and they are:
Ferns at Janda Baik
Perhentian Kecil
Pond at Janda Baik
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Black and white
Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri to everyone...hope it's not too late.
It's been a long while since I updated. Not that I have been idle...far from it. I have been busy with the Hari Raya celebrations with my family, some new paintings, a group exhibition, an art competition, a pro bono work, among others.
At the end of it all, my computer (and not me, thank God) burnt out! Which explains the lack of postings here. But I am back. Still busy, but back.
I've recently started working on some black and white pieces. They are mainly for a group exhibition up in Penang. It was interesting how my landscapes turned out in only shades of grey. I was encouraged by the fact that one of my regular collectors picked up a the piece featured here, "Janda Baik," even before it was shown at the gallery.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The last of my "ignorance"
The “Illiterati” series was created in 2004. It consists of only four still-life paintings done with acrylics.
Two were bought by a corporate individual some years ago and the rest are still with me. One that is still in my collection is “Illiterati 2:208,” measuring 38 x 55 inches -- an arrangement of my Quran, a newspaper article about the US invasion on Iraq, a mug and a bowl on a table.
The simple items I laid out were in contrast to the complicated situation of the world at the time, and the confusion it caused. A war was looming, tipping the balance of things and shaking the order of God.
The situation in the world made me pause to reflect on many things: about nations exerting power upon others, about their use of wit and cunning to outdo each other -- but only succeeding in creating destruction for mankind.
It expressed the ignorance of learned people -- the illiterates of the so-called literati.
It is very rarely that I paint still-lifes these days and these four paintings are very special to me. It reminds me of a significant period in my life some years ago.
I may never get to see the two that were already sold to a client, but if I had to part with the remaining two, I wouldn't mind if it went to the hands of a friend whom I know will appreciate it.
Two were bought by a corporate individual some years ago and the rest are still with me. One that is still in my collection is “Illiterati 2:208,” measuring 38 x 55 inches -- an arrangement of my Quran, a newspaper article about the US invasion on Iraq, a mug and a bowl on a table.
The simple items I laid out were in contrast to the complicated situation of the world at the time, and the confusion it caused. A war was looming, tipping the balance of things and shaking the order of God.
The situation in the world made me pause to reflect on many things: about nations exerting power upon others, about their use of wit and cunning to outdo each other -- but only succeeding in creating destruction for mankind.
It expressed the ignorance of learned people -- the illiterates of the so-called literati.
It is very rarely that I paint still-lifes these days and these four paintings are very special to me. It reminds me of a significant period in my life some years ago.
I may never get to see the two that were already sold to a client, but if I had to part with the remaining two, I wouldn't mind if it went to the hands of a friend whom I know will appreciate it.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Filling in the blanks
Bintulu Sunset in the making (scroll down for the "after").... almost completed the Bintulu Sunset and now working on a piece on Pulau Besar, Mersing (pic below, the left canvas). I went there last year and stayed at the Coral Bay chalet. At the time, the place was not completed except for the reception and a few rooms. I was the only guest there and it was very special. The island has a long beautiful beach, so quiet and peaceful. Over the next few days, i spent lots of time alone walking along the beach.
Right canvas: Bintulu Sunset; Left canvas: Pulau Besar, Mersing
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Blank
This is how it starts. On a blank canvas. Or in this case, two blank canvases, as I attempt to paint two pieces simultaneously.
I've been studying the paintings of William Turner and feeling so inspired by his seascapes, by how he paints the air, the "multitudinous" sea, by his skills at watercolours, by his sheer imagination!
I've also received a few pictures of the sunset from the middle of the ocean, somewhere off Bintulu. They were taken and sent to me by my neighbour Alex who works out on the sea. I think they call him a geologist. He took some very good photos which have had me itching to paint since then.
With Turner on my shoulder and this great desire to turn the Bintulu sunset on canvas, it's both a curse and a blessing. I can't wait to put brush to colour to canvas.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Pantai Pasir Tengkorak, Langkawi
I've been working on a new piece this past week.
It's something on Langkawi where my wife and I had gone on our honeymoon. I remember my wife wanted to go and swim at Pantai Pasir Tengkorak. We decided to wake up very early one morning so that we would be the only ones at the beach. By the time we reached there, there was only us and a mat salleh.
It was so quiet and peaceful and the water was so cold!
I can remember that my wife (we just got married a few days before that) was very happy swimming with me.
This piece is about seven by five feet long. A view of the Andaman Sea by the Pasir Tengorak Beach, under some shady trees next to the Ibrahim Hussein Gallery, at noon.
While this piece is almost ready, I've also stretched a couple more of my canvas to do some sunsets simultaneously.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
