Art exhibition captures the 'Faces of Malaysia'

IN CONJUNCTION with Merdeka Month celebrations, a group of free artists are exhibiting their works to show what makes Malaysians, well, "Malaysian".

The exhibition themed "Faces of Malaysia" started on August 16 at the MyArtHost Gallery, in Shah Alam, with an impressive array of drawings capturing the diversity of Malaysian society and the realities of life.

The exhibition highlights the works of artists from the MyArtHostGallery.com community such as Hariri Yusof, Taib (AUR), Md Nor Bidin, Adi Sakinah Omar, Nur Yasmin Mohd Nordin and Rasyidah Maharam @ Zulkepli with two other renowned artists, Azman Yusof and Latif Maulan, joining in.

Many may have yet to see the unique surroundings and the different faces of the Malaysians, especially the younger generation, explained Hariri Yusof, 42.

"For example, the portrait of a woman farmer, beca (three-wheeler) and children playing with wau (kites). In 10 years, maybe we will no longer see these anymore.

"Through drawings, the wealth of Malaysian culture can be preserved.

"What has been displayed in the exhibition gives a special meaning and concurs with the theme Faces of Malaysia," he said.

The exhibition was planned about two months ago and the chosen theme is drawings with realism so that the community can easily understand them.

In Malaysia, drawings with realism attributes do not get much attention, and in fact there are not many galleries that support such work. MyArtHost Gallery is among the few that has openings for artists from this genre, explained Hariri.

More than 20 drawings are on display, most produced by second-liners waiting to be recognised for their talent.

Although under one theme, the media used by the artists are varied: watercolours, oils, acrylics and charcoal.

Hariri, who is also a teacher, chose the title Dreams and features children as his main subject. "It shows a rebirth. From (when we are) young, (our) dreams are already there. Children must be inculcated with a sense of national pride. There is a picture depicting a child holding a keris. That for me reflects resilience and high spirits. The world is ever-changing, the challenges are ever-increasing. Without resilience we are vulnerable," he said, adding that it took a week for him to finish the piece.

Rasyidah Maharam @ Zulkepli, 28, from Johor, chose the subject of the societal diversity and ethnicity in Malaysia.

"I'm more comfortable with charcoal because I love the constraints in creativity provided by the limited colours," she explained.

Rasyidah, who drew the portrait of a Kadazan women and an Orang Asli child for the exhibition, has no formal training in drawing.

During her first attempt at the 2009 Shah Alam Gallery Open Exhibition, Rasyidah received the Jury's Special Award and this provided her the impetus to come up with more creative works.

"I'm humbled because my creativity has been given recognition. In fact, for eight years I have wanted to draw. Since joining MyArtHostGallery.com and getting some pointers from Latif Maulad, only then did I feel a little bit more confident. I want to continue taking an active part in exhibitions. Furthermore, the involvement of women in this field is very limited," she said.

Meanwhile, living in a foreign land has provided a different view for two budding young artists Adi Sakinah Omar, 19 and Nur Yasmin Mohd Nordin, 24 who are now more appreciative of Malaysia's uniqueness.

Adi Sakinah, who is now studying and living in Glasgow, Scotland, noted that Malaysians abroad are more close-knit.

"Maybe because there are racists there. They are not used to living in a plural society," said the lass, who is exhibiting in Malaysia for the first time.

Sakinah, who had taken part in exhibitions in Glasgow, chose to draw a portrait of her mother in farming clothes and a portrait of her sister, as these drawings reminded her of her place of birth. Though her whole family is now overseas, her Malaysian essence has never changed.

Nur Yasmin, agrees. She believes that Malaysians more adept to living in foreign countries as they are already used to living in a heterogeneous culture with diverse religious backgrounds.

"One of my drawings is a portrait of an Orang Asli child. It is a rough drawing. I mostly used a palette knife and primitive colours.

"I want to show that limitations of life for an Orang Asli child," she said.

"I purposely highlighted them so that we will be aware that there are still some among us who have yet to free ourselves from the clutches of poverty. What is the meaning of merdeka if we are not free from poverty," said Yasmin.

For more information about the Faces of Malaysia exhibition contact Hanisa Hassan at Tel: +60-13-6797972 or visit www. myarthostgallery.com

Bernama