A Virtual Conversation with a Jin.

O Bladi, O Blada,
Life goes on........,
La la la la life goes on......

* see his reply by clicking COMMENTS under this post.

Art on Face

Found this on the net.
Its a face of a Surma Man, Ethiopia

Classic Beauty

Mercedes 200T
One of my favourite : according to my friend (Pak Lah), T stands for "Tonggek"

: )

For the eyes.
Have not been posting anything for a while, school holidays the previous week, been fighting to use the modem with my kids. Signing in is quite a hassle lately. When there is a lot to pour out- can't log in; just try my luck this morning, and suddenly, here I am with nothing to say. So; feast your eyes to this beautiful illustration of a vintage Mercedes. Since encountering the log in problem, I spent my cyber time surfing the other blogs and sites of classical cars and drooling at my dream pickup trucks. Will try to post some of my collection later, collection of photos that is.

ancestors

Old copy of an old photo of our ancestors. This photo was given to me by a friend. He claim that he found it at a rubbish dump near the Kelantan museum in Kota Bharu. It is an image of five men near the Kelantan river. What is interesting here is the nature of their dressing. the printed knee-length pants and the head gear or the 'semotar' which still can be found with the Kelantanese during the early eighties. It is also interesting to note how every one of them having a big Kris at their waist.
My guess is that this photo is taken at the early part of the twentieth century. If we look properly, we can see that the faces have a lot of resemblance to some of the Kelantanese of today.
This give us a good reason to check it out at the Kelantan Museum the next time we are there. I am sure that they have a clearer photo with more precise fact about it all.

shadow play (wayang kulit)

'Pak Tam' a character from a traditional shadow play or 'wayang kulit'.Pak Tam come from the string of character from the troop, 'Wayang Kulit Asun' from the north of Malaysia.(Kedah).W.K Asun is a family production that have been pass down and it is in its third generation.The 'Tok Dalang' the man behind the screen, who manipulates the puppet movemant and the narrator is the master player. The current Tok Dalang in W.K Asun is the grandson of the first master. The dialouge are usually in Malay with a Siamese slang, due to the close proximity of Asun to Thailand. This make it a very distinct style to the play.
Pak Tam is one of the comic character together with the famous 'Etong & Ekeng'. The story line from this play is a modified version of the 'Ramayana' epic but with a local twist. He usually appeared along the adventure of the hero Sri Rama and its heroin Sita Dewi. Pak Tam will always pop up here and there to add to the comical sketch with songs, usually a contemporary popular song. It is a trade that is well known with this group, in maintaining an interest to the present audience.
Wayang Kulit Asun is well loved despite the emerging of current diverse form of entertainment. W.K Asun use to perform at weddings and official function in Kedah but now, they have been performing all over the globe. A typical play can last for a couple of night depending on request.
My hope is that it will still be around for our future generation.
Above: Pak Tam or Mr Black is a cut out puppet made from a buffalo or cow hide.

Sketch

Syyyyy.....!

Sweethearts of Fashion Illustration

My sweethearts from Degree in Fashion Design,semester one, 2009, Faculty of Art & Design. UiTM.
This is one of the most gifted, hardworking and enthusiastic group that Ive ever had.(jangan perasan)
Always surprised me with their effort, and making me looking forward to meet them every week. I am sure there is going to be a few successfull future designers in the making . Keep up the good work and enthusiasm guys, there is no reason for me NOT to give you a four flat.
Love you kids !

Art Classes at Perbadanan Putrajaya

Art Classes at Perbadanan Putrajaya, 2008.
This year's session will start in April 2009.
Interested, check with Putrajaya Library, precint 16, (Puan Azura)

Teaching Art

1988 - Married to Rositah a.k.a.Eta, a sweet and charming fine art classmates, after five years of courtship. We started our married life in the recession era, where we set up a small gallery name Kiara Galeri At Taman Tun Dr Ismail. To supplement our income we have art classes catering to children ages from five to seventeen. It responded well where we have around forty students attending the six sessions on every saturday and sunday.
One of our favourite students that is famous now is Lah a.k.a Abdullah Ahmad from the boy group 'VE' when he was nine years old.
Our love for children and the arts spark our interest in teaching arts to the young, where Eta ends up going through an art teachers diploma(ATD) at UiTM(still teaching art at a secondary school).
As for me, it started me teaching art part time at UiTM.

1988-1992: Fashion Illustration at Fashion Design,School of art and design. UiTM,Shah Alam:
This is a figure drawing session meant for the final year fashion design students. It lasted seven semesters, and bring out big names in the local fashion industry such as Rizalman and Ridzuan Radziwill.

1992-1995: Visual Research , Foundation year, School of Art and design. UiTM,Shah Alam:
Introduction of visual art and its elements to the first year students before they embark into a specific visual arts discipline. I enjoyed teaching the first year students, because of their fresh and naive mind.Their mind and heart is like a blank canvas as far as art and life is concern.

1995-1997:
'Contextual studies' and 'Design concept', Limkokwing Institute of Creative Tech.
This is the only two years in my life that I have a full time teaching job,together with college friends, Akif, Tengku Sabri, Suhaimi, Nasir Baharuddin and Bob Nazaruddin.
This subject is very interesting where we deals with creative thinking , research, problem solving and expression. I left LICT because I'm a person that can't be tied down.
However much I love teaching here, I miss my freedom. Another interesting factor about teaching here is that the students are multi racial compared to UiTM.

Leaving LICT, I join the residency at The artist Colony at the KL Craft Complex.
A year at the colony, I was invited by The Faculty of Performing Arts (now known as Faculty Of Creative Technology)
2000-2005: 'Visual Arts' This is another introductory to visual Arts, but this time to the performing arts degree students in theatre, filming and art management.Here it lasted for eleven semesters until they have their full time lecturers back from overseas.
My- ex students that make it to fame in the industry are names like Anding, Iqram Dinzli and Farid Kamil Ariffin to name a few. I was also offered a full time teaching job but declined because
by this time, no amount of money can buy my freedom.

2007 till now:
I was again offered by the Faculty Of Art and Design to handle' Fashion Illustration' again and this is my fifth semesters in my second tour of duty with the Fashion Faculty.
While teaching Fashion Illustration, I was also offered to teach Figure Drawing For the Degree students in Animation at The Faculty of Creative Technology.
This is a figure drawing session, that is one of my passionate subject in my own art itself.

At the same time , I was also involved with children's art classes organised by Perbadanan Putrajaya. A three month, weekly programme for children from five to twelve. Here is another programme that I truly enjoyed, where I am able to share my love in arts with the young ones. To me, the younger we are, the more artistic our expression is.
I also conduct art session for foreign students once in a while at the colony and sometimes gave house call to the expatriates children around K.L

Teaching art is very close to my heart, because apart from having the chance to be involved in developing the young mind, it also teaches you more. The more you teach, the more you learn.

With the students of animation, Faculty Of Artistic Creative Technology, UiTM visiting me at the colony in 2008. Our future animators.








Art workshop with aussies students at the colony in 2008.

Malaysian 'Jin' in UK

I've got a call from a 'Jin' living in the south of England, last night.
Sanusi aka Jin is an old friend of mine back in the college days.
He is from Trengganu, married a beautiful English lass and blessed with two lovely teenage son and daughter.(Pan Asian Jin and Jinny).
Jin is our trusted and efficient light director in all our theatrical production at college.
The reason Jin is in UK for the last decade or so, is because of his love to his children.
He is into craft bussines there and already had a PR status.
Jin did come back or visits Malaysia once in a while, and always make an effort to call his friends occassionally.
To me, Jin potrays the unconditional love of a father.
On the phone last night, I can sense his longing for Malaysia. When asked, when he is going to come home for good; Jin answers: "I dont think so........ yet !"
Hold on Jin, the kids still needs you

Sham aka Samsudin Mohamad

'Self portrait with violin'
Acrylic on canvas by Sham
2008.
Sham and me are in the same studio at the colony.
A kind, gentle and a caring friend.Sham used to draw portrait's commission at the Central market before studying Fine Art at USM.
Sham is very good and fast in capturing life portraits.
This father of two have also a keen interest in music,where he have been one of the founder member of the now famous painter's Kroncong group named 'Kroncong Lukisan'.Sham plays the 'Cuk' a three string Ukulele. Sham can be contacted at the Conlay Artist Colony. You can even see him and the band playing their music every Sunday from 4-7 pm at the colony.
Love you bro !

sketch

Berat mata memandang....

Langgar,Alor Star,Kedah

Langgar, my hometown, a sleepy hollow, Left at the age of sixteen, only to return to, a few days in a year.This scene was shot in 2008, glad everything is still as serene, Langgar is situated six miles from Alor Star, access through the Alor Star Utara exit from the PLUS highway.
Langgar is also famous for its royal Kedah mausoleums. Back in the old days, theres the famous 'Mee Sup Omar Bom', traditional delicacies such as the 'Dangai' and 'Dadih' (yogurt made from buffalo milk..emm) and the delicious 'Ice kacang' (not anymore).
Theres an article about the beautiful Kedah's Zahir mosque posted recently by Visualcrackers. See my blog link

My Photo - KLCC

This is one of the beautiful sight that I've missed after leaving the colony.
It is taken in2008 at the colony's compound shortly after a heavy downpour.

Rainbow Nation

'Rainbow Nation'
Mix media,Juror's Choice,'Phillip Morris Art Award'(Malaysia)2003
Represented Malaysia at'Phillip Morris Asean Art Award' Bangkok,2004
Collection of Bank Negara Malaysia

Dewan Sastera Cover Nov 2008

'Bayang Angin', oil on canvas,2007.
Cover for Dewan Sastera, Nov 08. 'B.A' was done in late 2007.
Collector : Zuhri Abdullah, K.L Malaysia.

Bara Hati Bahang Jiwa

'Gapai' oil on canvas has been featured as a catalouge cover for the exhibition 'Bara Hati Bahang Jiwa' at The National Art Gallery in 2001. It is now in the hand of a collector friend of mine, Mr Bob Sobri, Ara Damansara.displayed above his classic Ducati.