Bintulu Batik Series - ethnic by design

Kelabit Lass - circa 1986, Kidurong, Bintulu. (Sold)



These batik paintings were done in Bintulu. They depict much on the ethnic cultures of Bintulu.

The year 1986 seemed a very prolific year for me. The reason being that having a good job with the BDA, I could therefore concentrate on doing batik without worrying about daily meals .



Iban Design - circa 1986, Kidurong, Bintulu.(Sold)






Kelabit Dancers - circa1986, Kidurong, Bintulu.( Sold)






Traveller's Palm - circa 2002, Park City, Bintulu.( Sold )

Ethnic by Design - circa 1986, Kidurong , Bintulu.
( own collection)

First Bintulu Artist to Hold Solo Exhibition

Venue of Exhibition: Sarawak Museum , Kuching , Sarawak.
Time: 15- 17 October, 1981.


The Year 1981 remains as one of the highlights of my encounters with creativity. That year I held my first solo exhibition in Kuching. I have not known yet any Bintulu artist who has held a solo exhibition in Kuching, the art capital of Sarawak. That would put me as the first Bintulu born artist to hold a solo art exhibition in Kuching. One for the Malaysia Book of Records!.

I have in my personal collection a couple of the paintings that were shown in the exhibition. These shall remain my personal collection and will not part with them because they are my signature paintings. Probably they will qualify for the Sarawak Art Museum (when I am not around in this planet!)



There are about 5 more of the other paintings which I still keep in my study. I will post these paintings when the time comes later. It is interesting to note tat these paintings were almost in water colour or mixed media and the size of the paintings are imperial sizes, i.e. 30 ins. x 22 ins.



Mosque in Sunset - 14/2/81, water colour



Croton - 24/4/76, Mixed Media

Door of Life - 8/8/81, Mixed Media

Solitude - 8/4/81, Water colour.

Batik Paintings

The production of batik paintings was an interesting discovery of sorts during my mature years period. In the first solo exhibition I had in 1981 at Kuching, there was not a single piece of batik painting exhibited. It would seem that time is really needed to master an art. Batik techniques were learnt during college days( 1967-1970) but little was mastered then.

It was only when I came back to Bintulu in 1983 onwards that I contemplated on mastering this art. This was largely due to the fact that Bintulu was an upcoming town and there were plenty of expatriates available as buyers. Thus it makes commercial sense to go back into batik painting because batik is uniquely Malaysian.

The motifs then were exclusively native or ethnic.. In the earlier pieces(1985-1989) . The colours were very subdued and rich in hues. In later paintings(1985-1989) I concentrated on the unique spontaneity and impressionistic tendencies of batik. Here are examples of work done during this period. More examples will be shown in later blogging.

It would seem appropriate at this juncture to remark that in the 2nd solo exhibition which I am now planning, there will be plenty of batik paintings especially those with modern or abstract motifs.




Kelabit Girl with Flute - circa '86


By The Water's Edge - august,02


Three Doves - circa '86



Water Lilies- may,'02


Plants study - june '02

Paddling upriver- april '85

Two Women Washing - may'85

Landscaping Times

The Mature Years period gave me an unprecedented opportunity to transfer my artistic
feelings and aesthetics inclines to landscaping planning, design and creation. But for a moment I would like to blog on the origins of my interest in gardening.
Origins of gardening interest
The origins of my interest in gardening found its early roots when my mother began planting the roselle plants, botanically known as Hibiscus sabdariffa or in what locals termed as asam susur( sour relish) . My mother began planting these roselle plants in front of the government quarters where we stayed in the 1960's.
These were to become the source of pride for my mother who would show her skill in preparing us the jam made from the thick calyx lobes of the plant. This was a fad among housewives in the little town of Bintulu back then. When the sun was about to sink in the horizon, she would ask me to water the plants along the footpath leading to the house from the grass-laid road that acted as sub-arterial linkage to the government quarters area or kampung perintah area as it was known then.

Bintulu kampung scene of the sixties.
Bintulu was a typical Malay or Melanau kampung in the sixties. The kampung houses were built on stilts from the nibong palm trunk or the belian wood species. As we walk through the kampung road we could see how the houses were overtopped by tall coconut trees, betel nut trees, huge mango trees, bread fruit trees, guava trees of various species, rambutan trees and a host of under-storey trees and shrubs. The middle canopy consisted of starfruit trees, langsat trees, cermai trees, papaya trees and many more. I could recall the wonderful excitement we had in catapulting the birds that occasioned these fruits trees. A walk around the kampung was greeted by the numerous calls of the punai, serindit,squirrels and many other tiny birds. Vegetation was a delight to the senses as it was a haven for wildlife. Thus my affinity with plants and wildlife started at the kampung level and very early in life.
Abundance of greenery was as natural a feature as the water and jungle fringes that
surrounded the kampungs.

Love Poems Anyone?

Gazes

Gazes she threw
made my feelings anew
of memories and times
spent in the early morning dew

A tapestry of images distinctly clear
of smiles so wide
and feelings tender
her person so near
warm and dear

Her eyes were sparkling brown
that left a trial of images
fantasies and flights of imagination
of days when a wink so mighty could hold hope to aspiring hearts

Gazes and glances
casts of gold
brown eyes and sweet smiles
a timeless spell behold.

12.5.80


Loneliness

Loneliness....
it brings back imagination
it calls for something to be done
it longs for togetherness
thus loneliness...
brings us alone
together...all by ourselves.

The sweet silent air
breezes our soul
on this beach we call love
we rest our soul
let time pass
let it roll
for in my heart
there is always a place
ready for love.

I long for you
when loneliness comes
to fill my soul
to the brim of joy.
I care for none but you
release me of my loneliness
and together we'll build a dream
so perfect and sure
that in our minds
our happiness
shall reign supreme.

31.8.76

Green and Nature Poems

Country Peace

The rustling leaves
Brings that wondrous feeling
That town people miss
Called country peace.
There is low silence
Deep in its shallowness
Forever going
Forever reaching.
I lie in the open air
Letting the breeze blow
My ruffled hair
My face too
Rubbing it softly
But earthly through...
Natural quietness
Is a comforting cushion
That balms the mind
From earthly confusion.
I love nature
And its rustling leaves
The quietness of mind
Whatever good nature gives
A time to reflect
A season to recall
A loving state of mind
That nature grants all.
I thank nature for it leaves
My thoughtful mind
Well at peace
Rich at ease.

1974


Windswept Lawn

Like a bird one day
I was out in the open air
rested on the tall casurina branch
and looked down onto the ground

It was a small garden
recently mowed
the grasses were dense dry and brown

The place was quiet
a little breeze blew
moved the silent leaves
the branches too

The house looked firm
friendly and warm
So I helped myself
to the comfy rattan chair
relaxed..and heartily said I;

Here's indeed a place to rest
to seek a peaceful mind
a mind that remembers and recalls
that windswept lawn
the trees and the house
I wish to be my own.

30.10.74

Poems of "The Young Man As Artist"

Hasyimah

I
While reading the philosophy of history
my eyes went free
the words appeared blank
the paragraph did not speak to me
only the hovering calling of a memory

It was she - Hasyimah
how untimely she came
out of the blank pages
out of a wandering mind.
She was about to whisper in my ears
that I knew what I thought of her
and loving her.

II
I felt a feeling linked
loose and fear
fear of unreality
fear that the link was but
a figment of the imagination
fear that the link
could never be knotted. Tied.

III
I am now I am
and she is not around
how forward could imagination bring
into the fearful crevices of the mind
and out into the present realities
of now and what now?

5.10.74


Dark Nights

When the roads were wet
I would be on my way
Past lonely streets
The dark road ahead

Destined to her place
My mind had said
To keep her in company
Whenever raindrops fell

We talked sweet nothings
Till the early morn
All those inhibitions and taboos claimed
Were now passive in our hands.

O, dark nights,
You held our secrets
The pulsating of our hearts
In your darkness thundered

Our love's blindness
You tenderly sew
Under your black clouds
Were mysteries we sought

Treasured were memories spent together
The courage in loneliness
And the meaning in silence

The early hours of dawn
Drew us a while
And those car splashes reminded me too
Blurry neon lights I left behind
But dark nights were always on my mind.

12.10.80


Love

Love is a burst of joy
A moment when two hearts
Feel so close together
Entranced in laughter
Wrapped in deep gratification
Satisfaction and feelings
Embraced in the oneness
And rhytmic song of joy.

14.7.74