Mohd Hoessein Enas
Nafkah
Nafkah
This magnificent work was painted by Hoessein Enas, who was regarded as the 'Father of Malaysian Portrait Painting'. Born in 1924 in Bogor, East Java, the artist settled in Malaya in 1947. His extraordinary talent was so well-known that in 1990, the Sultan of Selangor bestowed him the title 'Royal Portrait Painter'.
As can be observed in this work, Hoessein Enas utilised dimmer hues to portray a conservative, yet sophisticated mood. Furthermore, the artist painted the men's gestures in a way that highlights their hard work and diligence. Through combining colours and details that are authentic, Hoessein Enas brought this work to life. So much so that viewers can imagine the lives these hardworking men led, to afford a living. Thus the title of the work, 'Nafkah'.
Water, Ship, Life 2
WATER, SHIP, LIFE 2
1988
Chan Chiow Teng
Oil Paint
98 x 98 cm
Born:
1949
Collection Of Bank Negara Malaysia
Kelong
One of Malaysia's pioneer artists, the 'Father of Malaysian Painting', Yong Mun Sen was born in Sarawak. At the age of five, he began painting with watercolours and received training for Chinese brush painting and calligraphy in Kwangtung Province, China. Despite receiving this formal training, he preferred watercolours and oil paints.
In 1918, he moved to Singapore where he worked at a bookshop. There, he formed the Singapore Society of Chinese Artists and became its vice president. After two years, Mun Sen moved to Penang and set up the Tai Koon Art Studio on Chulia Street, believed to be the first photography studio in that area.
In 'Kelong', Mun Sen depicted an offshore platform made of mostly wood, a kelong, designed for fishing or fish farming that can be found in the waters of Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and some parts of Singapore. The platform is teeming with life and human activity, as has been observed by the artist.
Siri Terengganu II
SIRI TERENGGANU II
1989
Hassan Mohd. Ghazali
Oil Paint
50 x 75 cm
Born:
1959, Perak
Collection Of Bank Negara Malaysia
Seniman dan Warisan - Serkap Ikan
One of the watercolourists in Malaysia, Shafie Hassan was born and raised in Kedah. An art graduate of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Shafie deftly played with the concept of realism in his paintings, which explore subjects rooted in his personal sociocultural context. The artist viewed that it is essential to record traditional and older cultural bearings before they are forgotten in the sea of modernity.
This can be seen in Shafie's work titled 'Seniman dan Warisan - Serkap Ikan' as it depicts the assembling of fish traps that were commonly used in yesteryears. Due to rising competition from larger players in the fishing industry, fish traps like these are no longer in favour as fishermen are forced to modernise their way of life to continue to make an honest living.
'Serkap Ikan' transports its viewers to a traditional kampung home to witness two children watching their father working on a fish trap, a tender moment captured in watercolour.
Big Catch
BIG CATCH
1989
Abdul Rahman Rahim
Oil Paint
54 x 69 cm
Born:
1944, Penang
Collection Of Bank Negara Malaysia
Nelayan
Khalil Ibrahim, who loved to paint in watercolour and acrylic, is one of the most acclaimed artists in Malaysia. With an artistic career spanning over 50 years, his style ranged from realism to abstract. This legendary icon was trained at the Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London.
Khalil's preference for painting human figures over inanimate objects can be seen in this diptych work titled 'Nelayan'. Set in a Malay fishing village, a group of men, clad only in short sarongs, are huddling together as they prepare their fishing equipment. The scene takes place on a beach near the sea, with the smooth white sand painted in soft cream hues. Primary colours such as red and blue were employed to give the figures a heightened sense of physicality.
Through this painting and several others, Khalil successfully paid homage to the hardworking fishermen from a previous era. His works will continue to showcase into the future the physical struggles our forefathers by the sea went through without the presence of current technology such as fishfinders and net haulers.
Tawar Menawar
TAWAR MENAWAR
1985
Rafie Abdul Rahman
Oil Paint
85 x 124.5 cm
Born:
1947, Indonesia
Collection Of Bank Negara Malaysia
Fishing Village
A Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts graduate, Keng Seng Choo, was born in 1945 in Alor Setar, Kedah. With more than 40 years in the art scene, Keng Seng Choo is known for his mastery in watercolour paintings and delicate batik art. He poured his passion into employing exemplary and unique techniques to depict still life or objects.
'Fishing Village' is one of Keng Seng Choo's watercolour works. Set in the sea, with a fishing village in the backdrop, the artist created a scene of tranquillity and calmness of resting fishermen, home after a hard day's work. His meticulous and exceptional brushwork is light and airy to the eyes, and evocative to the heart, a scene that viewers found sentimental.
Nets and Boats
NETS AND BOATS
Tanpa tarikh
G.K Tay (Tan Gek Kheam)
Oil Paint
48 x 63 cm
Born:
Unknown
Collection Of Lembaga Muzium Negeri Pulau Pinang
Shell Searches, Muka Head, Penang
SHELL SEARCHES, MUKA HEAD, PENANG
Undated
Yee Mook Sin
Oil Paint
48 x 63 cm
Born:
1943 - 2013, Ipoh,Perak
Collection Of Lembaga Muzium Negeri Pulau Pinang
Seberang Takir
SEBERANG TAKIR
1964
Yeoh Jin Leng
Oil Paint
23.5 x 31.5 cm
Born:
1929, Ipoh, Perak
Collection Of Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Menjemor Jaring II
MENJEMOR JARING II
1963
Seah Kim Joo
Woodcut Print
69 x 48 cm
Born:
1939, Singapore
Collection Of Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, Universiti Sains Malaysia