Ex-MCKK boys paint history in art

KUALA LUMPUR: With a theme which plays on the word "History", five artists have joined hands to showcase an art exhibition entitled "Take 5: The Rest Is (His)tory" at the RA Fine Arts Gallery.

The exhibition features the works of Kamal Mustafa, Datuk Mahsun Taib, Zainol Abidin Ahmad Shariff (popularly known as Zabas) and Zainuddin Jamil, whose common bond, apart from art, is Malay College Kuala Kangsar where they studied.

Also included are paintings by Syed Bakar Syed Salim, their college art teacher, who is now 73.

It could very well have been titled "To Sir With Love" because the exhibition is also a tribute to the late historian Desmond Muzaffar Tate who was their history teacher.

Tate remained a close friend long after they left school.

In picture: Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad launching the art exhibition ‘Take 5 The Rest Is (His)tory’ at the RA Fine Arts Gallery in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. On his left is artist Kamal Mustafa.

The paintings, which mainly see the use of acrylic paint, are by no means a mere rendering of important events or personalities in history.

"Collectively, their works are a mixture of abstract and figurative images," said Zabas, the guest curator for the exhibition.

"They are inspired by histories and motives ranging from as far away as Persia and the African continent to the intrigues of the court of old Malacca and more recent socio-cultural and personal experiences."

The theme of Mahsun's works revolve around loyalty and betrayal in Malay history. The stories of Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Tun Fatimah, Megat Seri Rama and Mahsuri are among the inspirations for some of his paintings.

Zainuddin Jamil's "Fist" depicts a clenched fist, a symbol of dissent.

"From Spartacus, the Tokyo Olympiad to the Tiananmen Square protests, the fist, gloved or bare, clenched or holding a weapon or placard, always denotes a sign of uprising, dissatisfaction or revolt against an oppressive order," said Zainuddin.

Syed Bakar was philosophical when it came to his involvement, saying he saw himself as "an old man in a young world" who has "more yesterdays than tomorrows".

"My intent has always been the enrichment of life, avoiding that which will depress man's moods or being. I want to show what's positive and joyful in the world," he said.

Kamal and Zabas have used a combination of paintings and printings for their works. The price of the paintings exhibited range from RM3,000 to RM50,000.

The exhibition, which ends on Sept 4, was launched on Thursday by Johor Baru member of parliament Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad, an old boy of MCKK.

The RA Fine Arts Gallery at No 6, Jalan Aman, off Jalan Tun Razak, is open from 11am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday.

Credit - NST.