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13 December 2013 – 24 January 2014
Exhibition held at:
G5-G6 Mont’ Kiara Meridin
19 Jalan Duta Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-7721 8251 / 03-6419 0102
Email: [email protected]
www.theedgegalerie.com
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CONTENTS
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4 FOREWORD
6 INTRODUCTION
8 DREW HARRIS
22 JALAINI ABU HASSAN
34 TAJUDDIN ISMAIL
50 AHMAD ZAKII ANWAR
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FOREWORD
The Edge Galerie is indeed fortunate to feature a total of 20 major
works of four leading contemporary artists in Malaysia in our inaugural
group show.
The paintings of Ahmad Zakii Anwar, Jalaini Abu Hassan, Tajuddin
Ismail and Kuala Lumpur-based Canadian artist Drew Harris offer
collectors the opportunity to acquire the best of contemporary art
available today. Collectors of serious art will recognise that this grouping of works
by well-established artists marks a milestone in the development of
contemporary art in Malaysia.
To have four of the country’s highly distinguished painters — two
figurative and two abstract artists — combine their creative talent to
produce a group show is indeed a rare occurrence.
It is also an event that is not to be missed by anyone who views art for
more than its monetary value.
Headway
This year, we have made much headway in promoting art, especially
Malaysian art.
On June 29, we held our first auction of Modern and Contemporary
Malaysian Art in Kuala Lumpur. Although, we intentionally offered
only 33 artworks for sale, we achieved 85% sales and chalked up RM2.5
million.
By any measure, this was a remarkable feat. More so when a dozen
local auction records were set for works by some of Malaysia’s leading
artists, such as Jolly Koh, Zakii, Jalaini, Bayu Utomo Radjikin and Kow
Leong Kiang.
Shortly after our auction, we had the honour of staging senior artist
Jolly Koh’s solo exhibition from Aug 23 to Sept 30. Entitled Towards
the Nebula, the exhibition possibly marks the pinnacle of the 72-yearold Koh’s long and successful career as a modernist artist. The show
featured 40 of Koh’s recent and latest abstract paintings.
Soon after, we collaborated with prominent collector Zain Azahari,
78, on a non-selling exhibition of 40 of his prized artworks collected
over 50 years. It was tough for Zain as he struggled to choose which
among his 400-odd artworks should be selected for the exhibition
entitled Favourites from the Zain Azahari Collection.
After much deliberation, Zain, the quintessential gentleman collector,
decided on artworks by some of the most iconic artists of Malaysia and
Indonesia who held special meaning at a personal level.
Thus, visitors to The Edge Galerie were treated to rare works by Abdul
Latiff Mohidin, Ibrahim Hussein, Syed Ahmad Jamal, Hoessein Enas,
Dzulkifli Buyong, Chuah Thean Teng and Chang Fee Ming from the
Malaysian side.
And among the works of iconic Indonesian artists were those by
Affandi, Hendra Gunawan, Srihadi Soedarsono, Basoeki Abdullah, S.
Sudjojono, Widayat and Sudjana Kerton.
Remarkably, this exhibition has drawn top corporate names that rarely
attend gallery previews and openings.
And in this vein, we hope to encourage more people to appreciate art,
especially Southeast Asian art and, in particular, Malaysian art.
HO KAY TAT
Publisher & Group CEO
The Edge Media Group
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INTRODUCTION
THE WINNING FORMULA
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Showcasing the talents of Tajuddin Ismail, Ahmad Zakii Anwar and
Jalaini Abu Hassan plus Kuala Lumpur-based Canadian artist Drew
Harris, this group show marks a significant level of collaboration on the
Malaysian art scene.
Earlier, Zakii had remarked that it would be interesting to have a
collaboration between two figurative artists — meaning himself and
Jalaini (or Jai) — and two abstract artists — Tajuddin and Drew. We
certainly agree.
The brainchild of Zakii, conceived over a cup of coffee in his Bukit Tunku
home in Kuala Lumpur several months ago, the show is testament to
the firm resolve of the four individualistic artists to “do” a show together.
According to Drew, the idea to have a joint show was mooted 20 years
ago, but they never quite got around to organising it, until now.
Each artist also agreed to answer a list of questions pertaining to their
art — motivation, accomplishment and regrets, if any — in preparation
for this catalogue. In this respect, it was opportune timing for all the parties concerned.
With the establishment of The Edge Galerie in the middle of this year, the
mission was to seek out well-respected artists who had established a
reputation for serious art.
The four artists, meanwhile, were looking to collaborate with a gallery
of a certain calibre.
A few phone calls and a couple of meetings later, we were all on the
road to putting this show together. It seemed almost effortless, but the
underlying elements that enabled it to happen were trust and mutual
respect.
Obviously, the concept was to have “recent works” produced specifically
for “The Edge Galerie show”, as the artists referred to the event. As a
matter of fact, nearly all the paintings were created in recent months for
our inaugural group show.
They have been quite candid with their views and observations about
the local art scene, especially the development of the art market and
auction houses.
As part of the Malaysian art market with The Edge Galerie and The
Edge Auction, we are mindful of providing a transparent platform for
artists and collectors to engage in healthy transactions that are beyond
reproach.
Artists should have peace of mind to do what they do best without
having to worry about the business side of their artistic creations.
And collectors should have a clear picture of what they are buying
without worrying about being caught up in market practices that don’t
add up.
For Drew, Jai, Tajuddin and Zakii’s Recent Works group show, their
winning formula of “2 + 2” certainly adds up to a whole lot more than just
another art exhibition.
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DREW
HARRIS
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DREW HARRIS
b. 1960
Toronto, Canada
EDUCATION
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1978-1981
Diploma, Foundation Studies / Diploma in Fine Arts
Diploma in Graphic Design
Georgian College of Applied Arts and
Technology, Owen Sound, Canada
2012 NN Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Streetlife, The George Town Festival
2011 Characters, The George Town Festival
2008 A2 Art Gallery, Penang
TAKSU Singapore
2007 Creem, Singapore
TAKSU Kuala Lumpur
2006 TAKSU Singapore
TAKSU Kuala Lumpur
2005 Edward Day Gallery, Toronto
2003 TAKSU Kuala Lumpur
TAKSU Jakarta
2002 Tatar/Alexander Gallery, Toronto
Lydon Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2000 Lydon Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
1999 TAKSU Kuala Lumpur
Barbara Greene Gallery, New York
1998 The Foundation, Toronto
1997 Nancy Moore Gallery, New York
Lydon Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
TAKSU Kuala Lumpur
1996 TAKSU Kuala Lumpur
1995 Bakri Gallery, Jakarta
Tom Thomson Gallery, Owen Sound, Ontario
Teadora Gallery, Toronto
TAKSU Kuala Lumpur
1993 The Gallery in Mirvish Village, Toronto
1992 Amandari, Bali
Kupu Kupu Barong, Bali
1991 Lyndon Street Gallery, Melbourne
1984 The Georgian Gallery, Owen Sound, Ontario
1981 The Tom Thomson Gallery, Owen Sound, Ontario
1981
OCAD, Toronto, Ontario
Part-time studies / Illustration
In abstract art, the artist has to instinctively depend on
his choice of colours and his brush, finger or palette knife
or whatever means to convey his feelings and emotions
in a meaningful way. Without the familiarity of figures
and objects to portray a certain notion, the viewer has
to dig much deeper within himself to fathom what the
painting or composition holds for him.
In Drew’s latest works, there is certainly a sense of
fluidity but there is also a sense of tension. Of going
against the flow of things and of an omnipotent force
represented by the broad and sweeping brushstroke
present in all the four works.
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Fluidity’ #1
2013
Mixed Media on Canvas
153cm x 153cm
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Fluidity’ #2
2013
Mixed Media on Canvas & Board
193cm x 153cm
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Fluidity’ #3
2013
Mixed Media on Canvas
153cm x 153cm
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Fluidity in Blue
2013
Mixed Media on Canvas & Board
193cm x 153cm
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JALAINI
ABU
HASSAN
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JALAINI ABU HASSAN
b. 1963
Bandar Kinrara,
Selangor
EDUCATION
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
1994 MFA, Pratt Institute, New York
1988 MA, The Slade School of Fine Art,
University College of London
1985 BA (Fine Art) Institut Teknologi MARA
(now UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor
2012 Line of Thought, Valentine Willie
Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur
2011 Bangsawan Kebangsaan,
Tyler Rollins Fine Art,
New York City
2010 Dengdongeng, Valentine Willie
Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur
2009 Bisik Menjerit, Valentine Willie
Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur
2008 Chanang, Valentine Willie
Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur and
Borobudur Auction, Jakarta
2006 Belacu Berdepa Berlagu Berupa,
Valentine Willie Fine Art,
Kuala Lumpur
2005 Wet Paint, Valentine Willie Fine
Art, Kuala Lumpur
2003 WIP, TAKSU Jakarta
Mantera, Valentine Willie Fine
Art, Kuala Lumpur
2002 Linear Narratives,
TAKSU Kuala Lumpur
2001 Rhythmic Line,
Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur
2000 Project Room, Barbara Greene
Fine Art, New York City, and
Sunjin Gallery, Singapore
2013 Kembara Jiwa,
Fukuoka Art Museum, Japan
Art at Whiteaways, George
Town Festival, Penang
Mukakata, Segaris Art
Centre, Publika, Kuala
Lumpur
Bold and at times provocative, the art of Jalaini,
or Jai, often reflects what’s going on in the
country. In this exhibition, his Ketuanan painting,
which depicts a figure that resembles the late
Indonesian president Sukarno holding a parang is
as provocative as they come. In fact, each work is
pregnant with meaning.
2012 Kembara Jiwa,
Selasar Sunaryo,
Bandung
FLOAT, Kendra Gallery,
Bali
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Ketuanan
2013
Bitumen & Acrylic on Canvas
182.9cm x 182.9cm
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Rumah Pisang
2013
Bitumen & Acrylic on Canvas
182.9cm x 182.9cm
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The Main Con
2013
Bitumen & Acrylic on Canvas
213.4cm x 243.8cm
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The Industrial Player
2013
Bitumen & Acrylic on Canvas
121.9cm x 213.4cm
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TAJUDDIN
ISMAIL
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Tajuddin Ismail
b. 1949
Kuala Pilah, Negeri
Sembilan
EDUCATION
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1969-1975 Fine arts, MARA Institute of Technology,
School of Art & Design; Graphic design,
Art Centre College of Design, Los Angeles, US
2012 Mind, Matter & Metaphor,
Segaris Art Centre, Kuala Lumpur
2010 Earthscapes (Recent Round Paintings),
TJ Fine Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
2009 Recent Pastel Works,
TJ Fine Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
2007 Head Studies on Paper,
TJ Fine Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
2005 Small Works on Paper,
TJ Fine Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
2004 Rentakalam, TJ Fine Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
2002 Red, Art Salon Kuala Lumpur
1999 Recent Paintings / Drawings,
TAKSU Kuala Lumpur
1998 Recent Works, Art Salon, Kuala Lumpur
1997 Recent Works, Jenkins Johnson Gallery,
San Francisco
1996 Small Works, The Datai Langkawi
1996 Small Pastel Works, Carcosa Seri Negara,
Kuala Lumpur
1995 Unfold, Art Salon, Kuala Lumpur
1995 Recent Paintings & Furniture Design,
Galeri Inspirasi, Kuala Lumpur
1992 Recent Works, Singapore Art Fair
1992 Recent Works, Art Salon, Kuala Lumpur
1985 Recent Drawings, Studio EDC, Subang Jaya
1984 Recent Watercolour & Drawings,
Studio EDC, Subang Jaya
1978 Recent Works, Dewan Tunku Canselor,
Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur
1977 Recent Drawings and Graphics, Goethe
Institute, Kuala Lumpur
1974 Works on Paper, Goethe Institute,
Kuala Lumpur
1972 Environmental Kinetic Installations,
Studio 17, Petaling Jaya
1979-1981 Interior architecture post-graduate studies,
Pratt Institute, New York
1987
Awarded Fulbright Research Fellowship,
American Council of Learned Societies of New York
Participated in over 150 group and solo exhibitions
in Asia, Europe, the US and Latin America. Tajuddin
is also an independent design consultant to
government agencies and design firms in Malaysia.
His works are in many prestigious private and
corporate collections in Asia, Europe, the US and
the Middle East. Tajuddin’s works are exclusively
represented by TJ Fine Art in Kuala Lumpur.
Until recently, he was also an adjunct professor and
academic adviser at a private university in Malaysia.
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Space Structure
2013
Acrylic & Oil Pastel
on Canvas
152.4cm x 167.6cm
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Bloom (Homage to Cy)
2013
Acrylic & Oil Pastel
on Canvas
165cm x 165cm
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Night in Giverny
2013
Acrylic & Oil Pastel
on Canvas
165cm x 165cm
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Mosaic (Turquoise)
2013
Acrylic on Wood Panel
61cm x 121.9cm (diptych)
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Tangerine Sky
2013
Acrylic on Canvas
121.9cm x 121.9cm
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Homage to Chilida II
2013
Acrylic on Wood Panel
182.9cm x 243.8cm (diptych)
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Quadriptych
Innerspace Revisited
No. 1
2013
Acrylic on Wood Panel
45.7cm x 45.7cm
Innerspace Revisited
No. 2
2013
Acrylic on Wood Panel
45.7cm x 45.7cm
Innerspace Revisited
No. 3
2013
Acrylic on Wood Panel
45.7cm x 45.7cm
Innerspace Revisited
No. 4
2013
Acrylic on Wood Panel
45.7cm x 45.7cm
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AHMAD
ZAKII
ANWAR
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AHMAD ZAKII ANWAR
b. 1955
Johor Baru, Johor
EDUCATION
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1977
2012 Kota Sepi, Valentine Willie Fine Art
Kuala Lumpur
2011 Bones and Sinews, AndrewShire Gallery,
Los Angeles
2010 Nafsu, Nadi Gallery, Jakarta
2009 Being, NUS Museum,
National University of Singapore
2008 Disclosure, A mid-career survey,
Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur
Drawings, Sketches & Studies,
Richard Koh Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur
Gimme Shelter, Rogue Art, Kuala Lumpur
2007 Ahmad Zakii Anwar:
Paintings, Drawings & Prints, 1991-2007,
Singapore Tyler Print Institute, Singapore
Kota Sunyi, CP Foundation, CP ArtSpace, Jakarta
2006 Subliminal, The Drawing Room, Manila and
Numthong Gallery, Bangkok
2005 Primordial Dream,
Singapore Tyler Print Institute, Singapore
Icons, Richard Koh Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur
2004 Borobudor, Amanjiwo, Jogjakarta
Arangbali, TAKSU Jakarta
2003 Interpreter of Desires, TAKSU Kuala Lumpur
2001 Shadowland, Plum Blossoms, Hong Kong
2000 Stills, TAKSU Kuala Lumpur
1999 Presence, Barbara Greene Fine Art,
New York City
1998 Distant Gamelan, Art Focus, Singapore
1997 One Man Show, Valentine Willie Fine Art
Kuala Lumpur
BA (Graphic Design) Universiti Teknologi
MARA (now UiTM) Shah Alam Selangor
A graduate of the School of Art and Design, MARA
Institute of Technology (now Universiti Teknologi
MARA, or UiTM), Malaysia, Zakii is lauded for
capturing not just cityscapes and urban features
but also a distinctive psychological dimension and
cinematic quality in these scenarios.
His preoccupation with the spiritual or metaphysical
aspects of urban life is seen through the use of icons,
symbols and allegories. Metaphors related to theatre
and the performance arts, as well as the depiction of
masks, are also distinctive in Zakii’s works.
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Devotee
2013
Pastel & Acrylic on Paper
102 x 153 cm
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Guru silat
2013
Pastel & Acrylic on Paper
102 x 153 cm
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James from the back
2013
Pastel & Acrylic on Paper
102 x 153 cm
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Mahen
2013
Pastel & Acrylic on Paper
102 x 153 cm
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Malik merokok
2013
Pastel & Acrylic on Paper
102 x 153 cm
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ORGANISED BY
G5-G6 Mont’ Kiara Meridin,
19 Jalan Duta Kiara, Mont’ Kiara
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-7721 8251 / 03-6419 0102
Email: [email protected]
www.theedgegalerie.com
Exhibition: 13 December 2013 – 24 January 2014
Design by
The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd
Printed by
KHL Printers
Copyright ©2013 The Edge Communications
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