"I LIKE butts." Errr, what? Pushing my earphones in a little deeper into my ears, I strain harder to catch her words. The horrendous Wifi connection in my home office (read: bedroom) isn't helping matters as I shoot a bewildered look at the woman on the screen. Baths? I mouth back.
"I like painting women's butts," repeats Jane Geoffrey Mojulat Jaika, this time slowly, a bemused smile crossing her attractive face. "There's something about women's butts that speak of strength, don't you think?"
Right. Well, I hadn't thought about the female derriere in that way before but… okay.
"I must have seen something like that in some artist's work when I was in the United States and had been so taken by it," muses the Sabahan, all the while looking intently at me. And then: "Have you seen athletes' butts? Really prominent. There's strength there," she exclaims, completely unfazed by my confusion.
This is my second attempt at pinning down this talented US-based artist who'd recently returned from Florida for a short vacation to visit her family in Sabah. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic meant that she was not able to go back.
The first time we "met" via Zoom, Jane, who's had her work displayed at Four Seasons Hotel, Kuala Lumpur and at Papu Kedaruncit Seni, Publika since her return, had me conduct the interview while she was in her car on the way to Taman Tasik Titiwangsa to go roller skating. Suffice it to say, it wasn't too fruitful a session as her attention was partially occupied with trying to locate the park.
Today, as I face her over another Zoom interview, the mother of three is firmly ensconced in her sparse living room, surrounded by a collection of vibrant canvas, which I can only assume to be her latest body of work.
"Do you know what else I like to paint?" asks the Kota Kinabalu native, a shy smile lighting up her youthful face. "I like to paint eyes. It's true what they say — eyes are the window to the soul. Also, there are eyes everywhere. So be careful. Take social media, for example. You might have many followers but not everyone interacts with you. Some stay silent, but they're always watching!"
And there's lips too. "Oh yes, I also love to paint lips," enthuses the English Literature graduate, her eyes widening in delight. Hoisting up one of her paintings for me to scrutinise, Jane points to the prominence of the lips.
"It can denote a lot of things," elaborates the fitness-loving Sabahan whose forte lies in abstracts. "Like when you speak; you have to be mindful of what you utter. Lips also symbolise intimacy in relationships."
And relationships, confides Jane, whose husband passed away five years ago, is something else that fascinates her. "I like to explore this topic, whether in my art or my writing. I've always been curious about how strong relationships can be formed, how trust can be forged and issues of space in relationships etc."
Judging by her canvas, it's very apparent that the artist, whose preferred medium is acrylic on canvas, in addition to oil pastels, has a penchant for a strong bright colour palette and bold strokes. And it seems to be a true reflection of her character too.
Her smile strangely wistful, Jane, who was engaged at 19 and married for 24 years to her late husband, shares: "Yup, I'm generally a happy-go-lucky person. I just prefer to live and enjoy life no matter how challenging it can get. I mean, my life hasn't always been easy. And it isn't, still. But I much prefer positivity."
Her eyes scanning my face from behind the screen, she suddenly exclaims excitedly: "I'm a Gemini. The crazy one! But good crazy. Do you know at the moment I'm searching for my soul mate?"
My bewildered expression is met with a knowing grin. "I'm looking for that someone I can truly connect with; but at the same time, a person who'll also give me the space that I need."
Then, leaning back into her chair contentedly, the 53-year-old who's made Kuala Lumpur home for the time being, continues softly: "I KNOW the signs will be there when I do find him. You can call me a spiritual artist too!"
NATURE'S IDYLL
The "spiritual artist" that is Jane Mojulat is a lady of many talents, I duly discover. Having graduated with a BA in English Literature, minoring in Art from a university in Arkansas, USA back in 1990, she went on to pursue her Masters and graduated with Masters of Liberal Arts in Creative Writing from Oklahoma City University. Not one to sit still, Jane is currently pursuing her PhD in Art Education with Florida State University.
The doting mother proudly shares that she had also published two children's books before and they can be found in the Sabah State Library in her hometown of Kota Kinabalu. But of her art? When asked whether her talent is something she inherited from her father, a human resource manager, or her housewife mum, she shakes her head.
Brows furrowing, Jane muses: "I'm not sure where I got my talent for art from. But then again, many of our extended family members and relatives were either good singers or painters. I remember as a child, I was always doodling, drawing and painting. Being surrounded by nature growing up meant that I always had a source of inspiration."
Then, as if struck by a thought, she postulates: "Well, I'd say that a lot of people from Borneo are very creative. I think it's because of the environment we grew up in. When I was younger, my parents didn't encourage or inculcate in me a love for art. We were just left out in the open to explore by ourselves."
Home, she continues softly, was located in a kampung surrounds, framed by paddy fields on one side and verdant jungle, on the other. It was a tranquil childhood, remembers Jane, her eyes misting in recollection. "We were always by the river — jumping and swimming and just having fun. And we'd ride the buffaloes too, which my mum was not aware of! I always escaped from the house so I could spend some time in nature."
Continuing, the Sabahan adds: "I liked to follow my aunt whenever she went to the jungle to look for firewood. I also loved spending time with my grandfather and aunties when it was harvest season. We'd have a picnic in the middle of the paddy field. Oh, the feeling of the breeze brushing our skin… These are memories I'll never forget."
Although she was born in Sabah's bustling coastal capital, Jane shares that much of her teenage years were spent overseas. Her father, she adds, believed in the importance of education and therefore was determined to see all his children well educated.
Recalls Jane: "Initially, my dad went to study in the United Kingdom and the whole family followed. My two sisters attended primary school there for a while and when they all returned home, I stayed on to continue with my studies at London City College in Waterloo, while living with my aunt."
Her father, she adds, was determined for her to become a lawyer. But Jane had other ideas. "My passion then was in design — interior design, fashion design and so on," she shares, before continuing: "I remember dad saying that kind of thing was not a good career to pursue. In fact, back in Sabah, anything to do with art or the arts then wasn't much appreciated. People used to say there's no money in it. Be a lawyer or doctor!"
THE BUTTERFLY
A big fan of the works of Spanish painter and sculptor Pablo Picasso, Jane began to seriously pursue her passion for art sometime in 2016. "I started painting seriously two years after my husband died," she confides softly, adding: "Suddenly all these pent-up emotions came to the fore and hit me. They'd been waiting silently within, just counting the days to explode. I suddenly felt inspired."
Her expression earnest, she tells me that after her husband's passing, she was in a dark place; totally aimless. "He was involved in a freak accident at home," recalls Jane, sombrely, adding: "He fell from our one-storey building and cracked his skull. For three months he was in a coma and I remember feeling completely lost. I wasn't used to seeing him motionless when all the while he'd always been such an active person."
Prior to her husband's accident, Jane had been running her own business and conducted fitness classes at the same time. All these she relinquished when she had to take care of her husband, incidentally a college sweetheart and a contractor by profession.
"Taking care of him was challenging," she confides, softly. "He'd been a good provider for the family and I guess I just felt lost. It was my children who made me want to live again." Drawing my eyes to an exquisite tattoo of a butterfly on her right arm, Jane says: "You see this? My kids were the reason for me to get out of the cocoon and to fly again. That's why I have this butterfly tattoo here. I was in a cocoon. I told myself I cannot stay inside any longer. I have to get out for my kids."
One of the things that helped make her strong again was getting back to her other passion — workouts and exercises, shares Jane, the eldest of four siblings. "I've always been passionate about fitness. I started to run again and slowly discovered my balance. When I run, I always run in the jungle. Being in nature gives me energy. The sun, the wind — they're a potent force. They help you recharge."
Once she found her mojo back, Jane, now a grandmother to two adorable granddaughters, knew that she had to start steering her life back on course again. By now, her children had all grown up and it was time for her to have a new beginning.
It was time for her to take her love of art to a new level.
A CALLING
Fully aware that her passion was not really appreciated back in her beloved hometown, Jane made the decision to seek greener pastures — the United States, to be precise, a country she had become familiar with through her student days.
Her children had also been studying in the States at various points so "… I found myself going back and forth anyway. It wasn't like the country was alien to me. And I knew that I could take my art somewhere if I pursued it there," shares Jane, who also holds a Diploma in Education from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
And she was right. In 2019, she moved to Georgia where she began to seriously pursue her art career and doggedly expressing herself on canvas. In November that same year, Jane had her first solo exhibition called Journey of the Soul at Colquitt County Art Centre in Moultrie, Georgia.
Says the artist: "This was when I realised that there were people out there who appreciated my kind of art. It boosted my confidence and I felt motivated to stay the course. Even though home will always be where the heart is, I knew that if I remained in Sabah, I wouldn't be able to answer my calling."
But now that she's back in the country, no thanks to the raging pandemic, Jane is determined to makes waves here. Although her work can already be seen gracing some art spaces in town as part of a group exhibition, the driven Gemini craves for more.
"When I had my solo exhibition in Georgia, I'd been able to make ONE dream come true," muses Jane, expression thoughtful. Adding, she confides: "Another dream, which I've yet to realise, is to have a solo exhibition in my home country. I really want my fellow Malaysians to also know about my canvas. For me, it would be truly meaningful to be recognised here."
Although she loves living in the States, saying "it's the sense of freedom that I most enjoy," Jane is quite happy to remain "locked down" in Malaysia for the time being. "I will go back but not for now. I want to give myself a year or two in my own country to see how far I can take my art. I'm sure there's a market for it and there are collectors out there. Certainly, this will be an exciting phase to explore."
COUNTING HER BLESSINGS
With the pandemic showing no signs of abating and "lockdown life" becoming the norm, Jane, a self-confessed survivor, refuses to slow down. In addition to pursuing her PhD remotely, she's also conducting online art classes for children.
Beaming, Jane shares: "Before the pandemic, I was actually going to the children's homes to teach. But for now, I have to do everything online. Initially, there were only two students but it grew to six not long after. I've also been sharing my fitness classes through Zoom. When I'm not busy doing either of those, I spend all my time painting because my target is to have a solo exhibition at some point and to distribute my work to all the galleries in Kuala Lumpur."
As someone who ardently subscribes to the power of positivity, the soft-spoken Sabahan is adamant that there are plenty of silver linings to be found — only if you care to look beyond the blanket of doom that's currently shrouding the world.
"I know it's not a great situation to be in but I definitely don't see it as a dead end," says Jane emphatically. "For me, my biggest blessing has been my art. I know of people who have become really stressed and depressed because of this lockdown situation. I understand they're getting fatigued. Thankfully, my art has been my outlet."
Continuing, Jane, whose daily routine for the sake of her sanity also includes roller skating and running, adds that this is one reason why she wants to teach art to the younger generation. "It's one of my goals to teach them to appreciate art so that whenever they feel stressed or depressed, they can pour their emotions out on canvas. I count my blessings that I have these skills — and also my health — which helps me to overcome the dark days."
As we near the end of what has truly been a lively chat, I couldn't help asking Jane why she's so passionate about painting. I mean, with so much talent in her fingertips, she could do almost anything — really.
Her expression, hitherto animated, turns a shade of solemn. Jane pauses to reflect the question before finally replying: "I like to paint because it allows me to express my soul. My canvas mirrors my emotions and mood. It's a window. Just like the eyes."
For details on Jane Mojulat's work, check out Instagram @passionart_jm68 or FB @passionartjane.
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