AS I approach the final year of my PhD in psychiatry at the University of Oxford, I feel compelled to share another chapter of my artistic journey in the United Kingdom (UK).
My artwork, characterised by a textured acrylic painting technique and abstract concepts, is often inspired by the Malay Archipelago, reflecting my Malaysian identity.
Each painting carries a narrative that encompasses my perspective as an artist, allowing me to convey messages about mental health, identity and culture.
In my previous article, I chronicled my journey from 2016, when I first began painting, to last year, when I had the opportunity to exhibit at a special event at the National Army Museum in London.
After publishing that story, I shared it with Professor Belinda Lennox, the head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford.
This led to an invitation to exhibit my art collections within the department itself. Unlike my previous one-day exhibitions, this display spanned several months, from November last year to February this year, providing visitors with an extended opportunity to engage with my work.
To my delight, my showcase inspired fellow artists in the department to express interest in exhibiting their work in the common room — a vibrant hub for departmental activities, including meetings, lectures and lunch gatherings. So far, we have organised three exhibitions, adding a splash of colour and creativity to the space.
PROUD ACHIEVEMENTS
I was truly honoured to receive the Race Equality Recognition Award 2024 from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, which acknowledged my artwork for its ability to visually represent psychiatric concepts and engage the public in conversations about mental health.
I am grateful to my nominator and the committee for this recognition, which validates my efforts to communicate essential messages about mental health by sharing my own vulnerabilities — something I usually find challenging.
Initially, I believed this would be my last exhibition in the UK, as I'd planned to return to Malaysia this year to complete my thesis and resume my role as a medical lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Department of Pharmacology.
However, life had other plans. I was contacted by someone named Neesha from TalentCorp, Malaysia's National Agency under the Human Resources Ministry, about exhibiting my paintings at the Salam dari Malaysia (Greetings from Malaysia) event in June at Royal Lancaster London.
The event, officiated by Malaysia's Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong, provided another platform for me to showcase my Kembara and Suratan collections, which I had previously exhibited in the UK.
Upon returning to Malaysia, I received further good news from UKM, where I was awarded the Distinction Award (Anugerah Bitara 2024) for my contributions to art-related activities while in the UK. I hope this award will serve as a catalyst for my future contributions to my homeland.
POSITIVE IMPACT
Another exciting endeavour involved collaborating with The Hyde School in London, which was led by assistant head Spencer Guy, who attended my exhibition at St Cross College, University of Oxford, in September last year. Spencer incorporated one of my paintings, titled Akar (Roots), as inspiration for an educational activity in his class named "Neuron".
To support the students, I provided painting tutorial videos, which Spencer reported were extremely beneficial. He noted that the children found them useful and that the experience had a positive impact on their enjoyment and artistic growth. This feedback was incredibly gratifying, reinforcing my dream of using art to positively influence others.
Certainly, art serves as a powerful medium for expressing our thoughts and feelings, and I truly hope to be able to return to the UK one day to share more of my work.
The writer wishes to thank his mother, Raja Fawziah and father, Ramli, for their unconditional support. He's also grateful to the various parties who contributed to his journey, including his supervisors Professor Philip Cowen and Dr Beata Godlewska, Yayasan Khazanah, University of Oxford (St Cross College & Department of Psychiatry), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine), Malaysian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Datuk Zakri Jaafar and his team, TalentCorp, Malaysian Association of Postgraduate & Professional (MAPP) UK and Education Malaysia London.