KUALA LUMPUR: WHAT does iconic American singer Bruce Springsteen have in common with Malaysians? Many people would fail to see the connection, but artist Ismail Zain (1930–1991) was able to make one.
According to notes published in a catalogue released by the National Art Gallery in conjunction with the Ismail Zain “(Mem)bayang Maksud” (Foreboding Purpose) exhibition, Springsteen to Ismail was a champion of the working class people, and galvanised in them the “can-do spirit”. By including Jawi writing behind a dot matrix image of “The Boss”, it suggested his message to Malaysians could have been the same.
Other digital prints on display at the exhibition reflected Ismail’s quirky sense of humour and interesting observations about human nature and life.
The exhibition, which is currently held at the National Art Gallery until Nov 17, includes not only Ismail’s dot matrix digital print on paper, but also mixed media, acrylic and oil collage on canvas. As an artist, Ismail held his first and only exhibition, themed “Digital Collage”, in February 1988 here.
Born in Kedah, his career milestones included serving as National Art Gallery director (1972 to 1975), Culture in the Youth director in the Culture and Sports Ministry (1975 to 1982) and National Film Development Corporation director-general (Finas —1982 to 1985).
Art student Peyton Liang, who was at the exhibition, said the late artist and his avant-garde ideas of incorporating digital technology into art inspired many to follow suit. Her favourite piece by Ismail was Malaysian Gothic.
It is the artist’s reinterpretation of the American Gothic (1930) painting by Grant Wood, which depicts a woman standing next to a man, who is holding a pitchfork in front of a small white house built in the style known as Rural Gothic, or Carpenter Gothic.
“Ismail replaced the original house in the American painting with the image of a rumah Melayu in his digital art, which is just brilliant. It is his skill at connecting images to make an unforgettable narrative that I admire most in his artwork.”
Tourist Jimena Diaz said Ismail’s ability to weave popular culture references into his work made it memorable.
Running at the same time is the 11th Asia Fibre Art Exhibition 2019, which goes on until Oct 31. Themed “Kita Sama — Appreciating Similarities & Diversities”, it showcases art-producing techniques, methods and unique processes belonging to countries in the Asian region.
Malaysian exhibits included Sarina Azizan’s reworked life-sized Gamelan Costume and Irma Murni Ismail’s “The Beauty — Palestine Vs Malaysia”, a mixed media creation using acrylic yarn made on a floor loom.