Artists aged 14 to 77 unite in colourful exhibition

Creativity has no age, and Malaysia’s art scene is proof of that.

From a veteran artist painting for six decades to a teenager discovering his creative voice, four very different artistic journeys come together in “Infinite Expressions”, a group exhibition at Mentari Art Gallery.

Held at DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside until Sept 30, the exhibition features Dr Hashim Yaacob, 77; Ahmed Ghazie Ibrahim, 73; Azwa Rahwi, 44; and neurodivergent artist Muhammad Mu’az Mohamad Zakuan, 14.

Their works span landscapes, abstracts and mixed media, reflecting the artists’ varied perspectives. For curator Shafiq Ghazie, 45, those differences are precisely why the four artists were brought together.

“It’s not only about their age gaps but their professions as well,” he said.

He pointed to Hashim, whose career in medicine and research also saw him serve as vice-chancellor of five universities.

“Even though he was busy with work, he still had time for his art and to explore his hidden talents. I wanted newcomers like Muaz, the youngest, to be inspired by that,” Shafiq said.

Hashim began his artistic journey at 60, becoming what he jokingly describes as an “accidental artist” after his first solo exhibition in 2010.

“Being part of this exhibition, I feel exhilaratingly alive! An old man like me being transported back to the yesteryears of innocence,” Hashim said.

His affection for colour is evident in works such as “Fly On”, painted in 2020. It features a white bird at the centre of the composition, surrounded by colourful geometric forms in orange, yellow and red that resemble rays of sunlight.

Real leaves pasted onto the canvas give the piece added texture and a three-dimensional effect.

Meanwhile, Ahmed has certainly had plenty of time to develop his own artistic language.

“I’ve been doing art for around 60 years. My first exhibition was in 1975 at the National Art Gallery,” he said.

“My style of doing landscapes is different. Most might think to sketch out the grass, but if you notice, I make it a flat, solid green block without the details.”

Rather than sketching first, Ahmed puts his ideas straight onto the canvas, allowing the composition to take shape from there. He may be painting less these days, but age has not diminished his attachment to the craft.

The exhibition extends beyond the gallery, with three Merdeka-inspired artworks displayed in the hotel’s lobby and executive lounge.

Azwa’s Merdeka-inspired work “Rama-Rama” is one of them. Four colours from the Jalur Gemilang appear among brushstrokes seemingly colliding and fading towards the centre.

Almost hidden within the composition, is a butterfly – “a symbol of transformation and freedom”, Azwa said.

“For me, Malaysia is about diversity, movement and different identities coming together. The colours and layers represent the many sides of Malaysia, while the hidden butterfly reminds us that freedom can mean something different to each of us.”

Azwa’s formal education ended in high school but her artistic journey, which began during the pandemic, has been shaped by experimentation and self-driven learning. This found her a place in Malaysia’s contemporary abstract art scene.

And then there is Muaz, whose teenage imagination fuels his art.

His works here include “The Lego Tetris World”, inspired by his love of building Lego blocks, and “White Stars in Rainbows”, which grew from his fascination with planets and galaxies.

He spent around five to seven days creating the works, painting for two to three hours a day.

“Painting gives me the freedom to communicate without always having to use words. Sometimes, I also include characters like dinosaurs, and stick figures,” Muaz explained.

“My ideas come from my own experiences and places that I have visited, or comics and television.”

Reflecting on the exhibition’s first month, Shafiq said the hotel setting offers a unique way to reach guests and tourists who may never have visited an art gallery.

Additionally, part of the proceeds from the artwork sales will be channelled to the hotel’s charity initiative.

‘Infinite Expressions’ (free admission)

When:
Until Sept 30
12pm-6pm (Wednesdays to Sundays)

Where:
Studio Residency, Wing 2 (Ground Floor),
DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside,
2, Jalan P5/5, Presint 5,
62200 Putrajaya

Contact 012-2954212 for inquiries. For more information, visit the Mentari Art Gallery website.

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