작품 상세

The title itself is sinister and blood-curdling (it is probably the only English-titled Essence Of Culture E.O.C. piece, inspired by a headline / sentence from the newspaper he read). The dropping of the atomic bombs in Nagasaki and Hiroshima on Aug 6 and 9, 1945, respectively, instantly killed nearly 300,000 on the ground. But the tragedy didn't end there: in the fallout, survivors faced another 'death', suffering from all kinds of ailments caused by the nuclear radiation. Until today. These are the hibakusha, with about 118,935 (as of March 31, 2022) still alive today. Notable hibakusha included the late fashion designer Issey Miyake and Osamu Shimomura, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2018. Also affected at that time were foetuses in the wombs, with the babies born suffering from diseases like cerebral palsy. The plight of these 'zombies', who were even discriminated against by their fellow Japanese, had been dramatized in art, films, music and manga. Awang Damit Ahmad was incensed by the devastating human tragedy that he devoted two works under his seminal Essence Of Culture (Intipati Budaya) series to it. What is most gory about the inhumanity is the searing heat, undermining the consciousness that even paints became molten liquids, which scorching the walls (canvases). And like a stigma, with the patterns from the kimonos worn by the victims imprinted on their skin. Lot 76 and 77 are the only two pieces in the E.O.C. series that are not related to farmers and fishermen, of land and water, but share the common similarity (from the series) in life's struggles, depicting the historical disasters that took place. Mankind should learn from history, the past mistakes, to prevent devastating incidents from recurring. It is restless, heartbreaking to see how war erupts still, even today. Awang Damit Ahmad became an artist by accident, being a late starter at the age of 27, when he studied at the Mara Institute of Technology, after working several other jobs. He had already started on his Essence Of Culture (Intipati Budaya) series in 1985 and later studied for his Master's at the Catholic University in Washington DC, and continued the series on his return in 1990 until 1995. His clutch of prizes includes 2nd Prize in the Malaysian Bank Association art competition, the Minor Award in the Bakat Muda Sezaman in 1984, and the Painting Award (and Consolation Prize, too) at the Salon Malaysia III at the National Art Gallery in 1991 for his Nyanyian Petani Gunung (now in Petronas Collection). He also taught at his alma mater, Universiti ITM, retiring as Associate Professor in May 2011. Today, Awang Damit is one of the most important artists in Malaysia. In 2022, his E.O.C. (Perjalanan Malam, 1989) and E.O.C. (Ingatan Waktu Kecil, 1985) were sold for RM212,800 and RM218,400, in Henry Butcher Art Auction November edition and July edition, respectively. In Henry Butcher March 2021 Art Auction, his E.O.C. (Apa Khabar Ledang, 1992) was sold for RM224,000.