작품 상세

Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal used a lot of symbolisms in his repertoire, playing on light, its intensity and the revelations. The mystical burst of blinding light manifested in works such as Call Of Ledang, Sg. Cincin and even Hujan Lebat, and with a darker import, 8.15.6.8.45 (1988), on the atomic bomb dropped in Hiroshima. A glimmer after a bout of darkness, hope springing eternal. Daybreak represents a new day of hope, of struggles in the pursuit of dreams. Light is not just white, but a combination of a spectrum of violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. His impeccable skill in handling the colours is shown, definitely one of his best works. Somehow, you recall Patrick Ng Kah Onn's Spirits Of The Earth, Sky And Water (1959), without the pagan ritual. And the biggest message of all, Beauty, of Life and Nature. Rise and Shine! Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal was multi-pronged as artist-sculptor, administrator, curator, writer-critic, educator and designer. The National Art Gallery awarded him a Retrospective in 1975, and a major Tribute exhibition in 2009. In 1994-1995, the Nanyang Gallery of Art organised his Historical Overview. Until today, he is the only visual artist made National Artist Laureatte (1995), and a year later he got the 'Datuk' title. He had been director of the National Art Gallery and the Asian Cultural Centre. He was also principal of the Specialist Teachers Training Institute in Kuala Lumpur. He had also done decor and costumes for stage plays and the author of two coffee-table books on art. He studied at the Birmingham School of Architecture, Chelsea School of Art, the London University, the School of the Art Institute Chicago and the University of Hawaii. He had also served in the Arts Council, the Wednesday Art Group, Angkatan Pelukis SeMalaysia and the Malaysian Artists Association. He was also honoured with country awards by the governments of India, the United States, France and Australia.