LOT 36
Awang Damit Ahmad
B. Sabah, 1956
Marista “Pun-Pun dan Biangsung”, 1998
Inscribed, titled and dated “AWANG DAMIT AHMAD MARISTA “PUN-PUN DAN BIANGSUNG” 1998” on the reverse
Mixed media on canvas
183 x 153 cm
Provenance
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
Formerly in the Collection of a leading 5-star Hotel in Kuala Lumpur
Illustrated on page 67 of “ALUN-ALUN KE MARISTA (PATH TO MARISTA) Awang Damit Ahmad 1996-2002” exhibition book
Published in 2002 by National Art Gallery
RM 80,000 – RM 160,000
The bold and strong style of Awang Damit Ahmad makes a reappearance in this piece, this time taking a resilient, symbolic form.
In his theme Marista, which means “to talk about the past” in Brunei’s Malay language. It is a retrospective work, painting out mirages and emotions in abstract form, all from his hometown and his travels around Sabah when he was younger.
Awang Damit admits that after having studied the Marista series in context, he found it to be a journey of self-discovery as well as a search for a developing positive culture. This painting is both controlled yet expressive, inciting both abstract and figurative forms.
Born and brought up in Kuala Penyu, Sabah, he spent most of his teen years learning painting from various artists whilst traveling around the state. He initially came to Selangor to work as a technician for Telekom Malaysia, but found that art was something he truly was passionate about. He eventually left the telecommunications company, and took his Diploma in Fine Arts in Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and Masters Degree in the United States. A painting of his, Nyanyian Petani Gunung, won the 1991 Salon Malaysia Award. PETRONAS bought it and is, until this day, exhibited at the gallery.