LOT 86
AWANG DAMIT AHMAD
B. Sabah, 1956
Rumbia dan Orang-Orangan I (Sago and People), 1992
Mixed media on canvas
107 x 92 cm
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
Exhibition Label from Shenn Gallery Singapore on the verso. Exhibited at Shenn Gallery, Singapore, in E.O.C. – Intipati Budaya exhibition in April 1994 and illustrated on Pg.8 in the accompanying catalogue
RM 110,000 – 150,000
Awang Damit Ahmad’s EOC Series: Rumbia dan Orang-Orangan I (Sago and People), 1992, is a powerful example of his deep connection to the rural landscapes and traditions of Sabah, where he grew up. Part of his celebrated Essence of Culture (EOC) series, the work translates memory and heritage into abstract forms, where bold brushstrokes, textured surfaces and earthy tones convey both energy and nostalgia. The motifs suggest woven sago leaves, scarecrows and fragments of village life, layered with raw immediacy that speaks of struggle, survival and community. Awang Damit’s abstraction is never detached; it is rooted in lived experience, transforming everyday materials and memories into a symbolic visual language. In this piece, heritage becomes both personal and universal, an ode to the resilience of rural culture in the face of modernity.