WELL-known Malaysian artist Anuar Dan is holding his frist solo exhibition of pa

intings and drawings entitle Khazanah at Pelita Hati Gallery of Arts in Luck Gar
den, Bangsar.Anuar has been showing his works since 1983 in more than 30 exhibit
ions in in the country.
This time, he is showicasing 60 of his paintings, demonstratin with great clarit
y hi serious, systematic and well-planned approach to art.A graduate in graphic
Design from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Shah Alam, Anuar has garnered acco
lades by winning 14 art awards namely the second prize in the Orchid Life Drawin
g, Shah Alam, third prize in the Goverment Staff Art competition and the third p
rize in posterdesign of the One Worid Whithout War.According to Pelita Hati Gall
ery of Art director Tengku Eli Azidin, for this exhibiton Anuar has clevery put
together local artifacts and the Malay architecture to give rise to works epicti
ng the Malay heritage.
His innovatif use of mixed media and the effect ofageing that he creates adds a
unique quality to his worksIn this serie of paintings, Anuar evokes the notalgic
memories of the old way of life in the kampung.One glance at Anuar’s works and
one is transporte before traditional Malay house.ies for many.”We have no time
to go inside the house to see these things, so I have brought them out to the fr
ont to the house.”Hence,you are able to see what is contain inside the house is
an instant, adds this artist who hail from Taiping, Perak. Anuar,s research cond
ucted in museums, reading from book and personal experience in kampung houses ha
ve enable him to depict them with much precision.His close attention to detail i
s also evident from his intricate drawings of Malay architecture.Says Anuar “Thi
s is to portray the suprt skill and hight discipline of the older generation whe
n creating such exquisite crafs without the benefit of modern day technology”How
ever, these are not emptyhouse, they are filled with human activities as shown b
y the shadowy figure inside.
For example, in Buyung Pecah Tempayan ada, Vague figure can seen sitting cross-l
egged in the house while in Seberat Berat Kayu,Terapung juga di Air, A woman st
anding in the doorway as if waiting for her husband to come home in the evening.
Althought the shape are hazy, their movements and posture are clearly discernibl
e.“ I draw these kampung houses so that city-drewllers can see them.“Orelse, th
e memories of these houses will surely disappear,” says Anuar.
One prominent feature is that Anuar has brought out the quaint, antique pieces t
hat were used in kampung houses to the halaman (lawn).Some of these treasured an
d now hard-to-find pieces are the acuan kuih (Mould for cake), mesin jahit (sewi
ng machine). seterika (iron),basikal lama (old bicycle), tempayan (large earthwe
re jar for storing water, ect.) and gasing (Spinning top), all of which
bring back fond memories for many.
the article from news straits time 2003