1) Tell us about yourself and could you tell us about your creative process?
When it comes to my creative process, I would reflect upon anything that would often occupy my mind. Certain phases in life, whether minor or major occasions that would struck me in a way in understanding things a lot better.
One instance is where my best friend had passed, and I was obsessed with the idea of the baby in the womb, as she was conceiving at the time when she was still alive. I would correlate life and death together as a way to bring remembrance by painting several fetuses as though the world was like a womb. Food, shelter provided, without knowing what is on the other side such as ‘rebirth’.
Another occasion was my obsession in healing. I found solace in gaining knowledge, practising mindfulness and stoicism, and prayers. I would add prayers (zikir) into each brush strokes in hope that it would harvest a form of healing to my painting. As though each stains would retain essence of my wishes and energy into it.
Overall, my creative process contains my genuine intention on how may I be able to help the world and myself as a painter.
2) How would you define creativity?
The word ‘creativity’ can somewhat be ambiguous. Sometimes in exploring Science and Maths can be an exploration of art, as a way that painters would dive themselves into the unknown to find meaning and answers. Being able to let ourselves look what’s outside of the box, which I believe takes courage, is also a form of creativity. An example is how caring for a child without any parental knowledge, we would find various solutions in making sure they receive the best.
As how most artists would work with their creativity, is to create things that are meant to be made.
3) If you are not in the field you are in now, what would you imagine yourself to be doing?
This is quite difficult, as I’ve grown to revolve myself around art throughout life. Perhaps I would lean towards astronomy or Geo-studies, and maybe would participate in things where I am able to contribute to help the community and the world. I found purpose it helping other, so whichever field it may be, as long as I am able to contribute, I will be content.
4) If your works are edible, what would they taste like?
It would probably be some odd mixes that people would not expect. Like salsa added with grapes, and honey in buttermilk chicken. I love experimenting with dishes, as how I would like to challenge myself in my artworks. I would test of different textures, materials and mediums altogether, the same way as how I would test different spices and flavours. Our curiosity will not be fed unless we try.
5) If you had the chance to live during a different artistic movement other than now, which one would you choose and why?
My artstyle has leaned more towards realism, just because I sometimes felt sympathy towards the colours that are not visible to the eye. The underlying colours that are not often painted such as a red apple, that carries other various colours like blue, green and purple. I would unconsciously at times would intensify those colours just to add volume to what seemed silent. With a different art style, I would definitely go for abstract, in a way of how Kandinsky and Basquiat were able to achieve. Being able to distort reality in a way of an anarchist, where we are able to disconnect on things we are conditioned. I find it very intriguing and would hope to be able to explore more.
6) Are there any creative individuals who you admire the most?
There are too many creative individuals that I worked together along the many years, and pinpointing one may not serve justice. However, the graffiti community has definitely impacted me greatly along my art journey. Being able to witness their growth and contribution has always left me awed, where they have done so much behind the scene in order for the art community to be seen, and not only limited to just graffiti. Truly, they were and are the pinnacle that has mould Brunei’s art scene to what it is today, which I am eternally grateful for.
7) What do you intend to achieve through your creative works?
I hope to be able to paint more artworks in the future, where I will be able to have it featured in museums, and murals in cities. Other that that, perhaps I hope to write and illustrate a children’s book, in a way that I can help educate young minds about empathy and the beauty about creativity. It may seemed far-fetched at the moment, but I am determined and insya’Allah when the time is right.