Born in 1933 in Singapore, Abdul Ghani Hamid was a founding member of Angkatan Pelukis Aneka Daya (APAD) and had been influential in the development and direction of the association since its establishment in 1962. His early works show attempts at introducing abstract and cubistic devices into figuration. Although working primarily in a mode associated with Abstract Expressionism, his paintings make allusions to the empirical. Since 1950, Abdul Ghani has participated in more than 60 exhibitions. A multi-talented writer and artist, he was awarded the Cultural Medallion (Literature) by the Singapore government in 1999.‘The Face of Meditation’ shows similarities to batik: strong, dark outlines render forms that are defined by bold hues. The main visual elements of the painting, consisting of a mask-like face and contorted limbs, occupy the upper half of the painting while the foreground, coloured in intonations of dark blue suggestive of still water, appears to give a subtle reflection.
