Sabak Bernam

Title
Sabak Bernam
Creator
Year/Period
1965
Region
Malaysia
Dimension
Frame size: H33.3 x W28.5 x D3 cm,
Image size: 14.5 x 11 cm
Accession No.
2009-03540
Credit Line
Gift of the YLY Collection

Latiff Mohidin, born in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia in 1941 completed his primary education in Singapore. While in Singapore, at an early age, Latiff’s precocity in understanding paintings earned him the nickname, ‘Wonder Boy’. From 1960-1964, Latiff studied art at Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste in Berlin, Germany and did brief residencies in Paris and New York. Inspired by his exploration of Southeast Asia in 1964, Latiff has since produced compelling series of artworks – the result of a synthesis between his European experience and the rediscovery of his homeland. He is also a poet who has published several volumes of poetry. ‘Sabak Bernam’ is one of Latiff’s sketches that signifies his studious effort in scrutinizing the rhythmic and architectural traits of plant-life. What shapes his articulation of nature since his adolescent years is his inquisitive query on the movements of leaves and branches – albeit its unity, they grow in an unpredictable, irregular and ever-contradictory manner. These vital traits feature throughout the Pago-Pago series.