Born in Malacca, Malaysia in 1963, Ahmad Abu Bakar moved to Singapore as a child. Today, he is recognised for his multi-disciplinary approach to artmaking and has produced works across a wide range of media including ceramics, installation, video, photography and performance. This painting by Ahmad Abu Bakar was made when the artist was studying at the University of Tasmania, during which he produced sculptures and paintings that reflected upon the multiculturalism of Singapore through its three major races. Drawing from Mandarin, Jawi and Tamil languages, the artist sought to “deconstruct them and reconstruct them through abstraction” to represent the unity and cohesiveness of these cultures as part of Singapore’s national identity. They demonstrate the artist’s interest in the intersections of dance, movement and calligraphy during the 1990s. The artist had an affinity for dance and theatre since the late 1980s, after having attended performances at The Artists Village and participating in performative events by the Art Commandos, organized by Gilles Massot.
