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“The dark fascinates; those were the long hours I spent gazing at the cosmos and observing everything. Being solitary and ‘unaccompanied’ never worried me – the nights are my companions.”
~ Dato’ Sharifah Fatimah Syed Zubir Barakbakh
IN the art fraternity, her name immediately conjures a sense of marvel, this lady in her early 70s who looks ageless, and whose paintings have over and over, captivated us. She is unstoppable, and that is demonstrated with her newest works, 'Tales of Solace' held at G13 Gallery.
Owner of G13, Kenny says, “We first met in 2016 and began collaborating a year after that. Sharifah Fatimah’s past travels to the Middle East and the Balkans inspired these paintings. Her travel plans were of course disrupted by the pandemic, and this series is her way of recalling her experiences from previous sojourns. She is one of the most disciplined artists I have ever worked with. Give her a deadline and she’ll send in the works two months beforehand. It is her dedication and discipline which I respect, and hope the younger generation of artists can learn from this.”
'Tales of Solace' is acutely personal; the first thing one grasps is that nous of ‘missing’ – these paintings are nostalgic and bare her yearning to be free of current limitations, of any constraints. In the 15 works, the artist hypothesises, conserves and at times, deconstructs her paintings which resulted in them becoming partly a manifestation, and partly a socio-historical experience which makes us eager to question the cultural implication of art.
A collector friend remarked: “She appears to be repeating herself, but unfortunately these new works are not as ‘good’ as her earlier ones on modelling paste.”
That is a thought-provoking observation, and yes, opinions differ, and each one must be interrogated. To a point, her latest works are quite ‘tame’ compared to many of her past renditions, but in terms of execution, she reveals an openness and vulnerability which are akin to verses of a love song.
Sharifah Fatimah is well-known for her experimental use of materials, and in 'Tales of Solace' which she began creating in July 2020, the artist utilises acrylic, modelling paste and eucalyptus bark. A personal favourite of mine was her exhibition in 2007, 'Garden of the Heart' which was held at NN Gallery. It was a visual explosion of medleys – traditional fabric, quilted mengkuang tapestries entwined with hints of burnished gold which speak of her personality - graceful, majestic and a deep understanding of our cultural heritage.
'Tales of Solace' are intensely meditative paintings and reflects the artist’s disposition. From the few times we have met, Sharifah has always struck me as someone comfortable in her skin. She speaks eloquently, possesses elegance almost non-existent today, and carries herself in a manner curiously beguiling.
I am more convinced of these thoughts after reading the catalogue essay written by Sarah Abu Bakar. She says, “Sharifah Fatimah was taught patience, the value of solitude and silence from her great grandmother, Sharifah Kamaliah al-Qadri, whom the artist describes as an ancient figure; astute, quiet, silence being the absolute poise, a perfect balance of body/ mind/ spirit. She was so calm, unshaken, dignified. She was a Sufi.
Her great grandmother often performed the Islamic devotional acts of zikir (remembrance of God). To Sufis, zikir is seen as a way to gain spiritual enlightenment and achieve union or annihilation in God. "This pandemic does not affect me or my work. I have always worked alone and do not go out much. But it has disrupted plans for overseas travel with my family. I miss the ‘scene’. I created many recollection works of the places I have been to, such as landscapes and the texture of the Earth and caves especially.”
This is perhaps, how 'Tales of Solace' came to be. Her use of colours is both mesmerising and at certain intervals, also sombre. This is a fascinating combination. On one hand, she paints with such delicate strokes, but on the other, her paintings contain a ‘revolutionary’ quality – they seem to fight one another. The real beauty begins to creep in once all the works are put together. They are like a puzzle waiting to be solved.
Is it her way of explicating deliverance, longing, a spiritual continuity which is in her very being?
The title itself is intriguing. What exactly is solace? And how does it apply to the narrative of this exhibition?
Solace within the context of this exhibition is as abstract as her works. The titles, ‘Floating’, ‘Link’, ‘Pattern of Dream’, and ‘Solitude’ further expounds and fleshes out her ‘will’. She is searching, the way we all are for meaning, for purpose, and has found some answers through this body of works.
What I love most about 'Tales of Solace' is the artist’s way of placing herself in every single work. She responds instinctively to her surroundings with empathy and looking at her paintings, it puts you in a certain psychological state where you suddenly want to relate and understand not just about what she is saying, but ask the questions we are afraid to ask; who we are, where we are and why we are.
In 'Tales of Solace', Sharifah Fatimah gently invites us into her ‘home’, permits us to view something broader and deeper; she is the mistress of beautifully-themed excavations, of fantastic dramatic compositions. You do not ask why the painting is of a particular colour, we are here to take in the beauty in every possible aspect; not with the eyes but through our hearts. – The Vibes, March 21, 2021
'Tales of Solace' will run until March 31.
G13 Gallery
Kelana Square, GL13
Ground Floor Block B,
Jalan SS7/26
47301 Petaling Jaya Selangor
T: 603 7880 0991
Exhibition hours: 11am – 5pm
(Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays)
