AFTER six years of voluntary “hibernation”, Norma Abbas presents a body of new works, revealing magical spaces, a hidden genesis, and demonstrating an incredible arc of creativity to articulate the meaning of her existence.
‘Coded Diaries’ is a montage of deeply reflective paintings, ‘marrying’ semi-abstraction and figuration. It is delightfully eclectic, in part, an homage to her feline companions, but more so, a spiritual awakening in its most profound sense.
One of the most striking aspects of ‘Coded Diaries’ is Norma’s unleashing of constraints, resulting in works that are enveloped in a windswept sense of ‘freedom’.
The influx of themes close to her heart serves as a metaphor for the human condition, of someone who survived and thrived despite impossible situations.
Her paintings possess nuances of printmaking-like qualities, exquisite angles, a delicate colour palette, and hints at a Cubist approach. She is self-effacing when asked about an illustrious career spanning decades.
In these times of artists experimenting with wildly differing persuasions, Norma Abbas never wavered. She sticks to what she knows best. Her paintings unveil a vulnerability yet simultaneously shows us gusts of the most intimate relationships of her life.
Founder/ director of Wei-Ling Gallery, Wei-Ling observes, “Norma is an artist whom I have admired from afar, for many years. She is an artist whose distinctive style and personal approach to her practice have established her as one of Malaysia’s leading Modernists.
“It is therefore such an honour and a privilege to be able to work with her, to present her latest exhibition Coded Diaries at the gallery.
"This body of work includes her latest number series in addition to a very personal and important piece entitled ‘The Proposal’ which was made in 1998.
"I hope people will come through to feel the strong energy that permeates through this entire exhibition and to witness the magic of Norma Abbas."
‘The Proposal’ was painted in 1998, four years after her husband’s passing.
It remained in her personal treasure trove and was only exhibited in a comprehensive collection of her works, ‘A Colourful Journey to a Promise’ (Kembara Pelangi Menuju Janji) held at the Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery in 2016.
Norma says, “I am letting it go, it needs to find a home.” ‘The Proposal’ is a story of love in all its complexities, inviting viewers to witness two people who are in essence, one entity.
The narrative thread, filled with rich symbolism is a deeply private and intimate moment of unquestionable devotion, and that love survives despite the trappings of death.
‘Eliminating Devil in Disguise’ is a personal narration of her relationship with her daughter, and ‘Woman and Child’ is inspired by her grandson, Aiden, who loves nothing better than to gleefully jump in the air whenever his photograph is taken.
‘I Made a New Friend’, ‘The Crowded Room’, ‘Woman in Baju’ and ‘Relaxing with Kiddos’ are canvases illuminated with the numbers ranging from zero to nine.
“The idea of including numbers in my works came about when I was commissioned to do two paintings, 99 names. I’d never attempted it before, it was something new.
"Those paintings took two years to complete. As I became more in tune with including numbers in my works, I painted more. The numbers are not random, they represent people in life.”
Felines make bold appearances in several of her works. ‘Titat Girl in Stripe Pants’ and ‘Cat Lady’ stemmed from a childhood surrounded by cats, rabbits and chickens.
“My cats are loyal companions. They’re like my own children. Titat came into my life via a series of extraordinary events. I travel around in taxis.
“During one of my trips, I saw a stray at a restaurant. It was so pretty. I told myself how lovely it would be to have one like it. One day I went to collect mail, and the same cat was there. I spoke to it, saying ‘if you are here in two hours, I will take you home’.
“Surely enough, it waited. I had no idea she was pregnant. Titat gave birth to five babies, and I couldn’t bear to part with them. They’ve been with me since. I believe in fate, that things happen because they were meant to.”
The artist paints with intelligence, elegance, and hints at a life filled to the fullest. Every painting is a personal exploration, the sometimes-clashing forms and hues have become her distinct style – Norma holds her own without compromise.
Norma was born in 1951 in Kuala Lumpur and trained in various disciplines – Pre-Diploma Foundation Studies in Art at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in 1969, Bachelor of Arts, Printed/ Woven Textiles at Manchester Polytechnic School of Art in 1975 and a Masters in Autographics Print Making at Chelsea School of Art, London in 1982.
She began exhibiting in 1975 in England and later with Malaysia’s National Art Gallery, Shah Alam Gallery, Art Salon Gallery, Maybank Gallery, Galeri Petronas, Galeri Citra, Badan Warisan and Smith’s Gallery, London to name a few.
During her third year at UiTM, Norma decided to continue doing a degree in Fine Art, but was told her prospects afterward were limited. At the time, UiTM began offering student loans and after speaking to one of her teachers, she applied and was amongst the first to acquire one and journeyed to Manchester.
In her third year at Manchester, Norma was offered to do her postgraduate studies. After coming home to Kuala Lmpur for a while, she returned to England, working part-time, and painted whenever time permitted.
She was soon accepted to do her masters in Chelsea.
In 1989, she held a two-person show with Khalil Ibrahim, ‘Liku-Liku Hidup’ at Galeri Citra and began a 20-year collaboration with the establishment.
Norma exhibited her first solo show, ‘Spreading Consciousness’ in 1995 at Galeri Citra, followed by two of her most notable exhibitions, ‘99 Names of Allah Part 1 in 1999’ also at Galeri Citra, and ‘99 Names of Allah Complete Collection’ in 2001 with Badan Warisan.
Even from the beginning of her artistic journey, Norma has always explored themes encompassing relationships, intimacy, love and contemplation as a way to commune with her Maker and those she is closest to.
Her works in the 70s and 80s primarily focused on printmaking, leaning towards etching, monotypes, and lithographs.
Her love affair with Cubism is apparent, but Norma puts her own signature on every piece – colours are heavily stratified and exceptionally detailed, resulting in her ‘characters’ dancing their way out of the frames.
Norma is one of Malaysia’s most esteemed women artists, whose works stand alongside illustrious artists Ruzaika Omar, Nirmala Shanmughalingam, Siti Zainon Ismail, Fatimah Chik, Kalsom Muda and Sivam Selvaratnam.
Norma says, “My works are simply put, about my everyday life. When it comes to my paintings, you have to read between the lines. The messages are there, albeit hidden.
"Those who can see would immediately understand. I started my career as a figurative artist, but as time passes, my paintings have become more spiritual, the figures are no longer painted in full form.”
The artist currently works from her home-based studio accompanied by her feline family: Titat Girl, Matisse Boy, Hiyo Boi, Mavrik Girl, Bojie Boy and Poody Boy.
In celebrating both artist and her calling, Coded Diaries, perhaps, lies in these words by Persian Poet Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī:
Eternal Life is gained
by utter abandonment of one’s own life.
When God appears to His ardent lover,
the lover is absorbed in Him, and not so much as a hair of the lover remains.
True lovers are as shadows, and when the sun shines in glory the shadows vanish away.
He is a true lover to God to whom God says “I am thine and thou art Mine.”
Coded Diaries runs until Saturday, October 22. Admission is free. – The Vibes, October 8, 2022
Note: Wei-Ling Gallery is located at No 8 Jalan Scott, Brickfields, 50470, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Operation hours are 10am– 6pm (Tuesday-Friday), 10am – 5pm (Saturday). It is closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays. For details, call +603 2260 1106, email [email protected] or go to www.weiling-gallery.com
