From Street to Canvas

February 2015 sees urban artist turned studio artist Donald Abraham exhibiting, with friends, at the Vallette Gallery, Jalan Bruas, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur. Recently featured in Vallette Gallery’s Absolut Vodka ‘Andy Warhol bottle’ launch, (Sabah born) Donald Abraham has been assiduously working in a variety of media to remind us all of the artistic merit intrinsically inherent in the free expression of what has become known as “Urban Art”.

In the exciting new exhibition, Ahmad Fauzan bin Fuad; Azar Osman, Donald Abraham and Mohd Anuar bin Mustapa continue to re-define contemporary Malaysian art with influences gleaned from their passions; skateboarding, comic books and Urban art from around the world. What we now call “Urban Art” has variously been dubbed “Graffiti” or “Street Art”, and has been praised or damned accordingly in equal measure. Over time the concept of “Urban Art” has developed from its innate illicit nature, into being officially recognised as authentic and fresh artistic insights.

While other Malaysian artists of the street, from Penang to Ipoh, have ‘tagged’ or muralled their way into our consciousness, for good or ill, four artists on show at Vallette Gallery have forsaken the larger, public, showcases to bring their art into the world of galleries, galleryists and of Fine Art collectors.

In the styles these artists have chosen to work in, the art world can witness an exciting freshness, vibrancy and keen young enterprise bursting forth. Yet, however fresh and contemporary these works undoubtably are, we must acknowledge that no art is new and, to a greater or lesser degree, all art has had its foundations laid either from nature or from other art. The work of these keen, young emerging Malaysian artists is no exception. The art forms they hold dear, from skate boarding to art of the street, had their foundations firmly laid in the bedrock of 1960s/70s “Alternative Comics” (Comix) and their related iconography. Only back then it was chiefly about surfboards, not skateboards, and rampaging street art was only in its infancy. 

American “Alternative” comic artists Rick Griffin, Jim Evans and Robert Crumb were all associated with surfing, its magazines and its love of the potential subversiveness of the new “Underground” comic books. From Californian surfing, and comic books, grew vibrant, energetic artistic styles which soon blossomed across the burgeoning counter-culture of the time. It enveloped surfboard decoration and surfing apparel as well as gracing surf magazines and yet more counter-culture (alternative) comic books.

Towards the end of the 1970s, two prominent names emerged from out of a nascent American ‘Urban’ (graffiti) counter-culture. Jean-Michel Basquiat, a former graffiti artist, was shot to fame by an article in America’s The Village Voice newspaper and, a few years later, Keith Haring. Haring, a graffiti artist was, by 1982, beginning to gain attention for his uniquely humorous linear style. Both artists were recognised by a maturing art world, galleries and collectors, with thanks to inroads made by previously by Pop artists like Andy Warhol. 

Like those on show at Vallette Gallery, Basquiat and Haring were propelled into the world of fine art galleries, and of collectors eager to purchase the new contemporary art. Those artists gained much plaudits, attention of the media and the attention of avid collectors, who now must pay seven figure sums for those artist’s early artworks. The link between Basquiat, Haring and the emerging Malaysian artists is made stronger with the knowledge that Basquiat’s and Haring’s most famous works can now be seen on limited edition American skateboards. In 1987, Haring painted a skateboard ramp, in Kansas, while travelling to visit William Burroughs. In the 2000s the renown and elusive British artist Banksy, skateboard and urban artist supreme, continues to spread his anti-establishment messages across the world and ultimately into respectable acceptability too. Now Banksy’s work fetch upwards of £500,000 (approx RM2728,764.33). In contrast, the emerging Malaysian artist Donald Abraham’s last work, sold for approximately RM12,592.00 (3,500 USD), in America.

The art world had become increasingly conscious of new art forms, often arising, seemingly spontaneously, from enthusiastic young artists like these emerging Malaysian artists, many of whom have gained inspiration and experience from the practise of Urban art. The barriers are down. A hungry art world now recognises the vivacity, energy and artistry of young artists across the world. Their artworks, like the surfing arts and skateboard art before them, have spread their energies across both counter and mainstream cultures. Those works, once painted on subway trains, walls, shopfronts etc by eager artists experimenting with their creativity, are now appreciated for the freshness those works bring to a potentially jaded world of fine art. It is in this spirit that the four young Malaysian artists work. and are beginning to emerge as exciting new talents, destined for greater things.

(article previously NOT published by The Edge)