Hisyamuddin Abdullah
b. 1989, Terengganu, Malaysia
Hisyamuddin Abdullah, who is based in Kuala Lumpur, describes his own creations as “painting-drawing.” He exclusively works with charcoal and acrylic in most of his artworks. His artwork can be distinguished by its moments of serenity, but at the same time it is powerful and filled with tension; these qualities are further emphasized through his choice of colour, tones, and composition. He works with a more realistic approach or sometimes, he will opt for a more cartoon-like sketch approach to create quirkily, but also dramatic, illustrations. Satire, humour, and sarcasm are the foundations of his work. His self-portrait series, which might appear a bit narcissistic at first, is actually rhetoric that conveys his personal beliefs about the current sociopolitical climate of modern-day Malaysia.
Rather than being inspired by a certain space or place, Hisyamuddin finds that his work changes according to the different phases of his life. For example, when he was in school and felt homesick, his work would reflect that sense of longing for home. During that time, his creations focused on family bonding, particularly exploring his relationship with his father. “But now as I begin to live my own life in society, my work tends to have more emphasis on current issues that affect the people of Malaysia at large,” he reveals. His work is based on pop realism, using figurative as a narrative device to express his ideas. The concepts he prefers to explore tend to revolve around the world around him, from personal experiences to national events. Hisyamuddin believes that an artist’s creativity and the view they try to share with the world will only be meaningful if it’s based on reality.
Born in 1989 in Terengganu, he received his bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from UiTM Shah Alam in 2012. During his years of study, he was exposed to life in a metropolitan city like Kuala Lumpur. For him, being far away from the familiarity of home and having to navigate his life around a city was emotionally and mentally taxing. He considered that period of time as a crucial part of his personal creative journey. In 2013, he had two art residencies, one in Bali, Indonesia, and the other in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. That same year he was also the 3rd Winner in Drawing for the Tanjong Heritage National Level Art Competition. In 2014, Hisyamuddin had a solo exhibition with TAKSU in Kuala Lumpur titled “SArKAs” followed by his most anticipated second solo exhibition in TAKSU Kuala Lumpur titled KOTA(k) MAGIS in July 2021. To date, he has participated in numerous group exhibitions in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Hide and Safe II
Acrylic on canvas, 91.5 x 91.5 cm
Hide and Safe II
Acrylic on canvas, 91.5 x 91.5 cm
Hierarchy Of Ruling
Acrylic on canvas, 152.5 x 152.5 cm
Hierarchy Of Ruling
Acrylic on canvas, 152.5 x 152.5 cm
Antara Dua Blok
Acrylic on canvas, 137.5 x 152.5 cm
Antara Dua Blok
Acrylic on canvas, 137.5 x 152.5 cm
Dewan Beradu Vokal
Acrylic on canvas, 213.5 x 183 cm (diptych)
Dewan Beradu Vokal
Acrylic on canvas, 213.5 x 183 cm (diptych)
Bayang-bayang Kabinet
Acrylic on canvas, 122 x 244 cm
Bayang-bayang Kabinet
Acrylic on canvas, 122 x 244 cm
Rak No. II
Acrylic on canvas, 152.5 x 152.5 cm each (diptych)
Rak No. II
Acrylic on canvas, 152.5 x 152.5 cm each (diptych)
Bahtera Nakhoda Dua
Acrylic on canvas, 152.5 x 183 cm
Bahtera Nakhoda Dua
Acrylic on canvas, 152.5 x 183 cm
Permukaan Sunyi
Acrylic on canvas, 152.5 x 152.5 cm
Permukaan Sunyi
Acrylic on canvas, 152.5 x 152.5 cm
Peti Rahsia I
Acrylic on canvas, 89 x 89 cm each (diptych)
Peti Rahsia I
Acrylic on canvas, 89 x 89 cm each (diptych)
Peti Rahsia II
Acrylic on canvas, 89 x 89 cm each (diptych)
Peti Rahsia II
Acrylic on canvas, 89 x 89 cm each (diptych)
Sentap
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 183 x 152 cm
Sentap
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 183 x 152 cm
Berkepak
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 183 x 152 cm
Berkepak
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 183 x 152 cm
Opsst... Mana Sayap Kiri?
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 183 x 304 cm
Opsst... Mana Sayap Kiri?
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 304 x 183 cm
Ucapan Plastik
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 152 x 183 cm
Ucapan Plastik
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 183 x 152 cm
Aku Bukan Superman
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 122 x 244 cm
Aku Bukan Superman
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 122 x 244 cm
Manusia Setengah Hormat
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 244 x 122 cm
Manusia Setengah Hormat
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 244 x 122 cm
Bergayut
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 152 x 152 cm
Bergayut
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 152 x 152 cm
OK+TAK
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 183 x 304 cm
OK+TAK
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 183 x 304 cm
Teman Rapat - AIB
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 183 x 304 cm
Teman Rapat - AIB
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 183 x 304 cm
Sumpah Seranah
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 152 x 152 cm
Sumpah Seranah
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 152 x 152 cm
Perompak Keamanan
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 183 x 152 cm
Perompak Keamanan-
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 183 x 152 cm
Lanskap Seni
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 152 x 183 cm
Lanskap Seni
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 152 x 183 cm
Muntah Hijau
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 152 x 152 cm
Muntah Hijau
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 152 x 152 cm
Pekik
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 152 x 152 cm
Pekik
Charcoal and acrylic on canvas, 152 x 152 cm
Sorry I'm Not A Pirate
Charcoal, acrylic & oil on canvas, 170 x 135 cm
Sorry I'm Not A Pirate
Charcoal, acrylic & oil on canvas, 170 x 135 cm
SORRY!! I'm Not Superhero
Charcoal, acrylic & oil on canvas, 170 x 135 cm
SORRY!! I'm Not Superhero
Charcoal, acrylic & oil on canvas, 170 x 135 cm