1.

INTRODUCTION
Concepts & Techniques is an art appreciation course created for individuals without any
artistic background. This course introduces you to various art movements, cultural
influences, artistic genres, artists, and their artwork. The main emphasis of the course is to
teach you hands-on studio arts techniques as you conduct personal research and explore
your own creativity. While utilizing historical and contemporary art concepts, the course
guides you through different time periods. Examining and discussing artwork is a crucial
part of this course, encouraging you to express your opinions about art in an intelligent
and articulate manner. By the conclusion of the course, you will compile a portfolio of
artworks reflective of your research, understanding, creativity, and personal growth.

2. ABOUT SYED AHMAD SYED JAMAL

Figure 1, Datuk Syed Ahmad Syed Jamal

Syed Ahmad Jamal was born on 19 September 1929 in Bandar Maharani, Muar,
Johor. He received his early education at Low tethering, Johor Bahru from 1936 to
1938. He attended college in bund High School in 1939, Ngee Heng English School
in 1940, Bukit Zaharah English School and Beyond Bahasa Inggeris College (now
Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar ) Johor Bahru until 1949. He then continued his studies at
the Birmingham School of Architecture in 1950. In 1951 to 1955, he furthered his
studies at the Chelsea School of Art, London.
After returning from England, he was a teacher at the High School, Batu Pahat,
Johor from 1956 to 1957. In 1957 he was a lecturer at the College Times, Kuala
Lumpur (now College Seri Kota). In 1958 to 1959 he served in the Malayan Teacher's
College, Kirkby, Lanc., England. From 1963 to 1964 he studied sculpture at the
School of the Art Institute, Chicago, Illinois, United States. Then he was appointed as
a Principal Specialist Teachers Training College in Cheras in 1964.

He went on to pursue a Masters in History of Art at the University of Hawaii,

Honolulu in 1973. In 1974, he studied Philosophy of Islamic Art at Harvard
University, Cambridge, USA. Upon his return, he worked at the Museum of Asian
Art, the University of Malaya and later appointed as the Director of the Cultural
Centre, the University of Malaya in 1979. He was appointed Director of the National
Visual Arts Gallery pda 1983 to 1991.
Syed Ahmad Jamal has received numerous awards: Mangku Member State
(1969); Knights Mangku State (1983); Asean Cultural Award - Visual Art (1987) and
in 1995, he was awarded the National Art Award.
In addition to painting and participated in numerous group exhibitions and solo ,
Syed Ahmad Jamal has published books of art that matters. Among Art and Soul
( Kuala Lumpur : Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.1992 ) ; Fireflies : Keepsake Syed
Ahmad Jamal National Artist ( Kuala Lumpur : Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka , 1999 )
and many exhibition catalog , which is the reference for the field of painting in this
country.

3. THE SIRIH PINANG ARTWORK

Finesse refers to the appropriate choice of form and material. Judging from the extrinsic
qualities of Malay traditional arts, finesse refers to the delicacy of the objects as well as the
choice of media. For instance, it is not appropriate to execute a carving in a Malay traditional
house by using metal. It would reflect an insensitive attitude towards the nature of the objects
as well as the materials. Besides that, principles of finesse also which were the spiritual
process that extract from nature. The process and approach of the art product are imitated
from the beauty of nature and sometimes the design of this process only can be known from
the named or title of the artworks which was inspired by nature. Identification towards this art
painting titled Sirih Pinang and was produced in year 1982 had brought the aesthetic
philosophy by Zakaria Ali which is berhalus(finesse). This painting discloses the artist
through understanding of the intellectual influence that he had assimilated while study in
oversea. The influence of Cubism is noticeable in the conscious structuring of geometric form
in these artworks. It should be noted that Syed Ahmad Jamal had also applied his strong
expressive brushstrokes with selected warm colors such as red, orange, and yellow. The warm
colors were duly complemented in this painting in order to make this work achieved highly
aesthetic result. From identification, there are several type of geometric form that artist
applied in this artwork which is triangle, square and the Islamic geometric form. These
geometric forms have been display in flat space with intrinsic compositions. The
identification form and content that show in this art painting has represented the intricacy and
delicacy of principle berhalus(finesse) that purpose by Zakaria Ali. Besides that, the variety
form that is found in this art painting also represented the finesse principles that serve the
purpose by Zakaria Ali. From observation also it reveals form such as pokok pinang, the sky,
the star and motif flora. These forms that artist applied in his work of arts which represent the
sensitivity attitude towards the nature. DZul Haimi Hj Md Zain in book Syed Ahmad Jamal:
Pelukis say that:

The plants, the sky and the earth, the stars, the mat and the changing time form parts of

the imagery in Sirih Pinang.

(DZul Haimi Hj Md Zain, 2009)

CONCLUTION

REFERENCE
Syed Ahmad Syed Jamal, Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia,
https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syed_Ahmad_Syed_Jamal, accessed 18.9.2015