Latif Maulan - An artist on a voyage of self discovery By Gerry Long

Latif Maulan - An artist on a voyage of self discovery 
By Gerry Long

Born in 1974 in the state of Pahang, Malaysia, in the quiet village of Lebu, Latif's early childhood was spent with his family in their bamboo house near a small river. Those early years invoked in him a great love of nature, particularly the Jungle and river where he spent so many happy hours with his family and friends.

It was with the help of two of his sisters that he initially commenced to draw, and not surprisingly his  first drawings reflected his love of the landscape that surrounded him.

He started Primary school in 1981 studying at Skolah Menengah Kebangsaan, Lebu and then continued his education at Skolah Menengah Kebangsaan, Bentong.  Although initially in the Science stream, his keen interest in art soon prompted him to transfer to the Art stream.

He finished high school in 1991, but due to financial constraints, had to forgo further studies at university level. Then followed a somewhat chaotic period as he took a number of different jobs in order to gain funds for both himself and his family, finally settling in a job as a Display Artist Designer at a small shopping complex in Bentong.

At that time, Latif  recalls that he had no thoughts of becoming an artist, in fact he had no  clear idea of which direction his career should take. It was his friends that eventually persuaded him to explore the possibility of moving to Kuala Lumpur with the greater opportunities that a large city provides. At first he was reluctant to take what was for him a huge step into the unknown. However, as he remarked, "God is kind" and he was fortunate to be offered the post of Resident Artist at one of the galleries in Kuala Lumpur. This was the stepping stone from which he never looked back. From that point on he started to learn, albeit informally, but with a great deal of enthusiasm, about the real work of artists and art forms.

It was during this period whilst Latif was still employed part time at the gallery, that a number of visitors started to show interest in his work and he found that he was able to sell one of his paintings almost every month. In the meantime Latif was learning a great deal about the world of Art and additionally got to know a number of talented and famous Malaysian artists, including Khalil Ibrahim, Ismail Latif and Yusuf Ghani, who gave him encouragement and sound advice.

Yet another artist who created an impression on him was Zaharuddin, whose advise Latif says he will never forget. Zaharuddin told him "If you want to produce good paintings never use black. If you happen to have black paint just throw it away, and mix the red blue green and whatever other colour you think is suitable to produce dark hues". Latif followed this advice and recalls that from that day onwards his paintings looked very much better and he never used black again.

 It was this advice and encouragement which gave Latif the strength and confidence to become a fully fledged artist, and progress to the high standard he has achieved.  

Anyone who has watched the  relatively rapid maturity of his work since his first efforts can only be in awe of the amazing diversity of his subject matter and the accuracy with which  detail is given attention. 

However, Latif is not a person lacking in inspiration and therefore it will be most interesting to follow his progress as he develops and explores even more techniques and ideas to add to what is an already an impressive portfolio.

EXHIBITIONS

• 2020 HOM Art Trans gallery. HOM Art Open 2020. Group Art Exhibition, Kuala lumpur, Malaysia
• 2019 Pameran Berkumpulan Warisan Seni Pahang, Muzium Seni Pahang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
• 2018 Tales Of The Apocalypse, Solo Exhibition, Gallery Titikmerah, Publika Jalan Dutamas 1, Kuala lumpur
• 2017 Collective Individuals, Group Exhibition, Hin Bus Depot Art Centre, Penang
• 2017 Nature Nutured, Group Exhibition, Sasana Kijang Gallery, Bank Negara Malaysia
• 2016 Winner Redbull ehwaubulan Art Showcase Exhibition
• 2016 Dengan Cara Kita ( In Our Own Ways) Group Exhibition, National Visual Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• 2016 Lain Daripada Yang lain ( Different From The Rest ) , Galeri Shah Alam.
• 2015 Melukis Puisi Pyan Habib : Group Exhibition , House Of Matahati (HOM)
• 2014 COLLECTIVE ASIA - Maya Gallery Singapore 
• 2014 FREEDOM UNDER CONSTRUCTION - Myanmar Art Exchange Programe -  HOM Art Trans - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• 2013 INTRO exhibition; Latif Maulan Open Studio  : Art Row Publika: Solaris Dutamas
• 2013 The Young Contempos: Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers, Malaysia     ;Southeast Asian Art, Kuala Lumpur
• 2012 CHARCOAL CRAYON + [water]COLORS, JADA ART, ION Art Space, Singapore
• 2012 A Meter Diameter HOM (House Of Matahati) Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
• 2011 Pameran Solo: With[out] Voice MapKL, Solaris Dutamas 1, Kuala Lumpur
• 2011 Manifestasi Merdeka Balai Seni Visual Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
• 2010 Bad Art MapKL, Solaris Dutamas 1, Kuala Lumpur
• 2009 Artistic Journey, RA Fine Art Gallery
• 2009 Zinc Opening, Zinc Art Space, Kuala Lumpur
• 2009 MEA award, Finalist. KL
• 2009 Tampannya Budi, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
• 2009 Pameran Amal Palestin, National Art Gallery , Kuala Lumpur
• 2008 SUSUR MASA, National Art Gallery , Kuala Lumpur
• 2007 Pameran Anak Pahang , National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
• 2006 PARALLEL UNIVERSE, First Solo Exhibition, Art case Gallery, Kuala  Lumpur, Malaysia
• 2005 Tsunami Fund Art Donation, Malaysian Red Crescent, ART Case        Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
• 2004 Melting Pot Of Culture, Great Eastern Mall and Art Case Gallery, Kuala  Lumpur (Demonstration of realism art painting)
• 2002-2003 Inspirational Travel England, France, Italy
• 2001 Inspirational Travel Australia
• 2000 Collector Party, Excel Gallery, Columbus Avenue, USA
• 1999 The Journey Of Malaysian Art, Kuala Lumpur.
• 1999 Miniaturization, Art Case Gallery, Kuala Lumpur.
• 1998 Mirror-Mirror On The Wall, Art Case Gallery, Kuala Lumpur.
• 1997 A Question Of Balance, Art Case Gallery, Kuala Lumpur.
• 1996 Rupa Kata, Pekan Seni Ipoh, Perak, M'sia.

COLLECTIONS

1. House Of Parliament Malaysia ( 1. Painting of Tun Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad, 2. Ketua Dewan Speaker 2018 YB Tan Sri Dato Mohamad Ariff Bin Md Yusof, 3. Yang Di Pertuan Agong Malaysia Yang Ke 16 ) 
2. SaatchiArt Collection, Los Angeles, California, USA (You got to love your skull)
3. Mead Johnson Art Collection, New York, USA (The Last Trishaw)
4. Balai Seni Lukis Negara (Hope, D Mana Sharline, Anak Laut)
5. Bank Negara Malaysia (Beware)
6. Bank Simpanan Nasional ( The Forgotten Heritage IV)
7. Sapura Holdings
8. Peremba Construction
9. PNB
10. Tankas Hadapan S/B
11. Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak
12. Dato' Mazlin Junid (Australia)
13. Dato' Abdullah
14. Ministry of Health Malaysia
15. Beverlly Hotel, Bintulu Sarawak
16. Rennaisance Hotel Kuala Lumpur
17. Mrs Patricia M Carbo (Embassy of Spain)
18. Nori Abdullah
19. Ambassador Dato' N. Parameswaran
20. Leong Tek Beng
21. Dr. Hussain
22. Dr. Sai Shankar Gunasingam
23. Sasya Ahmad
24. Encik Mazlan (ZAQ Construction)
25. Cs Huen (Chan Chun Lan Berhad)
26. Encik Wan Khairil & Puan Mastura Yazid ( W & W Architect)
27. Encik Redza (Tradewinds Sdn Bhd)
28. Encik Kassim (Tangkas Hadapan Sdn Bhd)
29. Puan Rahiyah Abdullah (Anjak Holdings Sdn bhd)
30. Toh Puan Mahani & Daim
31. Datin Yazreen & Datuk Shahril
32. Puan Sri Datin Fauzah Abdullah
33. Puan Siti haslinda
34. Dr. Choo and Angelina 
35. Mr & Mrs Roch
36. Linda Jaggy (USA)
37. Zainal Abidin
38. Encik Faiz
39. Linda & Paul Lauhon
40. Mr & Mrs Cheong
41. Encik Adib & Puan Azah
42. Ida Suzaini
43. Wan Khairil
44. Mohd Redza Shah
45. Suhaimi Abd Rahman
46. Puan Nita
47. Encik Anowar (TUDM)
48. Mr Iaian & Mrs Yvonne Lang (Australia)
49. Encik Jespal & Puan Salwa
50. Encik Roslan & Puan Nita
51. Encik Shukor Karim & Puan Nani
52. Puan Ida Suzaini
53. Encik Faiz Yeop Ahmad
54. Mr & Mrs K T Cheong
55. Encik Mokhtar Ghazali
56. Mr Paul & Mrs Linda Lawhon
57. Encik Zainal Abidin
58. Mr & Mrs Roch
59. Raja Azhar Idris
60. Raja Selina (KL, Malaysia)
61. Mr Roger King ( UK )
62. Mr Ivan Ho (Country Manager Commenwealth Developement Corporation)
63. Kenta Mishima (Itochu Corporation- Japan)
64. Tenku Mizan (Kuala lumpur)
65. Tengku Zubaidah (Dubai)
66. Mr. Scott Orchard (Australia)
67. Mr. Richard Gatwick (Kuala Lumpur)
68. Mr. Rainer Rothoff (Kuala Lumpur)
69. Encik Adib and Puan Azah (Kuala Lumpur)
70. Mr. Antonio Marely-President of Atalia Funiture (Italy)
71. Mr. Kashem Kareem-Shellod Sdn Bhd Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
72. Dato Wan Khairul, Kuala Lumpur
73. Jacobo Gleiser ( South America )
74. Gerry Long
75. Peter Kiernan
76. Peter Eu
77. Valerie Cheah
78. Nik Fahmee
79. En. Jesmie Nashir
80. En Hilmey Zaini Zainal (Scomi Engineering)

And many more to mention : Thanks to all the collectors who keep my paintings alive.