Awang Damit Ahmad

Acquired directly from the artist
Private Collection, Malaysia

The work is in good condition overall, as is the canvas, which is clear and taut. Any inconsistency is due to the artist's working method.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This expansive work by Awang Damit Ahmad is telling of the philosophical mind of this humble visionary. Though born to a modest fisherman and farmer in 1956, this artist possesses an indisputable, raw talent that has carried him worldwide, exhibiting at galleries spanning the United Kingdom, China, Japan and Malaysia. He has rapidly risen from his ranks and quietly overcome the restrictions of his upbringing. Awang Damit is revered as a man of wisdom, one who has retained the values he had developed during his childhood in his village in Kaula Penyu, Sabah in East Malaysia.  

Sotheby’s is proud to present this glorious painting by an artist who currently stands at the vanguard of Malaysian modern art. Upon viewing the present lot, one seems overwhelmed by the vast scale of the work, which virtually envelops the viewer. At first glance, one notices the thick, bold brushwork that summons the spontaneity involved in the process of western abstract expressionist painting. However, as the work continues to draw in the gaze of the beholder, it is evident that the artist has included numerous premeditated details in the minutiae of the larger forms. The canvas is compositionally complex, textured with an amalgam of geometrical forms, shapes and structures.

The monochromatic blacks, grays and whites are infused with a deep orange, providing a warm atmosphere to the work. It is apparent that the artist has utilized aleatoricism in his painting as he incorporates random chance into the process of creation. In this particular case, he accepts the power of gravity to collaborate with him when fashioning the composition. By using heavily diluted pigments in certain areas of the work, trickles of paint inevitably drip down the surface of the canvas, creating a series of vertical lines. These thinner, translucent facades are juxtaposed with swathes of thicker paint, augmenting the abstraction with a sense of depth. Though there is an element of chance, he also imbues control to his painting, which is at once energetic and delicate. For Awang Damit, the process of creation parallels one of self-discovery. A direct expression of his inner emotions, this striking painting exemplifies the destructive and creative powers of seasons.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Muliyadi Mahamood of UiTM, Awang paints with all his senses, as "he sees, hears, touches, feels, and smells his subject and the world around him. He incorporates all these sensory perceptions into his paintings."