HONESTY marks my conversation with Rahim Jabbar, who is exhibiting his
Rush Hour expressionist works at the lobby of Balai Berita in Jalan Riong,
Kuala Lumpur.

Working from the heart, he sometimes paints with furore, throwing paint

at the canvas, often with passion - which he conveys directly with his

palms and fingers. Getting into the thick of the action is nothing new to

Rahim who finds inspiration in nature.

He's not shy of being labelled a romantic, coming from the relatively

pristine environs of Taiping. Maxwell Hill and the surrounding greenery

call to him in Pertembungan Rimba (Forest Encounter), which reflects the

lush and intimate setting of nature.

This fine arts graduate of Universiti Teknologi Mara in Shah Alam lives

out his credo: "Manusia terkadang terlupa bahawa segala-galanya adalah

tidak mustahil di dalam dunia ini" (people often forget that all there is

or all that has transpired is not incomprehensible in this world). Hence

his earnest answer to those who only seek external and superficial beauty

in "art" through his Pertembungan (Encounter) series.

In contrast to the serenity of Pertembungan Rimba, Pertembungan Air

stirs up whorls of fear, anger and chaos. The latter was actually composed

before the Dec 26 tsunami, and it started with the olive green hues. But

when the tsunami struck countries fronting the Indian Ocean, Pertembungan

Air metamorphosed into blues and veins of black, a reflection of Rahim's

inner turmoil and sadness over the vast destruction.

Apart from Pertembungan Rimba, rendered with swiftness and ease amid the

quietude of the forest, Rahim is especially fond of Pertembungan Tanah

which mirrors the gargantuan forces at work in the "birth" of a landmass.

Surprises await visitors as he has invested at least a quarter of the

exhibition space to glass works featuring various types of flora in

abstract form. These seem a larger version of the delicate Japanese art of

origami, but perhaps there's a deeper meaning to them, unseen by the

uninitiated.

His abstract expressionist works are imbued with non-figurative, dynamic

and exuberant qualities. His method of painting seems wild and aggressive,

as if in an attempt to resolve the conflict between the self and the

external world arising from complex development.

Passion and commitment to the truth that all things beautiful will some

day be destroyed dominate his works. And yet, amidst such destruction,

come hope of a renewal of faith and rejuvenation in nature.

The Rush Hour exhibition ends on Friday. For details, call Rahim at 017-

388-0114 or 013- 664-4586.