Zarina Abdullah captures the life of trishawmen in her engaging
series, Sweet Cargo. LEE SUE CHIEN writes.

SHE may be petite but she packs a punch, in art that is. Zarina

Abdullah, who's currently exhibiting her Sweet Cargo series at the Balai

Berita lobby in Jalan Riong, Kuala Lumpur, draws you in with touching,

vibrant images of trishawmen, close-ups of bicycles bearing fruit, and

calloused feet and hands.

This graduate of fine arts from UiTM has come a long way since her

initial foray into the precursor Trishaw Series four years ago. Though

her art is based on realism, there's added dimension with the use of

contemporary colours in the vein of the Spanish artist Joaquin Sorollo.

Look beyond the cheerful colours and you can feel the haunting,

melancholic images that Zarina seeks to convey to her audience. Though

entitled Sweet Cargo, the current exhibition speaks of the bittersweet

life of the common man, created in bold, handsome strokes and through

interesting perspectives.

Zarina hails from Kemaman, Terengganu, where she used to take the

trishaw to school. And while at UiTM, she had an affinity for the trishaw

pedlar, and she has honed her art on this subject through the years. She

takes her research seriously and credits her husband Rahim Jabbar for

helping her in that regard.

They had a difficult time taking photographs for her work. Many trishaw

pedlars were hostile and rude to Rahim when he tried to capture them in

action. Having been pelted with shoes and even spat at, he eventually

found a deaf and dumb pedlar who, upon knowing Rahim's objective, gave

his consent, in Jawi, to be photographed. This deaf pedlar's image so

moved Zarina that she had to convey his pain and hardship to her audience

in a series of pictures which have through the years matured into the

present series.

Three years on, and Mata Hati II emerged of the same deaf pedlar aged

with a deeper sadness than before - the sinews on his arms and legs

betraying the hardships he has further endured. Hope is woven with

dreariness and the pedlar's honesty is felt and conveyed in this painting.

Since the momentous "meeting" with the deaf pedlar, Zarina's star has

shone with her winning the "Colour Your Destiny" award at the Nokia Arts

Awards 2002 in Shah Alam. Nokia subsequently sponsored her first solo

exhibition at ARTrageously Ramsay Ong - The Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur

and Kuching entitled Dari Mata Ke Mata. Zarina has no doubt evolved in

essence and style to touch her audience in a profound way.

The exhibition ends on March 31. For further information, contact

Rebecca or Casimir at ARTrageously Ramsey Ong between 10.30am and 10pm at

03-2141-2566, Norina at 012- 691-1129 or e-mail Aniraz032000@yahoo.com.sg.