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In the stillness of the night by the sea, one’s thoughts are calcified and revel in the inherent beauty at nightfall. The panorama of land, sea and sky makes strange bedfellows that are cosy, easy and nice. Only a few stars are about…mysterious light blobs dance near the water’s edge of the islet with its quiet reflections…The actuality of place does not matter anymore in the painting process. What does is the experience lived in the mind, not the eye. This Syed Ahmad Jamal work done just after his seminal Heaven and Earth exhibition evokes such mood totally opposite of his usual vibrant palette. Malam Marang captures remnants of Heaven and Earth and Kunang-kunang, an autobiographical publication of the artist which was a tribute to his parents. Dominant in this work are his favourite 80s choice of green (which represents earth & reality) and blue (representing the sky & fantasy) hues. Malam Marang is a composition of a serene scene that perhaps the artist had witnessed during the night or dawn in Marang, Terrenganu, suspending a moment of clarity and capturing a reminiscent of memory.

Believed to be produced during a period of meditation on Surah Al-Buruuj 85:1 & 9 (The Big Stars or The Constellation), “By oath the heaven which contains the constellations” and “To Him only belongs the kingship of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is a Witness over all things”. Malam Marang records the journey of the artist’s search for Allah’s words and greatness in nature, formulated through the abstract stage of expression. In this work, the signature horizon line that separates the heaven and earth can still clearly be seen; however, the familiar elements of the sun and moon, day and night, stars and skies, mountains and plants are far less defined. Its muted tones seem to suggest a convergence of day and night, the completion of a full cycle; depicting a moment of stillness, suggesting the very moment of awakening.

Syed Ahmad Jamal was born in Johor in 1929. He received his early art education at the Chelsea School of Art in London (1951-1955) and his art teacher’s certificate at the London University (1955-1956). He was awarded the Fulbright scholarship to study sculpture at the Chicago Art Institute from 1963 to 1964. In 1974, he achieved his Masters in Art History after a two-year stint at the University of Honolulu, Hawaii. He had won prizes locally and internationally: First prize in Johor Art exhibition in 1950, Summer Competition, Chelsea School of Art London in 1954, Federation Art Competition Kuala Lumpur in 1962 and the National Bank of Malaysia Mural Competition. Syed Ahmad Jamal is recognised for his achievement of being an artist, educator, administrator and writer. For his great contribution, he was awarded the Seniman Negara (National Artist) in 1995.