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A stunning sketch by Jalaini Abu Hassan, affectionately known as Jai, illustrating ‘The Great Malaysian Landscape’ of a rubber estate is executed in a combination of materials using charcoal, ink and watercolour on paper. This piece demonstrates the artist’s acute social and cultural awareness implying a subtle political commentary, besides showcasing his excellent drawing skills, compositional and spacial balance, as well as use of mixed media.

Jalaini Abu Hassan graduated with a BA (Fine Art) at the Mara Institute of Technology in 1985. Upon his return from New York after receiving his second MFA (Pratt Institute, 1994), he unveiled his signature Tradisi Melayu still life at the exhibition Lifeform at Taksu Gallery, Kuala Lumpur in 1996. He obtained his first MFA at the Slade School of Fine Art in London in 1988. His awards include the Major Award in the highly coveted Young Contemporary Artists exhibition in 1985, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Gold Award in 1991, First Prize (Drawing) in the Murray Hill Art Competition (New York) in 1994, and the Rado Switzerland Commission Award in 2005. He has participated in exhibitions such as 12 ASEAN Artists (2002) and Malaysian Art Now (2004) at National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur and international art fairs such as Art Singapore and Melbourne Art Fair 2006. Jai is currently undergoing his PhD in Studio Practice Research in Painting from the UiTM Shah Alam where he is currently the Associate Professor in the Faculty of Art and Design.