Born in Kampung Belais in Temburong District, Zakaria Omar is a self-taught artist who began his interest and started to delve into the arts since he was as young as 9 years old. Throughout his career with the government as a graphic designer and now as an art teacher, he never stopped pursuing and learning more about his passion in the art world. To this day, his artworks and installations have toured the world, from the borders of Germany to the edges of Japan, he received numerous commendations and awards for his original conceptual arts and mixed media paintings, translating world issues and the philosophy of life into his works.
He choose 5 of his artworks for our gallery’s exhibition Pause and Rewind, where four belongs to his “Fossils of Shame Series”, two of them are installations (“The Time” and “The Pillars”) and the other two unique artworks (“A Savage Garden” and “Rantis Qalifah”). Another is part of his “Opera Curtain Series” where the rest of the artworks belonging to this collection can be found at Fukuoka Art Museum in Japan.
Through his artworks and installations, he prompts us to think for not only our own future now but also for what is to come for the future generations. The majority of his pieces, such as the “Fossils of Shame Series”, serves as a warning, to awaken us to the dark reality of the current globalised world while others carries a gentler and encouraging message. His idea of a fossil itself is interesting. He explained that it signifies the buried, shame and problems of the world, that although perhaps miniscule, it does not dissolve into the grounds or disappear into the air, but instead is “fossilised” and will come and haunt us at some point in life.
An impressive element of his works is the his through level of experimentation. One of the most outstanding result is his Batik on Canvas, the Opera Curtain Series: Tsunami Tsunami. It is unique in the combination of medium as well as the application of braille in the artwork. Opening his art to accommodate an even larger pool of audience so none is excluded from “seeing” his art.
During the Meet and Greet with the Artist session of Pause & Rewind on the 28th of January 2018, he described his works as a medium through which he endeavours to spread awareness about world issues as well as to remind his audience about the importance of life’s philosophy. He also talks about how he draws to unburden himself and to find solace in his works and he hopes that others who looks at his work can feel the same things as he does.
Any curious minds are welcome to view his works at our gallery at Sengkurong Shopping Complex from Sunday 7th January 2018 to Saturday 24th February 2018, alongside the artworks of 4 other veteran artists whose art pieces carry their own meanings ready to be discovered and rediscovered by the viewers.
Pause & Rewind marks the beginning of a new initiative by Creative Space that is in line with their mission to record, conserve, and preserve Brunei’s Art-Culture heritage, alongside their project such as ‘EMERGE’ which focuses on Brunei’s young and emerging artists.