At most, they are often depicted as backwater states, made up of ramshackle huts and dirt roads despite visible signs of development.

Although not bustling metropolises by any stretch of the imagination, there is a certain untainted beauty in the simplicity of life here, especially in the many fishing villages that dot the coast.

These captivating scenes are exactly what young local artist, Khairi Fakhri, 28, has depicted in his debut solo exhibition. Titled “Layar Tengkujuh”, or Monsoon Sails, the exhibition at Artas Galeri is on until Oct 25.

The exhibition is part of the CIMB Artober initiative, meant to give local artists a platform to develop their careers.

“Layar Tengkujuh” features 14 of the UiTM graduate’s artworks, depicting a variety of fish found in local waters as well as scenes of life in the fishing villages there.

Khairi’s artworks are largely devoid of the vibrant colours commonly associated with marine life. In fact, he uses bitumen in his artwork rather than the more traditional medium of paint.

Hence, sepia tones are omnipresent in his work to help invoke a sense of nostalgia for simpler times that have long passed.

Speaking to FMT, Khairi explained that his works are meant to bring to the forefront the oft-overlooked culture of his home state of Terengganu.

“I come from Kampung Padang Midin, a small village by Sungai Terengganu. It was there where I grew up surrounded by the culture of the typical fishing village.”

He said his artwork is an attempt to capture the images of his childhood and to shed some light on the culture of his home state, both being the driving forces behind him becoming an artist in the first place.

“I feel like Terengganu culture deserves some spotlight. As an observer, what I have seen deserves to be expressed on the canvas,” he said.

Living in Kuala Lumpur after his graduation, Khairi felt that too few understood or appreciated what life in Terengganu is like; hence, why he began work on the “Layar Tengkujuh” series.

While visiting his hometown, he would sketch fishermen and their catch; back in Kuala Lumpur, he would transform the sketches into complete artworks.

It took about a year for him to complete all fourteen of the pieces, with each depicting a different subject.

His works walk the thin line between abstract and realism, as while the subjects he draws are close to lifelike, their forms consist of imagined patterns.

This is a deliberate choice, he explained. “I didn’t want to be tied down by any specific artform. I like to be free to make my choices.”

In a pair of paintings called “Khazanah Kenyir 1” & “Khazanah Kenyir 2”, he depicts two subspecies of arowana found in Lake Kenyir.

The first looks like an ordinary specimen of fish, while the second has its bones very much visible to the viewer.

This, explained Khairi, is a reference to recent discussions on the possible extinction of that particular subspecies.

“At one point, they were believed to be wiped out. Twenty years later, an angler managed to catch one. So, are they still there or not?”

Just like its ambiguous fate, it is left to the viewer to decide whether the fish they are looking at is living or extinct.

Another painting, “Pelayar Budaya” depicts a fisherman returning home with two fish traps in hand, one filled to the brim with fish, the other empty.

“That actually represents an artist,” he explained. “Like a fisherman, an artist needs the right tools to capture the ideas that he wants to express.

“Fishermen sometimes go out to sea and return empty-handed. Likewise, the artist can either return inspired or remain without inspiration. Luck is fickle, but effort is certain.”

The biggest challenge of being an artist, said Khairi, is establishing one’s own identity from the sea of other artists.

Hence, he advises fledgling artists to find their own trademark. “Find your own identity to introduce into your art. Being honest with your art is something society can sense.”

Despite the challenges of being an artist, Khairi said his desire to keep sketching and painting will not ebb as art can open the eyes of the public.

Speaking to FMT, Artas Galeri director Roy Ng said, “We see huge potential in Khairi’s work and this series of his really struck a note with us. It truly lets us take a peek into the lives of Malaysia’s forgotten fishermen and the everyday struggles they deal with.”

Khairi Fakhri’s solo exhibition “Layar Tengkujuh” will be held until Oct 25. Check out Artas Galeri on their website, Facebook and Instagram.

Artas Galeri
36, Jalan PJU 5/20D
Kota Damansara
47810 Petaling Jaya
Selangor