Mohammad Din Mohammad

Mohammad Din Mohammad is a Singaporean Malay painter who is known for his expressive works of art inspired by Sufism. Mohammad's paintings and sculptures are also heavily influenced by his devotion to the practice of the Malay martial arts called silat. He was also a practising bomoh, or Malay healer.[1]

Mohammad Din Mohammad
Born24 May 1955
Kampung Gangsa, Durian Tunggal, Malacca, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Died2007 (aged 52)
 Singapore
NationalitySingaporean
EducationNanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Known forPainting, sculpture
MovementModern art, contemporary art

Education and personal life

Born in Kampung Gangsa in Malacca, Malaysia, Mohammad's family migrated to Singapore when he was two years old. As a boy he was interested in art, experimenting in ceramics, making clay cups at the age of five. Formal education for Malay youths, meant the study of traditional art forms at the time.[2] At the age of 12, Mohammad began to learn silat and traditional massage and herbal healing techniques. In 1973, Mohammad went on to study art at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, majoring in western painting, where he took to the Realist portrait painting style. After graduating in 1976 he began his life as an artist plying on the old Bugis Street, and drawing portraits for tourists. This went on for the next 5 years.[3]

In 1980, Mohammad began acting with Malay theaters, with his first role as the character Laertees in a Malay adaptation of Hamlet by the Malay arts group Perkumpulan Seni.[4] He also acted in a Singaporean drama serial, Jejak Kembara (The Wanderer) in April 1980.[5]

In 1983, a severe motorcycle accident in Pontian nearly cost Mohammad his ankle. Though doctors managed to join back the ankle in place gangrene set in soon after the operation. Ignoring his doctor's plea to amputate, Mohammad sought traditional medical help from his silat master Hamin Bujang, and after two years' of treatment he was able to walk again. He became a strong believer in traditional Malay medicine, and went on to study and practice traditional healing techniques.[3]

Career

From 1978 till 2006, Mohammad's works were featured in 20 solo exhibitions locally and overseas, such as People and Landscape, shown across Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia in 1978; Wishy and Washy in 1980; Memories of South East Asia, shown across Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia in 1983; Mystical and Tailsmanic Energy in 1994; Flora and Foliate in 1997; Inspiration Mystique at Paris, France in 2000; Paris Experiences in 2000; Zikr – Hands on Calligraphy at Malaysia in 2000; Towards Self-Unification at Paris, France in 2001; Experience and Memories at Turkey in 2003; Flowers and BMW Cars at Hong Kong in 2004.[6] His work was also posthumously exhibited for Mystical Manoeuvre in Malaysia in 2007.[6]

Following his death, his family members opened a gallery in 2008, Galeri Mohammad Din Mohammad, in Malacca, Malaysia to commemorate Mohammad.[6] His practice was posthumously featured in 2008 for Archives and Desires: A Tribute to Late Artist Mohammad Din Mohammad at the NUS Museum, curated by Shabbir Hussain Mustafa.[7]

Mysticism in his art

Mohammad is best remembered for his provocative work, which combines Western ideas with his cultural background. His works, especially his sculptures, are deeply rooted in Sufi mysticism, which he practiced throughout his life. Through his art, Mohammad seeks to "stitch" together his beliefs, and life philosophies into a common entity—an artwork that is "an assembly of separated body and soul".[8]

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References
  1. Mustafa, Shabbir Hussain (2008-10-01). "Nafas Magazine". Archives & Desires: Selections from the Mohammad Din Mohammad Collection. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  2. Atan, Mas Zetti (2008-07-06). "He had a dream". The Star. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  3. Rashid, Yaakub (1991-12-18). "Medicine man". Straits Times. p. 13.
  4. Richard, Lim, ed. (1998). "Mohammad Din Mohammad". Singapore Artists Speak. Singapore: Art & Artist Speak. pp. 176–179. ISBN 9971-0-0863-7.
  5. "The good, the bad and the colourful". Straits Times. 1980-04-26. p. 3.
  6. "Mohammad Din bin Mohammad". Modern Art Society Singapore. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  7. "Archives and Desires: A Tribute to Late Artist Mohammad Din Mohammad". NUS Museum Blog. 20 August 2008. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  8. Tan, Bridget Tracy; Lim, Iris, eds. (2008). Nanyang 70 years after - a reunion of artists in the academy. Singapore: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. pp. 112–113. ISBN 978-981-08-2057-2.

Further reading
  • Farrer, D. S. (2009). Shadows of the Prophet : martial arts and Sufi mysticism. Netherlands: Springer. ISBN 978-1-4020-9355-5.
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