04 August 2007 - Redza Piyadasa

Petronas Gallery did a tribute to Redza Piyadasa... well.. it was a stroke of luck ( or rather bad luck ) that i was there.. was supposed to attend another event.. that got cancelled.. and since i was in the neighbourhood.. i signed up for this talk.. advertisement posters were placed in the tunnel which connects the KLCC Convention Centre to Suria.. i walk through this tunnel several times a week.. but never paid any notice to it... i guess that describes my charater.. always rushing past life.. and not observant enough to appreciate the treasures that come my way..

Piya passed away 3 months ago.. he was gifted... not only as a painter..

"Redza Piyadasa (b. 1939), has played a number of roles in Malaysian art. Artist, critic, educator, his position has always been to nurture critical thought and self-reflection in local art practice. Crucially, he was a driving force behind the New Scene Movement, named after an exhibition at the National Art Gallery in 1969, which introduced more conceptual or “investigative” modes of art-making against existing trends. " - from Willie Valentine's website

Am glad i made time to attend this talk.. apparently pne of his paintings ( i forget which one.. but it could be the one i posted here "Seated Malay Girl" ) has been used as the cover of Reader's Digest. Wow.. what an honour.. i wish i could create something that someone would want to use as the cover of their magazine..