Lot 02
SAMSUDDIN LAPPO
b. Sabah, 1977
TAU UGI, 2006
Signed and dated ‘Suddin Lappo 06' lower right
Acrylic on canvas
61cm x 61cm
PROVENANCE
Private collection, Kuala Lumpur
ESTIMATE RM 2,800 - 3,300
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Samsuddin Lappo is known for his paintings that depict strong emotion through expressive brushstrokes and stimulating colour usage translated in his preferred subject of the human form and portraiture. Under the guise of his figurative painting, Suddin (as he is affectionately known) delivers messages of education and self improvement, the essence of which can be attributed to his background as an art teacher. A member of the art group Dikalajingga, he and his group advocate the tradition of depicting the human figure through their artworks.
Since 2005, Suddin has exhibited at several prominent galleries: ‘Transition Artist Café’ at National Art Gallery Malaysia in 2005, ‘Faith, Plurality and Freedom’ at Pelita Hati Gallery of Art in 2006, ‘Exhibition X’ and ‘Locals Only’ at Taksu Kuala Lumpur in 2007 and 2008 respectively, ‘Peninsula and Island’ at Taksu Singapore in 2008 as well as the ‘70th Annual Exhibition of MOKWOOHOE’ at the Seoul Museum of Art, South Korea. In 2009, Suddin had a solo at Pace Gallery entitled ‘Kepingin’. He also participated in the Gwangku Art Biennale in South Korea in 2002 and has works in many eminent public and private collections including Seksan Gallery, Taksu Gallery and Balai Seni Lukis Sabah.
Tau Ugi is a self portrait of Suddin. In striking red, the artist’s face is partially exposed and coming out from the side of the canvas, built up with bold, confident strokes in no more than three tones. Referring to his Bugis heritage (Ugi is another name for Bugis), the artist expresses the importance in knowing one’s background culture. In historical European literature, the Bugis has a reputation for being fierce, war-like as well as hardworking, placing significant importance to honour, status and rank. The expression on this self portrait is one of self-confidence and assertion and feels almost confrontational - in character with his Bugis ancestry.
EXHIBITED
‘Faith, Plurality and Freedom’, Pelita hati Gallery, 2006, illustrated in catalogue.
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