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Community
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Stories of Vendors
When asked if he had always been interested in becoming an artist, he smiles and says, 'I wanted to be a football star and had been chosen to represent my school. My father threatened to cut off my allowances as he wanted me to be an artist. I had won a number of art competitions in school'. Today Rashid has exhibited, not just in the Petronas Art Gallery, but also in the National Art Gallery. Born in Bukit Mertajam 57 years ago, Rashid comes from a family of eight, only two of whom were interested in the arts. His second brother is a water colorist but did not pursue it as a career. His father, on the other hand, had been an artist all his life - painting cinema posters many feet high. Rashid recalls childhood days where he had free entrance to all the cinemas as his father painted for them. Just Standard two, his father taught him about scale in painting and forthwith he would also help his father to paint the posters.
'In 1968, after my MCE my father told me to leave the house and start doing street shows. He painted a few landscapes and signed my name to them, telling me to sell them'. 'I did not like that. So I decided to do portraits, sign my name on my original work and try to sell them'. So started his career and the numerous exhibitions and road shows he has had. Presently he is working on doing a solo exhibition. Rashid brings his talent to the Little Penang Street Market every last Sunday of the month. He is eagerly awaited by many enthusiastic fans.
__________________________________ Written
by Ambiga Devy |
Getting
to know Rashid, the portrait painter
Abdul
Rashid Abdul Razak was just nine years old when he earned his first
commission. He had painted a portrait in oil which he sold for RM80.
