Nik Zainal Abidin Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Nik Zainal Abidin Art Value Price Guide

Aug. 25, 2024
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. 1933 - 1993) Untitled, 1963
Est: RM2,000 - RM4,000
Nik Zainal Abidin is a pioneering artist from the East Coast whose work uses the medium of watercolour to depict wayang shadow puppet performances. A traditional art form central to Javanese and Southeast Asian life for centuries, the puppet theatre narrates stories derived from philosophical teachings, lessons of history and local legends. In this work, magical shadow puppets with distinctive, individual traits are wonderfully captured with vigour. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October- November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: "There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly."
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
May. 19, 2024
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. 1933 - 1993) Untitled, 1981
Est: RM3,000 - RM6,000
As one of the first modern artists to highlight the traditional heritage of Wayang Kulit - an ancient form of storytelling, Nik Zainal Abidin's compositions are observations of the puppet theatre characters used to narrate stories derived from philosophical teachings, history, and local legends. This work is an intricate study of shadow puppets, a traditional artform passed down from the northern region of Malaysia. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October-November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: "There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly."
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
May. 19, 2024
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. 1933 - 1993) Untitled, 1963
Est: RM4,000 - RM7,000
Nik Zainal Abidin is a pioneering artist who transformed the Ramayana and Mahabharata folklores of wayang kulit onto modern painting. A traditional art form central to Javanese and Southeast Asian life for centuries, the puppet theatre narrates stories derived from philosophical teachings, lessons of history and local legends. In this work, magical shadow puppets and motifs are intricately depicted. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October- November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: "There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly."
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Jan. 14, 2024
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. 1933 - 1993) Untitled, 1981-1982
Est: RM10,000 - RM18,000
Nik Zainal Abidin draws from various sources of wayang kulit styles and stories and in varying forms through his own interpretations and those adapted and assimilated according to the host society's mores and peculiarities. Though his core sources are the Ramayana, whether it be the Malay adaptation or from the Thai version, he also includes the tales of the Mahabharata and the Hikayat Panji into his repertoire. He generalises the storyline as it is impossible to have one pictorial scene representing the whole gamut of the overly long epics. It's more a mish-mash of characters – whether they be the Ghatotkacha ‘Bald Pot' against the debonair Arjuna of the Pandawas in the Mahabharata or the Rama-Rawana battle of the Ramayana, or the Hikayat Panji (Wayang Purwa of Java) – picked up at certain stages of the story. Nik Zainal Abidin, who followed his dalang (puppeteer) father across Kelantan in wayang kulit performances when he was young, was arguably the first to adapt the wayang kulit myths and folklore into fine art. It's interesting that fellow artist Patrick Ng Kah Onn (1932-1989), in his thesis for the Hammersmith College of Art & Design in London, had classified Nik Zainal Abidin in the “primitive mould” together with Australia's Albert Namatjira and France's La Dounier Rousseau. His repertoire also included tales from the Mahabharata and the Hikayat Panji. He worked as a set designer for RTM in the 1960s until his retirement in 1988. He is known for his design of the Kunci Ibu Kota, the cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1960. And who could forget his mosaic glass mural done in 1962 for the West Wing of Muzium Negara. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group and showed promise when he won the 1st Prize in the Joy of Living exhibition in 1964. In 1970, he was selected for a German cultural tour and took part in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Jan. 14, 2024
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. 1933 - 1993) Untitled, 1963
Est: RM5,000 - RM9,000
Nik Zainal Abidin was one of the first local artists to highlight the enigmatic quality and traditional heritage of Wayang Kulit. A traditional art form central to Javanese and Southeast Asian life for centuries, the puppet theatre narrates stories derived from philosophical teachings, lessons of history and local legends. This work is an intricate study of stylised shadow puppets painted in delicate hues and rendered with sensitive lines. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October- November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: “There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly.”
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Oct. 01, 2023
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. 1933 - 1993) Untitled, 1963
Est: RM6,000 - RM10,000
As one of the first modern artists to highlight the traditional heritage of Wayang Kulit - an ancient form of storytelling, Nik Zainal Abidin's compositions are observations of the puppet theatre characters used to narrate stories derived from philosophical teachings, history, and local legends. This work is an intricate study of various shadow puppets, a traditional artform passed down from the northern region of Malaysia, enveloped by a stunning backdrop of golden hues that under close observation contain intricate patterned motifs. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October-November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: "There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly."
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Jun. 25, 2023
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. 1933 - 1993) Untitled, 1963
Est: RM8,000 - RM14,000
Nik Zainal Abidin is a pioneering artist who transformed the Ramayana and Mahabharata folklores of wayang kulit onto modern painting. A traditional art form central to Javanese and Southeast Asian life for centuries, the puppet theatre narrates stories derived from philosophical teachings, lessons of history and local legends. In this work, magical shadow puppets and motifs are intricately depicted. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October-November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: "There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly."
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Jun. 25, 2023
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. 1933 - 1993) Untitled, 1963
Est: RM7,000 - RM14,000
Nik Zainal Abidin was one of the first local artists to highlight the enigmatic quality and traditional heritage of Wayang Kulit. A traditional art form central to Javanese and Southeast Asian life for centuries, the puppet theatre narrates stories derived from philosophical teachings, lessons of history and local legends. This work is an intricate study of stylised shadow puppets painted in delicate hues and rendered with sensitive lines. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October-November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: "There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly."
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Jul. 17, 2022
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. Kelantan, 1933 - 1993) Untitled, 1963
Est: RM6,000 - RM10,000
Back in the days before we had the internet, movies, television, wayang kulit was one of many entertainments people looked forward to watching. A combination of shadow and light accompanied by traditional musical instruments left viewers mesmerised in the hour. The plot and storyline is usually about evil versus good. But what’s fascinating about it is that it combines humour, magic and adventure all in one long storyline. Nik Zainal Abidin was one of the first modern artists to highlight the enigmatic quality and tradition of a faded traditional heritage of wayang kulit. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October-November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: “There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly.”
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Mar. 27, 2022
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. Kelantan, 1933 - 1993) Untitled, 1992
Est: RM7,000 - RM12,000
Nik Zainal Abidin was one of the first modern artists to highlight the enigmatic quality and traditional heritage of Wayang Kulit. A traditional art form central to Javanese and Southeast Asian life for centuries, the puppet theatre narrates stories derived from philosophical teachings, lessons of history and local legends. In this work, highly stylized shadow puppets are painted in delicate hues and rendered with sensitive lines. The intricate composition encapsulates the essence of local culture. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won the 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October & November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: “There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly.”
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Dec. 05, 2021
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. Kelantan, 1933 – d. 1993) Untitled, 1983
Est: RM10,000 - RM20,000
The Ramayana celebrating the triumph of Good over Evil has fascinated people from South Asia to Southeast Asia, and other parts of the world, for centuries. Nik Zainal Abidin was the first to adapt the ancient Sanskrit epic into the kelir (curtain) of watercolour ‘canvas’ filling it with noble and villainous characters. The Ramayana comprising some 24,000 verses tells of how the virtuous prince Rama set about to rescue his abducted wife, Sita, an epitome of women purity, from the hydra-headed demon Ravana, with the help of the quintessential superhero Hanuman. Fusing myth and magic, the battle also involves giant serpents and flying elephants. Elephants are highly revered as a symbol of royalty and valour in India where the tale originated. Before the advent of television and computer generated imagery, such spectacular dramaturgy entertained commoners and royalty alike, and has developed into its own art form in the mystical Indonesian island of Bali. Dolores Wharton wrote in Contemporary Artists of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: “There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly.” A work from Nik Zainal’s Istana Kayangan Series (1967) sold for a premium of RM22,120 at The Edge Auction in March 2017. Nik Zainal Abidin is best known for his design of the Kunci Ibu Kota, the cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1960. Another masterpiece is his mosaic glass mural done in 1962 for the West Wing of Muzium Negara. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group and showed promise when he won the 1st Prize in the Joy of Living exhibition in 1964. In 1970, he was selected for a German cultural tour and he also took part in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan. He had two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October-November) respectively. He worked as a set designer for Radio-Television Malaysia in the 1960s until his retirement in 1988.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Aug. 22, 2021
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. Kelantan, 1933 - d. 1993) Aggressive Wayang Kulit, 1985
Est: RM8,000 - RM14,000
Nik Zainal Abidin was one of the first modern artists to highlight the enigmatic quality and traditional heritage of Wayang Kulit. A traditional art form central to Javanese and Southeast Asian life for centuries, the puppet theatre narrates stories derived from philosophical teachings, lessons of history and local legends. This work is an intricate study of stylized shadow puppets painted in delicate hues and rendered with sensitive lines. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October-November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: “There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly.”
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Aug. 22, 2021
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. Kelantan, 1933 - d. 1993) Embroidery, 1988
Est: RM16,000 - RM28,000
For once, Nik Zainal Abidin strays from his usual repertoire of traditional wayang kulit puppet theatre, and its attendant tales from the Mahatbharata and the Hikayat Panji. The setting looks like a Javanese-Balinese keraton (palace), spacious and with batik tiles on the top panel facing viewer, with two entry points, one leading outside where one woman is seen unfurling a parasol. On the left is a large screen panel with carved panels on top, and right a short wooden ladder leading to a room. The focus is on the two ladies busy with their embroidery works. The colours used in his watercolours are consistent with the cream yellow matrix seen in several of his works in the 1980s. The composition is reminiscent of the repertoire of the great Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur. This work was done in 1988, the year he retired from Radio-Television Malaysia as a set designer. Nik Zainal Abidin was one of the staple members of the Wednesday Art Group. Known notably for his wayang kulit paintings, he designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, the cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1960, and the mosaic glass mural done in 1962 for the West Wing of Muzium Negara. He showed promise when he won 1st Prize in the Joy of Living exhibition in 1964. In 1970, he held his first solo at the Samat Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, and was selected for a German cultural tour and took part in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Aug. 15, 2021
NIK ZAINAL ABIDIN : Wayang Kulit, 1968
Est: RM6,000 - RM12,000
Born in 1936, Nik Zainal Abidin is often hailed as the “Painter of the Epics” because of the recurring motif in his paintings, which defined his career as an artist. Wayang kulit was his obsession, from the time he was a child surrounded by Kelantanese shadow play. Nik Zainal was deemed the foremost artist in incorporating wayang kulit into his art, being the pioneer of weaving traditional and ancient imageries with modern visual art, but he also created artworks aside from that, as seen in this piece. Taking his cues from his roots as a Kelantanese Malay, that form of culture and tradition is illustrated in this piece. It is a form of cultural identity and it is done beautifully. Nik Zainal Abidin never had a formal education in art but took lessons in art. He was a member of APS and Wednesday Art Group. He also often dabbled in painting romantic landscapes of picturesque countryside, paddy fields, beaches and boats.
KLAS Art Auction
Jun. 27, 2021
NIK ZAINAL ABIDIN : Wayang Kulit, 1968
Est: RM10,000 - RM25,000
Born in 1936, Nik Zainal Abidin is often hailed as the “Painter of the Epics” because of the recurring motif in his paintings, which defined his career as an artist. Wayang kulit was his obsession, from the time he was a child surrounded by Kelantanese shadow play. Nik Zainal was deemed the foremost artist in incorporating wayang kulit into his art, being the pioneer of weaving traditional and ancient imageries with modern visual art, but he also created artworks aside from that, as seen in this piece. Taking his cues from his roots as a Kelantanese Malay, that form of culture and tradition is illustrated in this piece. It is a form of cultural identity and it is done beautifully. Nik Zainal Abidin never had a formal education in art but took lessons in art. He was a member of APS and Wednesday Art Group. He also often dabbled in painting romantic landscapes of picturesque countryside, paddy fields, beaches and boats.
KLAS Art Auction
May. 18, 2021
NIK ZAINAL ABIDIN (1936-1993), ink and colour on p…
Est: £600 - £800
NIK ZAINAL ABIDIN (1936-1993), ink and colour on paper, Wayang Kulit figures, signed and dated 1968, 102x36cm, in glazed frame Please refer to department for condition report
Roseberys
Nov. 15, 2020
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. Kelantan, 1933 - d. Kuala Lumpur, 1993) Wayang Kulit Figure In Light Brown & Green, 1985
Est: RM4,000 - RM7,000
Nik Zainal is often referred to as the “Painter of the Epics” as he often portrayed the subject matter of the wayang kulit in his works. The Kelantan-born self-taught artist is highly respected for being one of the foremost painters of wayang kulit, narrating tales of Ramayana and many others. His paintings are rich in colours and are painted in refined and meticulous strokes. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October-November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: “There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly.”
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Nov. 15, 2020
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. Kelantan, 1933 - d. Kuala Lumpur, 1993) Wayang Kulit Figure In Red & Blue, 1990
Est: RM6,000 - RM10,000
Nik Zainal Abidin was one of the first modern artists to highlight the enigmatic quality and traditional heritage of Wayang Kulit. A traditional art form central to Javanese and Southeast Asian life for centuries, the puppet theatre narrates stories derived from philosophical teachings, lessons of history and local legends. This work is an intricate study of stylized shadow puppets painted in delicate hues and rendered with sensitive lines. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October-November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: “There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly.”
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Aug. 23, 2020
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. Kelantan, 1933 - d. 1993) Untitled, 1992
Est: RM9,000 - RM16,000
Nik Zainal Abidin was one of the first modern artists to highlight the enigmatic quality and traditional heritage of Wayang Kulit. A traditional art form central to Javanese and Southeast Asian life for centuries, the puppet theatre narrates stories derived from philosophical teachings, lessons of history and local legends. In this work, highly stylized shadow puppets are painted in delicate hues and rendered with sensitive lines. The intricate composition encapsulates the essence of local culture. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October-November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: “There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly.”
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Mar. 15, 2020
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. Kelantan, 1933 - d. Kuala Lumpur, 1993) Untitled, 1963
Est: RM8,000 - RM14,000
Back in the days before we had the internet, movies, television, wayang kulit was one of many entertainments people looked forward to watching. A combination of shadow and light accompanied by traditional musical instrument left viewers mesmerised in the hour. The plot and storyline is usually about evil versus good. But what’s fascinating about it is that it combines humour, magic and adventure all in one long storyline. Nik Zainal Abidin was one of the first modern artists to highlight the enigmatic quality and tradition of a faded traditional heritage of wayang kulit. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October-November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: “There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly.”
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Nov. 03, 2019
Nik Zainal Abidin (b. 1933 - d. 1993) Hulubalang Kera, 1981
Est: RM12,000 - RM20,000
Nik Zainal Abidin was one of the first modern artists to highlight the enigmatic quality and traditional heritage of Wayang Kulit. A traditional art form central to Javanese and Southeast Asian life for centuries, the puppet theatre narrates stories derived from philosophical teachings, lessons of history and local legends. In this work, highly stylized shadow puppets are painted in delicate hues and rendered with sensitive lines. The harmonious composition encapsulates the essence of local culture. Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October-November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: “There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly.”
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Jul. 07, 2019
NIK ZAINAL ABIDIN : Rejection, 1992
Est: RM9,000 - RM12,000
"The late Nik Zainal Abidin is Malaysiaês foremost wayang kulit artist. Wayang kulit, a traditional Malay art form, is a shadow puppet play that tells the ancient stories of Ramayana, among others. Nik Zainalês works are distinctive for its stunning attention to detail and masterful use of colours mainly in watercolour and oil paint."
KLAS Art Auction
Oct. 28, 2018
NIK ZAINAL ABIDIN (b. 1933 - d. 1993) Untitled, 1982; undated
Est: RM5,000 - RM8,000
The eternal battle between Good and Evil is borne out in the Hindu epic Ramayana, where Sri Rama eventually rescues his wife, Sita, from the evil ogre Rawana. More than something religious as the Kelantan Islamist government insists and thus the ban, the Ramayana is a tale about ethics, spirituality and faith. The Malaysian Ramayana is manifested in wayang kulit, and though it draws strong influences from Indonesia and Thailand, Dr. Ghulam-Sarwar Yousof posited that the Ramayana versions in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia were derived from the Krittivasi Ramayan, composed in 15th century Bengal. His repertoire also included tales from the Mahabharata and the Hikayat Panji. Dolores Wharton wrote in her seminal book, Contemporary Artists of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: â€œThere are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly.â€ The other Nik Zainal piece, a drawing, certified by his wife, Aminah, on July 11, 1995, looks like a crest, for what purpose it is unknown,with two mousedeer as mascots. Nik Zainal Abidin, whose goldsmith father was a â€˜dalang' (puppeteer), was arguably the first to adapt the wayang kulit myths and folklore into fine art. He worked as a set designer for RTM in the 1960s until his retirement in 1987. He is known for his design of the Kunci Ibu Kota, the cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1960. And who could forget his mosaic glass mural done in 1962 for the West Wing of Muzium Negara. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group (1955) and showed promise when he won the 1st Prize in the Joy of Living exhibition in 1964. In 1970, he was selected for a German cultural tour and took part in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Apr. 29, 2018
NIK ZAINAL ABIDIN (b. 1933 - d. 1993) UNTITLED, 1981, Watercolour on paper
Est: RM11,000 - RM19,000
The epic battle between Good and Evil in the Ramayana serves as lessons in contemporary life even today, whether it is personal or on a more global scale. Greed, Jealousy, Power, Cruelty, Lust and Debauchery are some of the vices driving the baser instincts to create human conflict, chaos and sufferings. Nik Zainal Abidin is a pioneering artist who transformed the Ramayana and Mahabharata folklores of waying kulit onto modern painting. His works incorporate figuratives, backdrop scene narration and colours on the travails of Sri Rama rescuing his wife Siti Dewi from the evil clutches of Rawana. His works were shown in Spain complete with wayang kulit performances in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville.Self-taught Nik Zainal Abidin represented Malaysia in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, the same year he was sent on a German cultural tour. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group. He won 1st Prize in the Merdeka Independence Art in 1967, and had his first two solos at the Samat Art Gallery in 1970 (June) and 1971 (October-November) respectively. He designed the Kunci Ibu Kota, cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He worked as a RTM set designer from 1960 to 1987. Wrote Dolores Wharton in Contemporary Artists Of Malaysia: A Biographical Survey: “There are many who tried their hands at painting wayang kulit but none has unlocked the vitality of drama or acquired the skills of painting the figures that Nik Zainal does so effortlessly.”
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Nov. 12, 2017
NIK ZAINAL ABIDIN (b. 1933 - d. 1993) UNTITLED, 1969, Watercolour on paper
Est: RM14,000 - RM24,000
The war drums have sounded, and all seem girded up for war: the forces of good led by Rama against the evil demon, Rawana, after Rama’s wife, Sita, was rescued, in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Whereas a spear or a bow-and-arrow is used in the Indian mythical saga, the adapted Malay version with generous doses of Thai influence, is a long keris. A pugree (conical headgear) with a sharp totem worn by the warriors is a badge of honour and stature. The figures with large bracelets in their arms are wedged against a large pohon hayat or tree of life. Nik Zainal Abidin, who followed his dalang (puppeteer) father across Kelantan in wayang kulit performances when he was young, was arguably the first to adapt the wayang kulit myths and folklore into fine art. It’s interesting that fellow artist Patrick Ng Kah Onn (1932-1989), in his thesis for the Hammersmith College of Art & Design in London, had classified Nik Zainal Abidin in the “primitive mould” together with Australia’s Albert Namatjira and France’s La Dounier Rousseau. His repertoire also included tales from the Mahabharata and the Hikayat Panji. He worked as a set designer for RTM in the 1960s until his retirement in 1988. He is known for his design of the Kunci Ibu Kota, the cokmar (royal mace) and the royal throne for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1960. And who could forget his mosaic glass mural done in 1962 for the West Wing of Muzium Negara. He was a member of the Wednesday Art Group and showed promise when he won the 1st Prize in the Joy of Living exhibition in 1964. In 1970, he was selected for a German cultural tour and took part in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
May. 12, 2017
NIK ZAINAL ABIDIN (MALAYSIAN, 1933-1993) WAYANG KULIT FIGURES Ink and colou
Est: £2,500 - £3,500
NIK ZAINAL ABIDIN (MALAYSIAN, 1933-1993) WAYANG KULIT FIGURES Ink and colour on paper Signed, dated ‘26.12.1962’ 103 x 22 cm. (40 1/2 x 8 5/8 in.)
Christie's
Sep. 04, 2016
NIK ZAINAL ABIDIN (B. Kelantan, 1933-1993) Betara Kerisma, 1982 Watercolour on paper
Est: RM1,800 - RM5,000
He was often hailed as the “Painter of the Epics”. This was because of the recurring motif in his paintings, which defined his career as an artist – the ancient theatrical art of wayang kulit. Wayang kulit was his obsession, from the time he was a child surrounded by Kelantanese shadow play. Nik Zainal was deemed the foremost artist in incorporating wayang kulit into his art, being the pioneer of weaving traditional and ancient imageries with modern visual art, but he was also created artworks aside from that, as seen in this piece. Taking his cues from his roots as a Kelantanese Malay, that form of culture and tradition is illustrated in this piece. It is a form of cultural identity and it is done beautifully. Nik Zainal Abidin never had a formal education in art but took lessons in art. He was a member of APS and Wednesday Art Group. He often dabbled in painting romantic landscapes of picturesque countryside, paddy fields, beaches and boats.
KLAS Art Auction
Apr. 24, 2016
NIK ZAINAL ABIDIN (B. Kelantan, 1933-1993) 'Istana Kayangan Series'
Est: RM18,000 - RM24,000
Signed and inscribed "oleh Nik Zainal Abidin 1967" in jawi on lower left
KLAS Art Auction