Faizal Suhif Stories From The Soil

Stories from the Soil, Stories from Faizal Suhif…

Moving into a studio place that is located 40km away from city center, Faizal Suhif is pretty happy to furnish his new place settled in Hulu Langat beside of creating artworks recently. Despite of the far distance to anywhere, Faizal is so into this green area. He told me there’s a hot spring and river nearby, which he will invite friends to enjoy during the weekends. Now almost everyday he is exposed to new excitements around his little hut, for example discovering new species of snail and beetle and the footprints of wild boar. I think this is how his life is; peaceful, calm, ease pace, of course, living really close with the Mother Nature.

Beside of lecturing in a local institution, Faizal spends most of his time in developing skills and creating artworks. He loves driving around his living area with his tool kit which consist of paints, rollers and printing tools that he always place in his car boot, he starts to collect markings as well as textures whenever he finds something new, anytime anywhere, be it the ground texture outside his corridor or the jogging track in a park. Art occupies the biggest portion of his life while the nature is something he can’t live without; values learnt from the nature has profoundly influenced his practice of art as well as attitude to life.

Born 1984 in Muar, Faizal Suhif is a graduate from UiTM who obtained a Master Degree majoring in Printmaking last year. Faizal has invented his very personal way in creating printmakings; he has been developing new printing methods such as block print, cement cut and transfer print on ground since he was pursuing his degree studies few years back. Specialize in printmaking Faizal been attracted by not only the aesthetics but, at the same moment the unexpected and unforeseen printing results. We know every print by any kind of techniques is an original piece in sense of reproduction of exactly the same is an impossible in printmaking; materials, colors, compositions and pressure of the press machine will manipulate the final outcome of each attempt.

Stories from the Soil compiles not only the latest creations by Faizal Suhif in these recent years, the attentive artist keen in exploring the nature has turn the gallery space into something different. Beside of the printmakings and paintings, Faizal installs soil sculptures into his exhibition this time, to enhance the visual communication and brings something natural into an artificial space, creating a surreal sensation yet to remind the audiences, the basic elements of life and force of the nature.

Derive from the previous bodies of works, idea of the artist was retained but the skill and presentation has elaborate to archived a matured level, beside of installation we can also find collages using soil and stones in certain works, and the apply of calligraphy too. Despite of the monotone colours which frequently shown in Faizal’s artworks, this is the first time the artist attempt in bright colours for example amber yellow and indigo blue. The multi layering of textures and living creatures finished by oil has become a significant style of Faizal Suhif.

Growing up from a farming family, Faizal has plenty of chances be in touch with the Mother Nature. Asking him of why seeds and insects were frequently painted in his artworks, Faizal’s reply was simple as he sees the possibility of every single creature, and soil, will be the key element of all living possible. Wendell Berry, the American novelist as well as an environmental activist once said, “Soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all. It is the healer and restorer and resurrector, by which disease passes into health, age into youth, death into life. Without proper care for it we can have no community, because without proper care for it we can have no life.”

Soil, is the land of a nation, the foundation of architectures, the basis of all livings, it fertilizes every single anima unconditionally with no difference. If one day the soil is no longer practical, our life will surely be affected severely. We, urbanize citizens often in fast pace, looking for immediate results might easily overlook simple principles at times. It is one of the ideals Faizal wishes to remind us with his artworks, beside of appreciation to the beautiful and calming visuals, look deeper into the things we familiar with and read it, the messages inside.

“Soil and seeds can grow into trees, they are the food and oxygen supplier, that’s why we need to learn to appreciate it”, Faizal finds people running after velocity and achievements often neglected the basic elements that breed us, he hopes his artworks can ease the pace and calm the soul, at the same moment convey his theory to the audiences. The Mother Nature is a tutor to the artist, yet a friend a companion. Every merit we see in Faizal is a precious lesson from the nature.

He is humble, just like the paddy, semakin berisi semakin bertunduk (a Malay idiom to describe the virtue of modest), we will never see Faizal showing off with his forte or achievements yet he has win the chances to exhibit in a number of international art fairs for example the NBC International Silkscreen Print Biennial in Tokyo and the 1st Printmaking Triennial in Macau.

He is patient, just like the tree, down to earth and grows sturdily from root to fruit. Honestly and earnestly, not asking for the moon or looking for shortcuts for immediate bonanza, just like how Faizal practices in his pursue of art, one step at a time.

He is disciplined, clear with the role of every creature under the creation of God and his position play in his personal life. He tries to be as comprehensive as he can to make great success in every aspect, fulfilling the max within his ability.

He is loyal, to his beliefs, to the religion and to the creator. Believing in the fairness and love to all lives, Faizal never butters nor discriminates. He has strong faith in God is fair to everyone, and effort planting strive to make a change.

The simple living environment enthusiast printmaker, Faizal Suhif, is here to tell us the immortal stories of the natural, the energy which fertile lives, recalling the primitive values we shouldn’t forget.

By Krystie Ng

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• Faizal Suhif