Kide Baharudin

Painter Kide Baharudin is an emerging artist from Malaysia. He primarily works with acrylic paint on canvas, integrating found objects to create animated, expressive brushstrokes that convey the chaos and tension inherent in his subjects and scenes. His works are often inspired by personal experiences, family narratives, and the surrounding local culture and history, which he gathers from various media sources, including newspapers, television and social media.

Baharudin’s artworks in Gotong Royong depict various facets of kampung life, showcasing communal gatherings. They capture the essence of kampung spirit and portray a rich landscape of human fabric. The term ‘kampung spirit’ is deeply ingrained in Malaysian ethos and embodies unity and solidarity among its citizens, fostering mutual support through shared resources, joys, and challenges. Within the Malaysian context, ‘gotong royong’ and the ‘kampung spirit’ interweave as bedrock principles, embodying the enduring values of communal cooperation and mutual assistance. While ‘gotong royong’ represents collective labour and communal responsibility, the ‘kampung spirit’ leads to a profound sense of belonging and interconnectedness, particularly in times of adversity.

Think and Make:

Take a moment to explore the many depictions in Baharudin’s artwork.
Discuss the two terms in the above text. How can language deepen one’s understanding about the beliefs and priorities of a community?

On a piece of paper, using pens, watercolours, fine liners, Posca pens and other various media create a landscape of human interactions that portray the following Australian expressions:

‘Hard yakka’: playing your role in hard work and community trade

‘She’ll be right’: a sense of collective reassurance and solidarity

‘Mate’-ship’: the idea of engaging with everyone on an equal and friendly level