profile
Jalaini Abu Hassan or "Jai" (b. 1963, Selangor) took his BA in Fine art at MARA, Institute of Technology in 1985, was awarded a Malaysian Federal Scholarship to the UK, where he gained his MA from London’s Slade School of Art. In 1994 he then went on to take his MFA at New York’s Pratt Institute, graduating in 1994.On the one hand he is a contemporary artist with a rare commitment to drawing and painting, and the potential of its raw materials, constantly pushing the formal and technical possibilities of both traditional and experimental media. On the other, he works from a particular, personal experience – real as well as imagined, felt in the immediate present as well as remembered. His works make up a narrative alive with elements of traditional Malay and modern global culture, the natural and man-made environment, kampung and city life, the melting pot that is the Malaysian experience. Jai has exhibited in Malaysia, Singapore, the USA, the UK and also in Spain and Iraq.

news
At the end of May we launched our first artist's monograph, Jalak: Jalaini Abu Hassan, sponsored by Plenitude Berhad. This essential review of the artist's work and process is available in three different hard covers, and is currently available at our gallery and selected bookshops. Part of the proceeds from the sale of Jalak will go to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.

Please contact daniel@vwfa.net for details.

exhibition links

2005	Wet Paint, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur  click here »
2004	Mantera, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur  click here »
For available print publications on this artist’s work, please visit our resource room click here »

biography

Born 1963, Selangor
EDUCATION
1994	MFA, Pratt Institute, New York
1988	MA, The Slade School of Fine Art, University College of London
1985	BA (Fine Art) MARA Institute of Technology, Shah Alam, Selangor
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2006	Berlacu Berdepa, Berlagu Berupa,  Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur
2005	Wet Paint, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur
2004	Mantera, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur
2003	Work In Progress, Gallerie Taksu, Jakarta
2002	Linear Narratives, Gallerie Taksu, Kuala Lumpur
2001	Jai, Gallerie Taksu, Kuala Lumpur
	Rhythmic Line, in collaboration with Dida the dancer, Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2000	Project Room, Barbara Greene Fine Art, New York, USA
	Jai, Sunjin Gallery, Singapore
1999	Jai – Drawing With the Mind’s Eye, National Art Gallery, Malaysia
	Solo Exhibition, Gallery Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1998	Refound Object, Gallery Taksu, Kuala Lumpur
1996	LIFEFORM, Gallery Taksu, Kuala Lumpur
1995	Drawing, Gallery KSSR, ITM, Shah Alam
1994	Drawing, New Gallery. Brooklyn, New York
1988	Solo Exhibition, Pearson Building, UCL, London
1987	Solo Drawing Exhibition, Malaysia Hall, London, UK.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2007	Headlights, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur
2005	Rado & Art, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
	Spirit of Wood and other Treasures, Gallery Taksu, Kuala Lumpur
2004	Art Singapore 2004, Suntec City and Convention Centre, Singapore
2003	Grand Opening, Gallery Taksu, Jakarta, Indonesia
	Art +/- 1000, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2002	Art Singapore 2002, Suntec City and Convention Centre, Singapore
	Identity, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
	Gerak Rasa, 21 UiTM Contemporary Artist, Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
	Painted, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2001	Art Singapore 2001, Suntec City and Convention Centre, Singapore
	Headlights, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2000	12 ASEAN Artists, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
	Arang, Gallery Taksu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1999	Malaysian Perspectives, Hot Bath Gallery, Bath, UK
1998	Gallery Casa Cantabria, Madrid, Spain Group International Artist Exhibition, Gallery Taksu, Kuala Lumpur
	A Day In A Life Drawing, Artist’s Space, Concorde Hotel, Shah Alam, Malaysia Rupa Malaysia, London.
1997	Two Men Show with Joe Flemming, Angell Gallery, Toronto, Canada
	Two Men Show, Artist Colony, Kuala Lumpur
	The 8th Asian International Art Biennale, Dhaka
	ART to HEART, Gallery Petronas, Kuala Lumpur
	Malaysian Drawing Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
1996	Expressi Nusantara, University Malaya, Malaysia
1994	Drawing, New Gallery. Brooklyn, New York
1993	4th Asian International Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
1992	Baghdad International Art Festival, Iraq Travelling Exhibition, Malaysia – Indonesia. Gallery Citra, Kuala Lumpur
1989	Artist Call, GaleriWan, Kuala Lumpur
1985	Young Contemporaries Competition 85', National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
AWARDS
2005	Rado Switzerland Commission Award
1994	1st Prize. Drawing. Murray Hill Art Competition, New York City.
1992	Awarded MARA scholarship to study art in the United States.
1991	1st Prize. Gold Award. Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Art Competition. Malaysia.
1985	1st Prize. Major Award. Malaysian Comtemporary Artist.
	Travel Grant. ASEAN Youth Painting Workshop/Exhibition, Manila, Philippines.
	Awarded Malaysian Federal Scholarship to study art in the United Kingdom.
1981	Expo Art Competition. Malaysia.
PUBLICATIONS
2004	3 Kontemporari Muda, exhibition essay to 3 Young Contemporary: Lau Mun Leng, Phuan Thai Meng, Saiful Razman, Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1999	Jai: Drawing with the Mind’s Eye, artist monograph jointly published by Rusli Hashim Fine Art & Australia Art Form, Melbourne, Australia
1996	Drawing Extended: Malaysian Drawing Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
COLLECTION
Malaysia
Esso Malaysia Petronas Gallery Petronas Concert Hall Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Corporation Goman Resort Taksu Gallery A.P Gallery National Art Gallery USM Gallery, Penang The Ascott KL Bank Negara Malaysia
Cultural Centre of the Philippines, Philippines
Gallery Casa Cantabria, Madrid, Spain
Angell Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Ginko Gallery, New York, USA
Barbara Greene Fine Art, USA
Rado Switzerland, Switzerland
Gernot Ringling, Germany
Bess, Germany