Artist spends over 200 hours on mural to pay tribute to Sudirman
On Feb 22, 1992, at the young age of 37, iconic pop singer Datuk Sudirman Arshad passed away.
Dubbed by many as the poster boy for the Malaysian pop scene in the 80s, Sudirman left some big shoes to fill - something that has yet to be accomplished, according to die-hard fans of his music.
This is a sentiment shared by mural artist Syamsul Haffiz Addenno, who hails from Pekan, Pahang.
Syamsul, who turns 30 this year, remembers how Sudirman’s songs would frequently play on the radio when he was growing up. His mother, who was also a huge fan of the singer, used to tune in to Nasional FM just to listen to Sudirman’s songs on air.
For the artist, there was nothing that Sudirman couldn’t do, “I respect him because he was more than just a singer. He was an actor, a cartoonist, a journalist, and even a lawyer! He was the sort of person that would easily gain respect."
When the opportunity to pay tribute to the king of 80s Malaysian pop came knocking on his door in the form of a project titled Chow Kit Art Sanctuary, Syamsul knew it was time to put himself to work.
The project was organised by Adzarul Buqary and supported by the Cultural Economy Development Agency (CENDANA), MyCreative Ventures, and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
The main objective for the mural to be painted was to breathe new life to Chow Kit road.
The mural, which took 200 hours over the course of two months to complete, is now on display for all to see.
“It felt extra special to paint the mural there as that was where the late Sudirman held his legendary concert in 1986,” he said.
Over 100,000 Malaysians came from across the country and gathered in the open space to witness the beauty of Sudirman’s music on April 14 that year.
It was a sight to see back then, when Sudirman held one of the biggest street concerts to have ever been held in the heart of KL.
The show opened with the singer paying homage in the form of the song “Chow Kit Road”, to which he sang his heart out as he was lowered onto the stage.
“Just the idea that I would be able to paint my idol’s face on a large surface made me take up the offer with no hesitation.
The artist shared with Sinar Daily that the two biggest challenges when painting the mural were the weather and time constraints.
To make it as a creative in Malaysia, juggling multiple projects and jobs are second nature, he said.
“It is to be expected that you cannot make a living by focusing on one project at a time, no matter how big or small it is,” he explained.
Driving from one state to another to get several projects completed before their respective deadlines, coupled with the country’s tropical climate and unpredictable, heavy downpours, it was a miracle the mural came out a masterpiece.
According to Syamsul, this was the most memorable experience throughout his entire journey as a mural artist as it was a personal choice as well as the very first large-sized mural he had ever done solo.
Like any other artist, he hopes to convey his feelings through his art, and wishes for nothing more than for it to be well-received by passersby.
“Sudirman brings me back to my childhood, so naturally I opted for a sepia colour scheme that brings with it a sense of nostalgia,” said Syamsul.
He expressed that Sudirman left his mark on the local music scene, describing him as “evergreen”.
“For me, he is an all-rounder, which makes him a charismatic role model. He will be remembered, and this mural is my way of contributing to his legacy,” he said.
Towards the end of 1991, legendary pop singer Sudirman fell ill. The cause of his death was confirmed to have been due to severe pneumonia.
His music, however, will continue to live on, for it unites Malaysians from all backgrounds.
