Biography
ZUL ALBANI

Statements from Saatchi Gallery, London, UK and 
Agora Gallery, New York, USA:

ÒI am very happy to see your work on the gallery site. I am thrilled that the standard is so high from such a variety of artists and hope it will be interesting to gallery owners, exhibition curators and collectors to see such driverse work, well done and all the best.Ó 
Charles Saatchi, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK.

ÒI am pleased to inform you that your work qualifies for Agora Gallery representation.  Your work: Resolute in mood and milieu, I feel that your paintings will resonate well in New York and with our international audience.Ó
Angela Di Bello, Agora Gallery, New York, USA.

ZUL ALBANI Biography

began painting seriously from1995, while still working as Creative Designer at an advertising agency in Kuala Lumpur. I have always been interested in art. Even at a young age I knew that my career would involve art. I got my degree in Graphic Design and during college I acquired many techniques and stlyes during numerous 
fine art classes. 

After years of hardworking and going through a few stages of developments, experiences and obsevation, my works has progressed through strokes, colours and techniques. My participation in the arts have been on display locally and at the international level. 

Born in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia (May, 1965). I learned my artworks through APS Art Class (Angkatan Pelukis SeMalaysia), the breeding 
of many of MalaysiaÕs finest artists.  

When looking at my contemporary abstract art, I would like the viewers to be stirred by the movement of ideas in his unconscious mind even as they thinks they are looking at colours, and strokes.ÕÕ 
I want people to feel my paintings. 

I donÕt have a clear objective before painting. The meaning of each 
of my paintings is not immediately apparent. The ultimate reason for my art comes from the sudden urge I have. 

When I first begin a painting. I plan all aspects of the artwork in 
my mind. After that my mind contains no words only the completed work. And while I work, I like to play loud music, which energizes me. I believe that a good painting cannot be entirely expressed by word. Remember good art is not what it looks like, but what it does to us. Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.

When you communicate with canvases year after year, things 
grow inside the paintings. Each colour and each stroke are the soul, through your eyes. Hence, I think what to paint is not important - what is important is how to paint.

Art Statements

My artwork is abstract and expressive which means that I do not prepare the framework or make elaborate preparations before I start. Each art piece usually develops and takes its form while I am in the process of painting on the canvas and most are created spontaneously going with the flow of my feelings, my mood and the movements of my hand. 

My artwork starts with many layers using different types of brushes and even the brush of the knife follows my feelings. I try to cover the whole canvas in the first layer. The following layer I will begin to incorporate the composition, structure, contrast, space and balance. I use 100 per cent acrylic medium on canvas. 

Even though this medium dries easily, it produces a piece of work that meets my requirements and I am usually very happy with the output. Each art piece usually takes two to three days.  After each art piece is completed, I will try and forget my previous work and when I start on a new piece of work I will start afresh with new ideas, vision and inspiration. Changes will take place after each layer of work is formed on the canvas. I take about 1 month to complete each painting. 

When my painting is 100 per cent completed, I will be very satisfied that my aim is achieved. If I want to describe my work as an artist, it is like the laying of each brick to build a building and throughout the process 
I will constantly be wondering where will I place the next brick and the final brick. As an artist I usually follow my heart. Most of my work do not have a title because I feel that I will not be 
able to translate the true meaning in my paintings. In my eyes they are Abstract and they are work which is 
the result of balance, structure, colour composition, contrast and mood. Art enthusiasts and those who appreciate art can evaluate and interpret them according to their whims and fencies. 

When looking at Abstract art, especially non-objective art, the viewer must be able to comprehead the works of art spiritually. I am concerned with the hidden themes enacted in our lives. Think of abstract art, as music without words.You respond to music emotionally and you donÕt need words, just as you donÕt need specific image in painting. 

Painting for me is to do with responding to my inner and outer life; a contemplative activity, drawing connections between what is seen and unseen. Marks and colour are often used intuitively to express my experience in live. Form appear as a definite presence as well as in my cases a clue or symbol of something that is otherwise hidden or intangible. For the physical ÒobjectiveÓ world is part of the many kind of influences that help shape the inner Ò invisibleÓ life. 

ÒWhen looking at my contemporary abstract art, I would like the viewers to be stirred by the movement of ideas in his unconscious mind even as he thinks he is looking at colours, strokes, shapes and texturesÓ.  

ZUL ALBANI 

Art Education

2004 		- to date Working exclusively as an artist
1994 		On job training Desenta Gallery Bandung Indonesia 			(Mahmud Buchari)  
1991 		On job training ITB Bandung  Indonesia 
1989 		EL ART Centre Studio Selangor (Apayee and Maimun)
1987		School of Hotel & Catering UITM Shah Alam
1985 		APS Angkatan Pelukis SeMalaysia Kg Pandan 
		Kuala Lumpur (Amron Omar)
		

Selected group Exhibitions

2009 		Selected Artist for The Abraaj Capital Art Prize 2010 
		in Art Dubai 2009, Finalis ÒPertandingan Seni Lukis 			Peringkat Kebangsaan Malaysia - Anugerah Seni 
		MRCB Kuala Lumpur 2008Ó
2008 		Earth And Sky Series Miro Fine Art Studio kajang 			Open Art Show Shah Alam Gallery Selangor
		The Framing Concept & Gallery Damansara
2007 		Sambutan 50 Tahun KeMerdekaan Malaysia 
		National Art Gallery Kuala Lumpur
		From Inside Me series Miro Gallery Selangor
		Kajang Art Group National Library Kajang 
2006 		Open Art Show Shah Alam Gallery Selangor
2005 		Kajang Art Group National Library BBB Selangor
		Open Art Show Shah Alam Gallery Selangor
2004 		Colour Recipe ArtTalk Gallery Bangsar Kuala Lumpur			Kalimah Group with Perdasama PWTC Kuala Lumpur
2003 		Colours and Strokes Balai Berita NSTP Kuala Lumpur
2002	 	Kalimah Group with Perdasama PWTC Kuala Lumpur
2001 		Batik Malaysia ArtTalk Gallery Bangsar Kuala Lumpur
2000 		Islamic Art Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Bangi
1999 		Philip Morris Exhibition National Art Gallery Kuala Lumpur
1998 		Cartoons Exhibition Japanese Culture Centre Kuala Lumpur
1997 		Malaysia Cartoons Exh. National Art Gallery Kuala Lumpur
1996 		Malaysia Cartoons Exhibition JCC Kuala Lumpur
1995 		Desenta Gallery Bandung Indonesia

Art Activity

2007 		Kem Pelukis 50 Tahun KeMerdekaan Malaysia with KeKKWa 
		and National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
2006 		Laman Seni Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan
2005 		Laman Seni Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan
		Laman Seni Kuala Lumpur National Art Gallery Kuala Lumpur
2004 		Laman Seni Kuala Lumpur National Art Gallery Kuala Lumpur

COMMISSIONS/PROJECT

2005 		Resorts and Hotels in Terengganu
2006 		Universiti Pertanian Malaysia
2007 		Apartments and Hotels in Kuala Lumpur
2008 		Monorail Malaysia Berhad
		Resorts and Hotels in Singapore

COMMISION WORKS

Zul Albani provides commisioned abstract paintings for individuals, company, interior designers, hotel and resort.


Private Collections in Japan, UK, USA, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippine, Indonesia and Australia