Othman Borhan in private collection (Part 1)

Othman Borhan, Acrylic, Untitled, 120 x150 cm, 1989. Private collection, Kuching, Sarawak.

After I finished blogging on " Tribute to Othman Borhan" in December 2007, I decided to hunt around in Kuching for a few more of his works. Guess what have I found?

Othman Borhan, Water colour, Untitled, 60x80 cm, 1989, Private collection, Kuching, Sarawak.

The above paintings are kept by the immediate family of Othman Borhan, presently residing at Kampung Gersik, Kuching, Sarawak.

Othman Borhan in private collection (Part 2)

Untitled, 47.5 x 35.5 cm, acrylic on thick watercolour paper, family collection

Photo taken on 4 June,1986.

On 3rd February, 2017 I had a rare opportunity to stumble upon three original artworks by Othman Borhan which are kept by his brother in Kuching.  These are late finds in my catalogue of paintings done by Othman Borhan.  Firstly, there is an untitled painting done in acrylic shown above.  Two other small paintings shown below were done using acrylic on thick board paper and also untitled. These two paintings were probably done in a pair and executed in 1991 as faintly indicated at the right hand corner of one of the small pieces.

Untitled, Acrylic on board paper, 18 x 22 cm, 1991

Untitled, Acrylic on board paper, 18 x 22 cm, 1991

Othman Borhan in private collection (Part 3)

Othman Borhan, Untitled, Watercolour on paper, 28x32 cm, 1991, Private collection

A recent discovery of three paintings done by Othman Borhan has raised many interest on his works.  The above watercolour painting is yet another addition to his paintings in private collection.  For more stories about his artworks please follow this link ....>>>>Othman Borhan was a contemporary of mine in the late 60's when we took art classes from a master artist, Mr. Voong at Tanjong Lobang College, Miri. I have great respect for him as an artist and did an extensive research and search for his catalogue of paintings. Yesterday I stumbled upon three more originals done by him kept in private collection. Follow these links to discover Othman's artistry....>>>http://beingmy3.blogspot.my/search/label/Othman%20Borhan
and more tribute to him here...>>>>http://beingmy2.blogspot.my/search/label/Othman%20Borhan

A Tribute to Othman Borhan ( Part VI )

Othman's Art of the Nineties
The exposure Othman had during the International art Exhibition and Workshop, held at Kuching from 8-17 September 1989 was crucial in developing him as a renowned and credible Kuching Malay watercolourist of the early 1990's.

In the early 90's he took a notable interest in studying nature close up and personal. His treatment to landscapes, natural objects and water retains a transparency and dreamlike quality uniquely in semi- abstract expressionistic stlye.

One style that he adopted from the International Art Exhibition experience was that of Yusuf Ghani's colourful, free flowing lines and strokes and figures in perpetual motion or movement. Yusuf Ghani was one of the teachers during the International Art Exhibition and Workshop.

This move to semi-abstract and abstract expressionism was slowly making a mark on the Kuching art scene and his works were quickly taken up by corporate sponsors and individuals.

Here we see Othman at his best. There seemed to be much promise for him in the world of art to go international if only not to his early demise.

Othman Borhan, Water colour and Ink, Bako Tide Pools , 78 cm x 78 cm , 1991.

Othman Borhan, Water colour, Exodus Series No.4/89. circa '89.

Othman Borhan, Water colour and Ink , Matang Shallows, 78cm x 118 cm, 1991.

Othman Borhan, Water colour, Renderings of Tropical Terrain in Green, 30 cm x 50 cm, 1990.

Othman Borhan as Secretary and Coordinator of International Art Exhibition and Workshop held at Kuching , 8 - 17 September , 1989.

A Tribute to Othman Borhan ( Part V )

Abstract Water colours of the 90's


Othman Borhan, Water colour , Bluescape with Red Streaks, 25x30 cm, 1990.
Unframed and in Private collection.

Othman Borhan, Water colour, Rendering of Tropical Terrain in Green, 35x 50 cm, 1990
Unframed and in Private collection

A Tribute to Othman Borhan (Part IV)

Bold Experiments in Water colour of the late 80's
Throughout the eighties, Othman Borhan's water colours were very 'scholarly', true to form and style of 'western colour' techniques.
However, towards the late 1980's he began to undertake more bold strokes, wide washes and sublime colour schemes to 'plein air' water colour painting.
These studies and experiments were to become later a harbinger to highly successful semi-abstract water colour and acrylic paintings of the early 1990's.

Othman Borhan, water colour, Seaside with two boats. 30x40 cm, circa Sept.'89
Unframed and in Private collection.

Othman Borhan, water colour. Damai Resort from South China Sea. 30x40 cm, 11 Sept '89.

Unframed and in Private collection.

Othman Borhan, water colour, Landscape. 30x40 cm, 2 Sept'89.

Unframed and in Private collection.

A Tribute to Othman Borhan (Part 111)

Well known Malay water colourist
In the Kuching art scene of the late 80's, Othman Borhan stood out as probably the only well known Kuching born Malay artist who made it good at the water colour medium.

Artists in Sarawak in the 80's were conveniently grouped under the Sarawak Artist Society of which almost all its participating members were artists in and around Kuching town. The society which was comprised of artists from various ethnic origins, held regular exhibitions through out the 80's. But these exhibitions were largely composed of works of the 'heavy weight' artists of the art fraternity in Kuching then of which the Chinese group was more active and predominating.

Towards the later part of the 80's , Othman's watercolours showed intense subjectivity especially in capturing the 'ambience' or 'mood of the place'. He achieved this by employing ' atmospheric effects' . His technique and style showed a departure from the majority of Chinese water colourists who tended to optimise the use of the Chinese brush. His use of 'western' brushes found good effect in his paintings , thus providing a 'modernising' influence on water clour technique or style at that period.

In terms of colour, there is lesser use of black colour ( as in Chinese ink black) in highlighting figures or outlines or economical strokes so typical of Chinese water colour painting. His was a very western use of colour and feel.




Othman Borhan, water colour on paper, 34x50 cm, circa 1988, Rural Sarawak
( Unframed and in Private collection)

Othman Borhan, water colour on paper,26x35 cm, 1988, Kampung.( Unframed and in Private collection)

Othman Borhan, water colour on paper, 40x35 cm, 1987, Farm House.

( Unframed and in Private collection )

A Tribute to Othman Borhan (Part 11)

Escape to Rural Sarawak
Through out the early '80's till mid 80's , Othman worked as a car salesman and this job required him to travel frequently outside Kuching. His travels outside Kuching must have been instrumental in giving inspirations to depict the beauty of Sarawak country side.

Executed mainly in watercolours, he did a series of paintings on rural landscapes. Working under pressure and competition as a car salesman in fast paced Kuching,and raising a family, I find that in his paintings he sought solace and escape in the serenity and quietness of rural Sarawak.
Othman Borhan, Water colour on paper, 27 cm x 32 cm, 1986, Sarawak Street Scene.
(Unframed and in private collection)


Othman Borhan, Watercolour on paper, 27 cm x 32 cm,1986, Lonesome Red,( Unframed and in private collection)

A Tribute to Othman Borhan (Part 1 )

An Introduction
This tribute will be done in a series starting with this posting . Othman Borhan was a contemporary of mine while studying art at Tanjong Lobang College, Miri in the late 1960's.

In 1969 he was awarded the Best Art Student while in upper six form. In the same year , he won first place in an Art competition held at Gymkana Club Miri.

His reputation as an artist grew when he returned to Kuching after finishing his sixth form, especially towards the late 1980's, while at the same time kept busy and on the move by his business career. His artistic standing in Kuching climaxed in the early 1990's'.
It is fitting that his image was shown in a news report about an exhibition of top Sarawak artists in 1991. This exhibition was made possible due to the patronage of one of Bintulu's richest company, the MLNG Sdn Bhd. In the exhibition his 'rockscapes series'and 'dreamscape series' were a clear indication of the impact of the exposure to various international artists in a week long art exhibition and workshop held at Kuching Civic Centre in 1989. His clear direction and newfound fusion in transparency and semi abstract painting was surely an indication of better things to come.



A picture of his "Rockscape Series" entitled 'the matang shallows', ink and water colour, 118 cm x 78 cm , done in 1991. This painting was exhibited at the ' Beauty of Sarawak ' painting exhibition sponsored by MLNG Sdn Bhd, 18-22May. 1991 at Dewan Tun Abdul Razak, Kuching.

A New Straits Times cutting of the 'Beauty of Sarawak' event, highlighting four of the exhibitors, Othman included.

Othman Borhan, in front of his award winning batik painting held during an Art Competition show in Miri during his younger days at Tanjong Lobang College.

Front cover of Art Exhibition booklet, of eight top Sarawakian artists held at Dewan Tun Abdul Razak, Kuching, Sarawak. Sponsored by MLNG Sdn Bhd.

In 1989, Othman was instrumental in organising an international level Art Exhibition and Workshop , organised jointly by SEDC, Sarawak Artist Society and Art Affairs Singapore at Kuching Civic Centre. This workshop exposed him to new trends in art, especially abstract and semi- abstract and these impacted him in his later works, done in early 1990's.

An example of a very early work. Done in water colour, 35 cm x 30 cm , unframed and entitled " Riverine Kampung Serenity",1986.( Private collection)