Kota Kinabalu: Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Azman Hashim Gallery director, Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Puad Bebit, said a painting’s commercial success depends not only on artistic skill but also on storytelling, quality materials and strong connections.
“Paintings must have stories and touch the emotions of viewers. That is one way to attract a buyer,” he told young artists at the Sabah Art Gallery’s recent Eksplorasi Karya Agung exhibition.
Puad, who is also Vice President of the Sabah Visual Art Association, said true artistry lies in observation rather than raw talent. A painter studies a subject in depth rather than simply looking at it.
He illustrated this with the example of a painting showing an elderly person sitting alone with a cup of coffee and a cat. While some may see only a quiet scene, a sensitive artist understands deeper themes such as love and companionship.
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