Rashid Salleh, Homage to Michaelangelo David, Undated

Acrylic on canvas
180 x 120 cm
Condition:  Very good, with varnish yellowing along the perimeter and minor surface accretion accumulated.

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This artwork is inspired by the timelessness of the Renaissance, celebrating the enduring connection between tradition and innovation. Rooted in the belief that "without the old, there can be no new," it honours the process of reinvention and evolution that defines art and life alike. From food and literature to culture, the artwork reflects the seamless interplay between past and present. The artist invites viewers to contemplate how tradition serves as a foundation for innovation, continuously shaping and transforming the world around us.

Rashid Salleh is a Singaporean visual artist of Javanese and Indian heritage. Raised in a traditional Javanese household, he grew up with the belief that culture is the foundation of one’s identity. His artistic journey began with an early fascination for the eccentricities of Salvador Dali and the dramatic realism of Caravaggio, whose works he encountered in a local library during his youth.

Rashid’s art explores the complexities of the human condition, balancing juxtapositions of the physical and metaphysical, as well as the traditional and the modern. Working primarily with acrylics and, more recently, batik—a fabric deeply rooted in Javanese culture—he merges cultural heritage with contemporary innovation. His works reflect a passionate drive to break away from tradition while reinterpreting its ideals in a fresh and dynamic modern context