Sulaiman Haji Suhaimi, Kampong Scene, Undated

Watercolour on paper
36.5 x 55 cm (visible), 60 x 80 x 3 cm (framed)
Condition: Very good

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Sulaiman Haji Suhaimi (Singaporean, 1922–2008) was a modern artist proficient in both batik and khat (Islamic calligraphy). A key figure in Singapore’s early art scene, he co-founded the Society of Malay Artists in 1949 and studied at the Sultan Idris Training College in Kedah. During the Japanese occupation, he learned oil painting from Mr Saburo at the Information Bureau, and taught him the Malay language in return.

Sulaiman’s passion for khat flourished after a visit to Jordan, inspiring him to create Islamic calligraphy works exhibited for charitable causes across various organisations and mosques in Singapore. He participated in a major exhibition at the British Council Hall alongside esteemed artists such as Liu Kang (Chinese, 1911–2004), Cheong Soo Pieng (Chinese, 1917–1983), Chen Wen Hsi (Chinese, 1906–1991), and Suri Mohyani. He and Suri Mohyani were regarded as two of the finest Malay painters of their time. Additionally, he mentored younger artists, including S. Mohdir (Singaporean, 1936–2010) and Sarkasi Said (Singaporean, 1940–2021).

Sulaiman’s works often depicted early Singapore, particularly kampong scenes and traditional houses built over water, which were home to the Malays of early Singapore. His landscapes preserve a vision of a Singapore that has since disappeared, offering a nostalgic window into the past. Though objectively a pioneer of Singaporean art and a first-generation artist, his relative obscurity compared to the well-known Nanyang painters makes his work a hidden gem within Singapore’s rich artistic heritage.