From plan drafter to 3D lead sculpture artists

GEORGE TOWN: A local independent artist has managed to shock the art world by his ability to create a 3-dimension sculpture using pencil lead.

The 32-year-old Alor Star born Sirajudeen Kamal Batcha has been recognised by a United States based art studio in Orlando and currently, several of his sculptures are being displayed in Florida.

The artwork of this former plan drafter-turned-artist is the one and only in Malaysia and he produces a certificate of authenticity for every artwork he does, whereby it is the one and only being produced.

According to Sirajudeen, he started to learn on how to make the lead sculptures via Youtube through trial and error until he mastered it.

"Art has always been my passion and when I started to learn it October last year, it was really difficult and a high level of patience is needed.

"The longest time I have ever taken to build a lead sculpture was 212 hours which is the Masjid Terapung," he said.

So far, he has built more than 64 sculptures that were sold from RM50 to RM4,000 and today, his achievement is entered in the Malaysia Book of Record.

Sirajudden also hoped that in the future he could build more sculptures based on the culture and heritage of Malaysia.

"I want Malaysia to be known worldwide for its uniqueness and I hope one day I can achieve it," he said.

He also expressed his optimism that the government or related agencies could extend a helping hand to him or any local striving artists to succeed in the country.

"We face a lot of discrimination from local art exhibitors because we do not come from Europe and our skin is dark. Local exhibitors always prioritise those who come from overseas and do not recognise our contribution," he said.

Sirajudeen said currently 10 Malaysian graffiti artists are in Dubai since June to transform the 18b Street of the Al Karama shopping district in Dubai, and the results were spectacular.

"The Dubai government had paid for everything for them, but in Malaysia, their artwork is considered vandalism," he added. — Bernama