KUALA LUMPUR: Forty years after penning the memorable and unique poem Tak Tun, Abdul Ghafar Ibrahim, fondly known as Agi, has emerged to reintroduce his masterpiece to a new generation of Malaysians.
Taktak Tak Tun Taktak Tak Tun Taktak Tak Tun
Taktak Tak Tun Taktak Tak Tun Taktak Tak Tun
Tak
TunTak Tun
Taktak Tak Tun
Taktak Tak Tun
tak
tun
taktak tuntun
(excerpt of the poem Tak Tun)
This time, however, he has visualised Tak Tun via another medium, on 78 pieces of canvas.
Tak Tun, the poem he crafted back in 1974, was unique as it used only two syllables. Ghafar said it was inspired by the beat of the rebana (Malay tambourine), which accompanied the martial art pencak silat.
“This rhythm is very near and dear to me as I remember the familiar beat growing up as a small boy in my village in Kampung Sesapan Batu Minang-kabau in Beranang, Selangor,” said Ghafar, 76.
Ghafar, a giant in the Malaysian arts scene, was a teacher and a literature researcher for Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka before being recognised for his literary and artistic prowess.
He was also awarded the Malaysian Poets Award 2018 by the Malaysian Poets Association.
He was the first Malaysian to be a guest writer at the International Writing Programme, School of Letters at the University of Iowa in Iowa, the United States, in 1974. He obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, in 1976, and a Bachelor of Arts at the Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois, in 1977.
Ghafar, who writes poetry, drama, sketches, interviews and essays, is also a painter.
On his famous poem, he said the visual language style of Tak Tun is created to “vibrate, flutter, slap, shout, whisper, clasp, flutter, lie down, stand and run” through the use of codes and symbols.
“My masterpiece has a tribal-pop style with a mix of pop and tribal visuals.
“That’s what I gave birth to in my media. That’s what my art looks like,” he said.
Ghafar’s passion for art is evident. He cites Spanish master Pablo Picasso as his role model.
The father of three and grandfather of seven said he intended to keep going for as long as possible in art and poetry.
“Picasso started painting at the age of 18 and didn’t stop until 93. This is my passion and I will get up every morning, have my breakfast and start painting in my porch as long as God gives me the strength and inspiration to do so.
“Sometimes I work on 10 paintings in one go. I eat, sleep and live my work, be it writing poetry or putting myself on a canvas.
“I’m very appreciative of my wife and do seek opinions from my family members. But in the end, I go with my instinct and create as I’m led.”
His pieces are on display at his solo exhibition, titled Poemscape Tak Tun, organised by the Faculty of Visual Communication Design and the National Arts, Culture and Heritage Academy (Aswara).
The exhibition ends tomorrow at Aswara Gallery here.
The exhibition is being held in conjunction with Aswara’s 25th silver jubilee celebration, to celebrate the country’s visual arts community in line with its commitment to strengthening the arts, culture and national heritage.
