Mugshot photo and short interview by The Sun Daily: Given the interest that he has displayed for art ever since he was a child, no one was surprised that Aleff, grew up to be an artist. Almost always seen with a smile on his face, he is an optimist known for being quiet, but sociable. I met him in his studio atop two flights of stairs, on the third floor of an unmarked building in Kuala Lumpur. All around us lay his artwork, both completed works and those in progress. The space is undeniably home to an artist – and a passionate one at that. He sat down on the floor, popped open a can of industrial paint, grabbed a paintbrush, continued his work, and we started talking.
How did you know you wanted to take up fine arts? “My dad used to tell me that when I was small, he would buy colouring book and a box of Staedtler Luna colour pencils. “When he went to work, I would start colouring. All in one day. At the end of the day, I would go to him and say: ‘Dad, I finished. Can I have another?’ “From there, I realised that my interest [in art] was in my blood. It started with small things. “My artistic side came from my mother. She’s not an artist, but she used to sew clothes and do embroidery. From there, I think the appreciation for art [transferred] to me. “The perfectionism comes from my father’s side. My dad is a mechanic, and to be a good mechanic, you must pay attention to detail. So I think it’s the combination of both [traits] that makes me the artist I am today.” Did you study fine arts? “Yes. I have a diploma and degree in fine arts from UiTM Seri Iskandar, Perak. I studied fine arts for five years. For my degree, I majored in painting and minored in graphic design. “So that’s why you see my work has more illustrative concepts and ideas. Most of my concepts play with colours and composition. “Some pieces look like runners (the frame) from a plastic model kit. A lot of them are inspired by toys. When you insert random shapes and geometric shapes, it becomes more interesting.” What was your first significant achievement? “My friend was studying in Australia. At the time, I was already busy doing art. He saw one of my art pieces on Facebook.“ Text by: Azizul R.I
