"I started this body of work first with a painting inspired by a picture my parents sent me when they were at the pasar buying petai. Using my interest of batik fabric and batik patterns, I created a scene of produce being bought at the market (a scene that can be chaotic) but I decided to focus on this one exchange. From there it manifested into foods, drinks, fruits and spices I reminisce about when I’m overseas. From bandung, to kaya on toast, manggis, durian, tauhu sumbat, kuih lapis and more."
Rissim Contemporary is pleased to announce our next show, Dah Makan Kah? by Azzah Sultan. The exhibition, Azzah’s third solo to date and first solo in Malaysia, presents a series of new paintings which explores the profound connection between food, identity, and emotion through a harmonious blend of oil painting and batik fabric techniques.
Nostalgia has an exquisite way of intertwining with culture, wrapping itself around every aroma, colour, and taste that defines our culinary experiences. In Azzah Sultan's exhibition, Dah Makan Kah? lies a journey marked by homesickness and a yearning for the familiar. For Azzah, the familiar (and familial) meant the comforts of home-cooked meals. In the midst of the global pandemic, separation from her family magnified the importance of these culinary ties. The stress of social-distance was accompanied by a newfound awareness of the significance of the meals that once brought solace, where the art of recreating these dishes became a conduit for self-discovery.
The phrase “Dah Makan Kah?”, which translates to “Have You Eaten?” in Malay, functions as a means to ask “How Are You?”. This cultural quirk is seen throughout Asian cultures, where your elders will ask if you’ve eaten as a sign of care and nourishment. This is partly due to the lack of emotional vulnerability in Asian households, where emotions might not always be as freely expressed, yet there’s a particular warmth when asking if someone’s eaten. It’s a deep and honest concern for a loved one’s well-being in the most fundamental way. Azzah Sultan's upbringing in a household where the kitchen was the heart of home left an indelible mark on her art. Memories were woven into the fabric of cut fruits shared throughout the day, the simmering pots that filled the air with warmth, and the conversations that flowed around the dining table. Azzah believes that food is more than sustenance—it is memory and nostalgia encapsulated in every dish.
From the bustling market to the canvas, Azzah Sultan's artistic journey began with a single image: her parents purchasing petai (stink beans) at the pasar (market). This image, brought to life with the intricate patterns of batik fabric, became a starting point for exploring the connections between food, culture, and identity. It is a snapshot of a moment brimming with significance—a reminder that even the simplest exchanges can hold profound stories. As her exploration deepened, the canvas expanded to accommodate an array of flavors - From the vibrant hues of bandung and kaya on toast to the complex textures of manggis (mangosteen) and durian, Azzah Sultan's art is a symphony of flavors and memories, a celebration of the familiar tastes that traverse time and space.
Dah Makan Kah? is a celebration of heritage, unity, and the connections nurtured through shared meals. As her third international solo exhibition and her first solo show in Malaysia, Azzahs Sultan's masterful strokes remind us that even in a world marked by distance, the flavors of home have the power to mend hearts and bridge worlds. In every canvas, in every stroke, Dah Makan Kah? encapsulates the artist's intimate journey—a journey that invites us to explore our own memories, cherish our roots, and savor the taste of kinship.
Azzah Sultan (Malaysian, b.1996) most recently had two solo shows with Trotter&Sholer (2020, 2022). She was awarded back to back residencies with Pioneer Works in Brooklyn, New York and has exhibited her work at The New School, Parsons Paris Gallery, S.A.D. Gallery, The Bushwick Collective, BUFU Studios, The Ely Center, Sotheby’s Institute, Blackfish Gallery, Chase Gallery, Terrain 12, KMAC Gallery. She has been reviewed by ArtForum, HyperAllergic, and Whitehot Magazine.
