Johor Bahru Period

Origin and Beginning: Formative Years in Johor Bahru (‘50s – early ‘60s)

Three significant factors were attributed in shaping Sulaiman’s artistic upbringing: i) the role of his immediate family members who nurtured and unfolded his creative growth – his uncle, mother and elder siblings; ii) the informal art teaching both at primary and secondary schoolings at Bukit Zahrah and the English College, especially when he was guided by an art teacher, Mr. Lim Teck Siang; iii) Peer group artist friends who were vibrant companions with much artistic support and motivations in art.

Artistic Upbringing

Sulaiman Esa was born in 1941 and is the youngest among 10 siblings to parents of, Hj. Esa Abdullah and mother, Hajah Aishah Ismail. He was introduced to the concept of drawing at the tender age of 5 when watching his mother’s vivid and swift impressions of floral designs to decorate egg baskets as wedding gifts. He was also inspired by his elder sibling whom were, his elder brothers Abdullah, Ahmad and sister, Hamidah. They both were mentors and a source of inspirations as they were very skillful in drawing, figurative art, poster design and costume designs and had won numerous times in poster design competitions (Lovell, 2004).

Also, his uncle Haji Rahmat Ismail was another source of inspiration. He was a noted water colourist among family members and in Johor Bahru (JB) then. Sulaiman further developed the skill in water colour painting and learning to construct the grid system. During the weekends, he often accompanied his uncle for open-air painting of significant landscapes around JB. This gave him the opportunity to obtain direct hands-on knowledge in the handling watercolour technique from an established artist.

School Days at Bukit Zahrah and Johor Bahru English College

He went to Bukit Zahrah to receive his primary education (similar school as the one the late Syed Ahmad Jamal went) and had won several art competitions organized at state level. Due to his high academic achievement he was then offered a place to study in Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK), dubbed as ‘the Eaton of Malaya’ then, but for family reasons, he had to decline the offer. Later in 1953, he went to study at JB English College as his elder siblings did.  A year later he won the first prize in a National Art Competition organized by Milo. He soon became popular after winning the competition.

Peer Group Influence

Sulaiman was also inspired by his peer group friends who were inspired by the Impressionist approach to artistic creativity, where they practiced open-air techniques from nature. His artist friends are, Yahya Hassan, Sanip Lasman, Ahmad Mohamad and Yusof Sarman. They formed a group of self-taught artists and together they painted important landmarks around the JB town.  Sulaiman’s most significant artworks then were; Government Building II, Istana Garden I and View of Ayer Molek II.

Regimented Self-taught Study in Art

On completion of his Senior Cambridge, Sulaiman embarked on a self-taught study for the next two years sharpening his knowledge on visual perception and technical skills in figurative drawings, portraits and still life. His constant source of inspiration was renowned European masters; Monet, Pissarro, Sisley, Degas, Vincent Van Gogh, etc. He continued to refine his sensitivity in sensibilities towards colours. Over the two-year period, he had imprinted a number of works that were later ‘revisited’ and transformed into different context and dimensions. Thanks to Mr. Lim Teck Siang, his art teacher’s unwavering support and guidance, Sulaiman then applied for the JB scholarship. He was offered the much-coveted Johore State scholarship against all odds. Perhaps the huge amount of work submitted during the interview brought him success. To be able to study art in London in the sixties for a village boy, was unthinkable. To him it was: “a miracle from God!” (Sanusi, Ahmad, 2010)