MOHD NOR SIRAJ
THE VANISH OF DONKEY’S EARS, 2018
雾绕沙巴驴耳峰
Signed and dated 'SMNOR 18' & 'S. MOHD NOR' (lower right)
Acrylic on canvas, framed
40 cm x 29 cm
THE VANISH OF DONKEY’S EARS, 2018 雾绕沙巴驴耳峰 | MOHD NOR SIRAJ
A painting captures a serene morning at Donkey's Ear Peak, Mount Kinabalu, Sabah. The peak’s distinctive formation is softly veiled in mist, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The artist’s use of turquoise blue enhances the ethereal quality, blending the rugged silhouette with the delicate mist to evoke a timeless moment in nature.
Haji Mohd Nor bin Haji Siraj, also known as 'SMNOR,' was born in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan. He first gained recognition in 1963 by winning 2nd prize in the National Language Month poster competition while still in high school. In 1965, he participated in a national art exhibition celebrating the anniversary of Hospital Besar, Kuala Lumpur, and was chosen to design the central page for Dewan Bahasa magazine’s Artis Bulan column. He earned a Diploma in Visual Arts from Akademi Seni Rupa Medan in Sumatra, Indonesia.
In 2018, he joined the 'Golden Brush III' exhibition at Younie Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, celebrating local artists over 60, officiated by Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat. A member of the Negeri Sembilan Art Society and Persatuan Pelukis Negeri Sembilan, SMNOR often painted plein air with the watercolour group Gangsta Watekala, alongside artists like Azmannor. He passed away in 2021 at Galeri Kayu Ara Ampang Tinggi in his hometown of Kuala Pilah.
