A Comparative Study of the Appreciation of Local Malaysian Culture in the Artworks of Ilse Noor and Tina Rimmer

Abstract

Ilse Noor and Tina Rimmer are two well-known individuals in the list of female artists in Malaysia although both were foreigners. Tina Rimmer was a British who resided in Sabah since 1949, while Ilse Noor was a German national who is living in the Klang Valley since 1974. Tina was talented and skilled in figurative drawing despite not having a formal education in fine arts. She was a familiar face among art practitioners in Sabah since the 1950s till today. On the other hand, Ilse pursued graphic arts in the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. Although both artists were from foreign lands, they produced artworks that depicted local Malaysian culture and life. They may have different observation methods, perceptions, compositions, and self-expressions, but through the medium of fine arts, both exhibited a unique style in appreciating and instilling the local culture of the society that they lived in. In this study, the what, how, and why are the research questions that required answers with respect to the subjects, forms, and content of selected artworks from both artists. Here, a comparative study using the content analysis method based on the art critique theory and organic unity model is applied as the research methodology. The findings of the study are hoped to contribute towards nurturing a love for the local culture among Malaysian societies as what have been upheld by these two female artists. In addition, the finding of the study is also viewed as an appreciation towards Malaysian female art creators who unfortunately have not been adequately promoted in the local art scene.

This paper was sponsored by Universiti Teknologi MARA (RMI, UiTM).