A glazed pot with its round, curved surface generates visual interest, accompanied by rich shadows at its base. Ahmad Zakii’s still life objects are skilfully rendered in terms of form, texture, and structure. Warm, earthy brown tones were used to unify the image, drawing the viewer’s attention to the smooth and earthy material. The clean execution, spherical shapes and tactile textures in a casual setting express a feeling of modernity. After graduating with Graphic Design from the Mara Institute of Technology in 1977, Ahmad Zakii had a lucrative career in Advertising but decided to switch to Fine Art. He was an immediate hit with his cool Smokers series (1997) and his dark vignettes of urban realism. A series of significant solos abroad and at home led to his major mid-career survey exhibition called Disclosure at Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur, in 2008. His solos abroad include Presence (New York, 1999); Shadowland (Hong Kong, 2001); Sublimal (The Philippines and also Thailand, 2006); Baik Art (South Korea, 2013); in Indonesia – Borobudur, Amanjiwa, Arangbali (2004), Kota Sunyi (2007), Nafsu (2010); and in Singapore – Paintings Drawings and Prints 1991-2007 (2007), Bones & Sinews (2011), Being (2009), Primordial Dream (2005) and Distant Gamelan (1981). His Kuala Lumpur solos include Kota Sepi (VWFA, 2012), Interpreter Of Desires (Taksu, 2003) and Icons (Richard Koh FA, 2005).