Titled Kemarau Ini (This Drought), this piece by abstract painter Awang Damit Ahmad is derived from his recent series Payarama, which the artist describes as drawing a connection between creating works of art and horticulture. The application of paint is simplified using dry and wet technique to emanate the dry spell and season’s heat. Awang Damit Ahmad gained national limelight when his work was selected for the travelling Malaysian Paintings exhibition in Pasadena, USA in 1988. He had shown early promise when his work won Minor Award in the Young Contemporary Artists competition in 1984. A graduate with a Diploma in Art and Design at the Mara Institute of Technology in 1979, he obtained his Masters from Catholic University, Washington, USA in 1990. He won Second Prize in the Malaysia Bank Association art competition in 1988. In 1992, a work from his iconic Essence Of Culture series titled Farmer’s Song clinched the Painting Prize at the coveted Third Salon Malaysia. He also received Honourable Mention at the 1994 and 1995 Philip Morris Malaysia Art Awards. His most recent solo exhibition titled Dari Iraga ke Payarama was held at Segaris Art Centre, Kuala Lumpur in December 2014.