Even for farmers and fishermen, working amidst natural surroundings could make them forget of the beauty and bounty around them. Estetika Timur series marks a time bridge of a greater balance and structure derived from the inner senses and personal experiences. Since the beginning of his artistic practice, Awang Damit’s canvases have evolved around themes of nature, human values, and the reflection of memory. The artist’s lived experiences are distilled into refined, elegant gestures that intersect with lyrical patterns unfolding across the canvas. Movement is evoked through expressive shapes and rich textures, suggesting an inherent connection to the natural world. The transition of Awang Damit Ahmad from fisherman-farmer to an artist-academician at the late age of 27 is one of the most phenomenal in Malaysian art. After his studies at the Mara Institute of Technology, now a university, he received his Masters at the Catholic University in Washington. He taught at UiTM, and retired as Associate Professor at ITM in May 2011. His accolades include the Major Award in Salon Malaysia III, the Minor Award in the  Bakat Muda Sezaman and 2nd Prize in the Malaysian Bank Association art competition. On the international scene, he won the Gold Award in the Ecorea Jeonbuk Biennale and the Olympic Fine Art in London, both in 2012. He catapulted into the elite when he was chosen to exhibit in the  Contemporary Paintings of Malaysia exhibition at the Asia-Pacific Museum in Pasadena in 1988. His works were on display at the Art Seasons booth (in collaboration with Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers) in the prestigious Art SG 2026, and received good feedback from visitors. In the January 2026 Henry Butcher Art Auction, Awang Damit’s painting from the Estetika series of the same size realised RM 95,200.