KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 — Feeling lost in Kuala Lumpur is not necessarily bad, says legendary singer and actor Datuk M. Nasir, as he recalled his early years in the city.
In fact, the Singapore-born artist said the city “gives you many reasons to get lost.”
“‘Sesat’ does not necessarily mean getting lost although KL can be a maze to navigate.
“KL allows you to get lost and then find your way,” Nasir told Malay Mail when met at Galeri Puteh, ahead of an art exhibition celebrating his musical career here this Sunday.
The Sesat di Kuala Lumpur: Lagunya Begini, Tampaknya Begitu… M.Nasir exhibition ― named after the singer-songwriter’s hit song in the 1986 cult classic film Kembara Seniman Jalanan ― celebrates his 45-year musical journey.
The exhibition features over 50 artworks inspired by Nasir’s vast career in music and films from 30 multi-generational artists, such as Rafiee Ghani, Ahmad Fuad Osman and many more.
Nasir himself will be contributing his paintings for the exhibition.
Afterall, he first came to Kuala Lumpur in the 1970s to pursue his passion in painting after graduating in Fine Arts from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore.
Still a Singaporean citizen then, Nasir was keen to become a part of Anak Alam, an influential art collective established in 1974.
There, he also made acquaintance with late actor and poet Pyan Habib, who later became his co-star in Kembara Seniman Jalanan.
“It was their freedom that attracted me. They could just express themselves in a way they wanted through poetry, theatre, paintings.
“It was simply their way of life ― one that was closer to nature and above all material ambitions,” he said.
