The complex relationship between man and nature, and the entwined history, are the themes explored in the art of Ahmad Zuraimi Abdul Rahim. The younger brother of contemporary artist Daud Rahim believes that “nature is the most precious gift to mankind”. The veneration of Mother Earth is, undoubtedly, linked to the artist’s background. Growing up in

Lenggong, Perak, Ahmad Zuraimi enjoyed a childhood that was removed from the trappings of urban jungles. Leaving such idyllic surroundings for further education was inevitable for the artist. He portrays the idiosyncrasies and vicissitudes of such migration in his works as part of the fundamental makeup of all beings.

Consider the mixed media works in this collection, engravings on metal plates (specifically aluminium). Their appearance recalls fossilized bones and indexical traces of a prehistoric past that have given way to both natural disaster and development. The use of aluminium plates (and the artist’s fine etching on this medium) presents another aspect to his works.
Representing the material world, wealth and modernity, the material also singles the artist out in a creative environment where the canvas still reigns supreme.

He also uses flattened aluminium soft-drink cans in this series, stripping them off their colours to leave only the slightest trace of their previous incarnation.
An evolutionary theme is present in his works, as Ahmad Zuraimi traipses across the stages of life in various organisms, beginning with single then multi-cells, bones, animals, and finally, humans.

Confrontation (2005) for example, presents two opposing portrayals of a male body; the left shows aluminium plates arranged at certain locations of the figure (the arm socket and lungs, for example) and the skeletal image contrasts starkly to the fleshy being on the right, which has been treated with warmer colours to indicate life.

This work is superior to Fate 1 [2005] and Hope [2005].