Latiff Mohidin, born in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia in 1941 completed his primary education in Singapore. While in Singapore, at an early age, Latiff’s precocity in understanding paintings earned him the nickname, ‘Wonder Boy’. From 1960-1964, Latiff studied art at Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste in Berlin, Germany and did brief residencies in Paris and New York. Inspired by his exploration of Southeast Asia in 1964, Latiff has since produced compelling series of artworks – the result of a synthesis between his European experience and the rediscovery of his homeland. He is also a poet who has published several volumes of poetry. Green Pago-Pago, Bangkok’ appears to be an iconic development from Latiff’s geometrical productions. Emphasizing the greenery in nature, the dominant organic form which nearly fills the entire surface area is designed to enable dual modes of viewing: along one the brushed pigmented surface, broadly emcompassing the image in its entirety, represents the interlocking assembly; along another the sharp lines aggressively moving, demanding attention, signal the myriad of vibrations of energy movements.
