SCHOOL OF THE ARTS   |  UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA

DR. SARENA BINTI ABDULLAH

Assoc. Prof.
+60125439407
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Education

  • PhD, Art History, – The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia

    2010

  • MA, Art History, – SUNY at Buffalo, NY, USA

    2005

  • BSc. HBP (Interior Design) (Hons), – Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia

    2001

  • Diploma in Interior Design, – Institut Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam, Malaysia

    1998

Areas of Expertise

Malaysian Art

Research Interest

  • Malaysia visual art
  • Modern and Southeast Asia modern and contemporary art

Research Topics

  • Early art exhibitions in Malaysia
  • Selected Malaysian female artists
  • Early collectors and collecting activities in Malaysia

USM EXPERTS

SPORTLIGHTS

  • PUBLICATIONS




    Scopus Indexed journal

    Seyedehsamaneh, F. & S. Abdullah. (2023). “The Emergence of Social Issues in Contemporary Iranian Art,” ISVS e-journal, Vol. 10, Issue 3, March 2023.

    Abdullah, S. & Carmen Nge. (2022). “Spaces of Experimentation and Collaboration in Early 1990s Malaysian Art,” Southeast of Now: Directions in Contemporary and Modern Art in Asia. Volume 6, Number 2, October 2022.

    S. Abdullah. (2022). “Internationalizing Arts, Gaining Visibility: Internationalization of the National Art Gallery through the Promulgation of the Malayan Identity and Commonwealth Ideas,” TRANS: Trans- Regional and National Studies of Southeast Asia , 2021, DOI: 10.1017/trn.2021.17.

    Abdullah, S. 2020. The 1980s as (an Attempt in) the Decolonialization of Malaysian Art. Southeast of Now: Directions in Contemporary and Modern Art in Asia 4 (1), 3-29. doi:10.1353/sen.2020.0002. L. Clara and S. Abdullah. (2018). “The Quest of Identity in Sophia Kamal’s WUDU,” submitted to PERTANIKA Journal, JSSH Vol. 26 (2) June 2018.

    Abdullah, S. (2018). “Expanding the Historical Narrative of Early Visual Modernity in Malaya,” Wacana Seni: Journal of Arts Discourse, Vol. 17 (1), Penang: USM.

    Rosman, R. & S. Abdullah. (2018). “Wak Ketok And The Quest For Malay Identity In 1930s Malaya”, Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (JMBRAS), Volume 91 Part 1, No. 314 June 2018.

    E.I. Musa and S. Abdullah. (2017). “Iconological Analysis of Peranakan’s Intimate Lifestyle: A Case Study of Sylvia Lee Goh’s ‘Woman, Oh! Woman’ Painting Series,” Wacana Seni: Journal of Arts Discourse, Vol. 16,Penang: USM.

    Abdullah. S. (2017). “Changing Approaches: Installations Produced in the Malaysian Art World” Wacana Seni: Journal of Arts Discourse, Vol. 16, Penang: USM.

    K. Syed and S. Abdullah. (2015). “Chronicling Pakistan’s Art Movement from Traditional to Contemporary (1960-2011), Wacana Seni: Journal of Arts Discourse, Vol. 14, Penang: USM.

    S. Abdullah. (2015). “Looking Ahead, Looking Back: A review of Works by Fifteen Artists organized by Fergana Arts Space (7/2-29/3/2015), Wacana Seni: Journal of Arts Discourse, USM.

    K. Syed and S. Abdullah. (2013). “The Usage of Morbid Themes and Imageries in Contemporary Art: A Case Study of ‘12: A Group Exhibition in Anticipation of the 2012 Apocalypse,’” Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, Vol 4 No 10, October 2013, MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy.

    Abdullah. S. (2012). “Art Criticisms Versus Art Writings: The Malaysian Situation” KEMANUSIAAN Volume 19, No. 2, (2012), 63-78.Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) listed journals

    F. Zahra and S. Abdullah. (2020). “Vehicular Art Themes: Five Indian Subcontinental Art Forms that Inspire Pakistani Truck Visuals,” International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change (IJICC), Vol. 14, Issue 1, pp. 1243-1267.

    Abdullah, S. (2019). “‘A Bridge Between Two Worlds’”: Exhibitions of Malaysian Art at the Commonwealth Institute,” British Art Studies, Issue 13, Sept 2019.

    Abdullah, S. (2018). “Artistic Practices in Contemporary Asia,” Art & the Public Sphere, Vol 7, Issue 1, pp. 3- 5.

    Abdullah, S. (2018). “The [Emerging] Alternative Practices in Malaysian Art (1990s-2015),” Art & the Public Sphere, Vol 7, Issue 1, pp. 25–41, doi: 10.1386/aps.7.1.25_1[

    Abdullah, S. & E.R. Legaspi. (2018). “Art and the Community in the Philippines: Conversation between

    Sarena Abdullah and Eileen Legaspi Ramirez,” Art & the Public Sphere, Vol 7, Issue 1, pp. 93-99.

    Snow, S. and S. Abdullah. 2008. “Conference Report: CIHA 2008 – Crossing Cultures: 32nd Congress of the International Committee of the History of Art”, TAASA Review: The Journal of The Asian Arts Society of Australia, Vol. 17, No.1, March 2008, Potts Point: The Asian Arts Society of Australia, 2008.

    Malaysia Citation Indexed Journals (MYCITE) Abdullah, S. (2022). “Travel Sketches Of Malaya By Sir Frank Swettenham,” Melayu: Jurnal Antarabangsa Dunia Melayu, vol. 15(2), July 2022, p. 177-204. Kuala Lumpur: DBP.

    I.D.A. Dwija Putra and S. Abdullah. (2020). “Early Signs of Modernism in Traditional Balinese Paintings,” IDEALOGY Journal, Vol. 5 Issue 1, Perak: UiTM.

    S.B. Abdul Halim and S. Abdullah. (2020). “Respons Seniman Malaysia Dekad 1970-an terhadap Dasar Kebudayaan Kebangsaan: Satu Analisis Awal Pameran "Towards a Mystical Reality" (1974) dan "Rupa dan Jiwa" (1979),” MELAYU: Jurnal Antarabangsa Dunia Melayu, Vol. 13 (2), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

    Thiruchelvam, C. and S. Abdullah. (2019). “The Essence of Wayang in Modern Indonesian Artworks: Examining the Works of Nasirun and Heri Dono,” Malaysian Journal of Performing and Visual Arts, Vol. 5 (1), Dec. 2019, Kuala Lumpur: Universiti Malaya.

    Abdullah, S. (2018). “Abdullah Ariff: A Cosmopolitan Artist of the Early 20th Century Malaya,” Journal of Southeast Asian Studies (JATI) Special Issue 2018, Kuala Lumpur: Universiti Malaya.

    Rosman, R. and S. Abdullah. (2018). “Cosmopolitan Malay through Critiques in Caricatures and Visual Advertisements in 1930s Malaya” Journal of Southeast Asian Studies (JATI) Special Issue 2018, Kuala Lumpur: Universiti Malaya

    S.F. Md. Nor and S. Abdullah. (2017). “Through the Western Eyes in Southeast Asia: Analysing the Strategy of Subversion in Yee I-Lann's “Picturing Power” Photomontages, Journal of Southeast Asian Studies (JATI) 22, no. 1.

    Abdullah, S. and A.K. Chung. (2014). “Re-examining the Objects of Mystical Reality,” Journal of Southeast Asian Studies (JATI), Vol 19, December 2014, pp. 203-217. Abdullah, S. (2012). “The Environment as a Theme in Malaysian Art,” Journal of Southeast Asian Studies (JATI), Volume 17, December 2012, pp 281-300 281.

    Abdullah, S. (2011). “Thematic Approaches in Malaysia Art since the 1990s,” Journal of Southeast Asian Studies (JATI) 16, no. 1.

    Abdullah, S. (2010). "Absenteeism of Malaysian Identity in Art in the Early Years of Independence." Journal of Southeast Asian Studies (JATI) Volume 15, no. 1.



    Other refereed journals (International)

    Abdullah, S. (2020). “The 1980s as (an Attempt in) the Decolonialization of Malaysian Art,” Southeast of Now: Directions in Contemporary and Modern Art in Asia, Vol. 4, Number 1, March 2020.

    Abdullah, S. (2020). “Teaching the History of Modern and Contemporary Art of Southeast Asia,” Southeast of Now: Directions in Contemporary and Modern Art in Asia, Vol. 4, Number 1, March 2020.

    Abdullah, S. & S.K. Elham. (2019). “Culture and Identity in Selected New Media Artworks in Malaysia 1993- 2007,” Journal Visual Art & Design, Vol. 11, No. 1, 2019, pp. 19-34.

    Abdullah, S. and N. Mohamad. (2015). “Incorporation and Exploration of Local Imageries and Identities in Malaysia’s Graffiti Art,” Journal Visual Art & Design, Vol. 7, No. 1, 2015, pp. 39-52.

    Abdullah, S. (2015). “Postmodernity In Malaysian Art: Tracing Works by Nirmala Shanmughalingam,” Indian Journal of Arts (2015), 5(16), p. 35-43

  • BOOKS



    Abdullah, S. (2023). Senilukis Malaysia Sejak 1990an: Situasi Pascamoden, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

    Abdullah, S. (2018). Malaysian Art Since the 1990s: Postmodern Situation, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

    Edited Volumes Whiteman, S., S. Abdullah, Y. Low. P. Scott (eds.)(2018). Ambitious Alignments: New Histories of Southeast Asian Art (1945-1990), National Gallery Singapore and Power Institute.

  • CHAPTER IN RESEARCH BOOKS



    Cheryl, C.T & Abdullah, S. (2023). “Tracing Indian Cultural Connections in Malaysia and Brunei: From Early Candis to Modern Art,” in Connected Histories of India and Southeast Asia: Icons, Narratives, Monuments (ed. Parul Pandya Dhar), New Delhi: Sage Spectrum.

    Abdullah, S. (2021). “Re-examining the Modern Art Narrative in Malaysia during the 1980s,” Art, Design and Society: Global Perspectives (eds. A. Pande & Savita Kumari), New Delhi: National Museum Institute of History and Macmillan Publishers.

    P.R. Baluyut and Abdullah, S. (2021). “‘A Global Learning for All’: A Creative Padagogy in Art History” in Art History in a Global Context, NJ: Wiley Blackwell.

    Abdullah, S. (2019). “Peranakan Imageries in the works of few selected Malaysian and Singaporean artists (1980s-2017)”, in Eclectic Cultures for All: The Development of the Peranakan Performing, Visual and Material Culture (ed. Tan Sooi Beng), Penang: Penerbit USM Publisher.

    Abdullah, S. (2019). “Cosmopolitanism in the Works of Straits Chinese Artists: Low Kway Song, Yong Mun Sen and Tay Hooi Keat” in Eclectic Cultures for All: The Development of the Peranakan Performing, Visual and Material Culture (ed. Tan Sooi Beng), Penang: Penerbit USM Publisher.

    Abdullah, S. (2016). “Art Criticisms Versus Art Writings: The Malaysian Situation,” Narratives In Malaysian Art, Volume 3: Infrastructures (ed. Beverly Yong, Nur Hanim Khairuddin, Rahel Joseph and Tengku Sabri Tengku Ibrahim), Kuala Lumpur: RogueArt.

    Abdullah, S. (2016). “Kritikan dan Penulisan Seni: Situasi Malaysia,” Naratif Seni Rupa Malaysia Jil. 3: Infrastruktur (ed. Beverly Yong, Nur Hanim Khairuddin, Rahel Joseph and Tengku Sabri Tengku Ibrahim), Kuala Lumpur: RogueArt.

    Abdullah, S. (2015). “The Ambition of Ambitious Alignment: A Reflection by a Mid-Career Art Historian,” sentAp! A Decade, Ipoh & Kuala Lumpur: Teratak Nuromar & ITBM.

    Abdullah, S. and C. Thiruchelvam. (2015). “The Locality and the Immediate Realities: Tracing Modernity in Indonesian and Malaysian Modern Art,” in Satu Rumpun Banyak Tunas: Kumpulan Pemikiran Generasi Muda Indonesia dan Malaysia (ed. Effendi, T. D. and M. I. Ramli), Yogyakarta: Leutikaprio.

    Abdullah, S. (2013). “Malay Artists and the Postmodern Situation: Thematic Approaches since the 1990s,” Reactions – New Critical Strategies: Narratives in Malaysian Art Vol. 2 (ed. Nur Hanim Khairuddin and Beverly Yong, with T.K. Sabapathy), Kuala Lumpur: RogueArt.

    Abdullah, S. (2013). “Artis-artis Melayu dan Situasi Pascamoden: Pendekatan-pendekatan Bertema Semenjak 1990-an,” Reaksi – Strategi Kritikal Baru: Naratif Seni Rupa Malaysia Jil. 2 (ed. Nur Hanim

    Khairuddin and Beverly Yong, with T.K. Sabapathy), Kuala Lumpur: RogueArt.

    Abdullah, S. (2011). "Lukisan-Lukisan Awal Malaya (1880-1894)" in 1st Malaysian International Drawing Marathon, edited by Safrizal Shahir, Izmer Ahmad and Shahrul Anuar Shaari. Penang: School of the Arts, USM.

    Abdullah, S. (2011). "The Early Drawings of Malaya (1880-1894) by Frank Swettenham" in 1st Malaysian International Drawing Marathon, edited by Safrizal Shahir, Izmer Ahmad and Shahrul Anuar Shaari. Penang: School of the Arts, USM.

    Abdullah, S. (2008). “Malaysian Postmodern Art and its Strategies,” New Asian Imagination, Singapore: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

  • MASTER/PHD PROJECT SUPERVISED



    Graduated PhD. Student

    Modern Elements on Reliefs in Four Temples in Northern Bali During Dutch Colonial Period of 1900-1940 (2023), Putra I Dewa Alit Dwija

    Contemporary Middle East Art at Venice Biennale: A Postcolonial Study (2011-2019) (2023), Seyedehsamaneh Fatemi

    Localization of the Ramayana Epic in Malaysian Visual Arts (2022), Cheryl Thiruchelvam

    Chinese Scholar-Official Painting in Multi-Cultural Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) (2019), Du Rui



    Graduated Masters Students

    Identification of Pakistani Truck Visuals and Construction of their Meanings through Visual Rhetorics Approach” (2020), Fatima Zahra

    “New Media Art in Malaysia (1980s-2018): Analysis of Artworks through a Thematic Approach” (2020), Siti Khadijah Mohamad Elham

    Postmodern Feminist Identity through Artworks by Selected Malaysian Female Artists (2000-2015) (2018), Clara Ling Boon Ing

    Caught in the Middle: Proliferation of Socio-Political Imageries in Contemporary Art from Pakistan Post 9/11 (2001-2013)” (2014), Kanwal Raza



    Current PhD. Students

    The Possible Connections of Malaysia and China Shadow Puppets: The Study of Visual Representation Through Iconological Analysis, Dong Minghui

    Discussion of Three Chinese Female Artists Who Studied in France, Xu Yijiao

    Research On Modern Ink Painting In Malaysia And Singapore (1950-2020), Cui Yi

    Research on the History of Asian Modern Art from a Global Perspective, Mao Xing

    Research on Reside Abroad Chinese Painters and Chinese Art in Nanyang in the 20th Century, Wu Zuzhi



    Current Masters Student

    The Paradox of Visual Arts Exhibition in Malaysia, 1970s –1980s: Towards a Mystical Reality (1974), Rupa dan Jiwa (1979) and ke Arah Tauhid (1984), Siti Nur Balqis Binti Abdul Halim

    Malaysian Abstraction: Mind and Matter, Chow Sow Yeng

School of The Arts
Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang Malaysia
t: 604 – 653 3888 ext: 3621 / 3415 | f: 604 – 657 6296
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