By Willy Wilson | Feb 8, 2010
Alison Piotrowicz: View from the top
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Piotrowicz: I need a spacious home because I like to paint on big scale. Sometimes I walk and roll over the canvas...
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When it comes to popular expatriate suburbs in Kuala Lumpur, Ukay Heights is a preferred choice apart from the usual suspects of Bangsar, Sri Hartamas and Mont’ Kiara.
An affluent neighbourhood located in Ampang, Ukay Heights mainly consists of bungalows and condominiums. For those who enjoy tranquillity, it is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.
British artist Alison Piotrowicz calls Ukay Heights her second home. Piotrowicz, who has been living in Malaysia for over eight years, confesses that she loves the neighbourhood for its serene surroundings and lush greeneries.
“I also love the spectacular cityscape view,” says the 57-year-old of the panoramic view of the KL skyline from her balcony.
Star Property sits with the self-confessed Jackson Pollock fan at the sun-soaked balcony to talk about the unique layout of her four-bedroom condo, Ukay Heights and her quirky paintings.
My home, my inspiration
Finding houses with airy indoor space in Kuala Lumpur is a challenge commonly faced by city dwellers. However, those who live at hilltop suburbs are lucky enough to never encounter such a problem. The homes built on higher ground not only guarantee a breezy afternoon, but also provide its residents with a lot of natural lighting.
Alison Piotrowicz, who lives with her husband Jerry in Wakiki Vista, is one such lucky resident. Perched on top of Ukay Heights, the 7-storey condominium has breathtaking views of the KL skyline and glittery Genting Highlands. Piotrowicz, who has been living in the condo for the past four years, claims that the view gets better when the sun goes down and the sky turns dark.
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Alison's illustration of Orion, a hunter in Greek's mythology.
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“The KL skyline from my balcony is simply spectacular,” she says. “The cars during a traffic crawl look like creeping ants, but you hardly hear the noise.”
Piotrowicz, however, is no stranger to the frenetic life in the city. Before living in Ukay Heights, she used to live in the heart of KL.
“My husband and I used to live around Bukit Ceylon and Changkat Bukit Bintang. It was fun living downtown, but after a while, the noise and the increasing number of nightclubs just got a bit too much.”
According to Piotrowicz, living in the suburbs gives her the freedom she had always longed for. She believes that condo units in the suburbs are more spacious yet the prices are reasonable.
Space is what Piotrowicz needs as an artist. “As a Jackson Pollock fan and an artist, I occasionally like to paint on a big scale. Sometimes I walk and roll over the canvas, and I can only do so in a spacious condominium.”
Although she has converted one of the guest rooms into a painting studio, Piotrowicz prefers to work at the dining area. The area, which is located between her studio and bathroom, is elevated half a metre higher than the kitchen, main entrance and living room. Natural light pours in from the small balcony next to it, making it the perfect place to work.
The bathroom, which is connected to the dining room, guest room, master bedroom and Jerry’s office has a bathtub that is placed on a lower level in the bathroom. The contrast in level is exaggerated as the connecting rooms are slightly elevated. This “descending” design is unique, especially for a modern apartment. Apart from that, the marble steps next to the guest room add charm to the already stunning interior.
From the UK to Ukay
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One of Alison's paintings with a side note 'All I want for Christmas is you.'
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Piotrowicz was born in Mansfield, Nottingham which is located near Robin Hood’s legendary Sherwood Forest. However, she grew up in a town near Edinburgh, Scotland. After college, she moved to a town where pork pies originated – Melton Mowbray, Leicester.
“The path of the druid is in me,” says the eccentric artist, who is also fond of tarot card reading and cats.
Despite earning an honours degree in textile design, Piotrowicz spent 20 years designing greetings cards. She said: “I have always had my way with arts, but not until 2004, when I was already living in KL, that I started to paint.”
At that time, Piotrowicz still lived in downtown KL. What began as a hobby turned into a lucrative business.
“I gained confidence in doing this as a business when a restaurant in KL bought my painting. From then on, business has been quite good,” she says. According to Piotrowicz, she has already sold more than 50 pieces of paintings over the last five years.
When asked about her (art) style, she says that she is still exploring a few different styles. However, she is quick to add that most of her earlier works were heavily influenced by her hero, American abstract painter Jackson Pollock.
“I painted a massive 11 x 5 inch painting entitled Genesis that was inspired by the work of Pollock. It is now in my husband’s office.”
Piotrowicz also does commission-based work for her clients. She is currently in the midst of completing a large painting of the KL skyline as seen from her balcony. The artist will hold a solo exhibition at her lovely condo soon. For more information, contact Piotrowicz at alison.piotrowicz@gmail.com.
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