Former Malaysian firefighter sparks artistic journey with printmaking exhibition

At his debut solo exhibition, 'Merintis Bahang', held at Chetak 17 gallery in Kuala Lumpur, Fuad (right) takes a moment to pose with a fellow firefighter. Photo: The Star/Azlina Abdullah

Former fireman Fuad Pathil, once accustomed to braving blazing infernos, now draws from those intense experiences to create evocative block print artworks, merging resilience and creativity.

The 62-year-old Perak native, who began his career as a firefighter in 1994, spent years navigating emergencies – ranging from delicate rescues of stranded cats in treetops to battling the relentless fury of raging forest fires.