LOT 86
KHALIL IBRAHIM
B. Kelantan, 1934 – 2018
Figures 12, 1992
Acrylic on canvas laid on board
87 x 94 cm
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
The artwork was sold previously by Starhill Gallery in the late 1990’s. Formerly in the Collection of a distinguished Swiss Collector.
RM 68,000 – 95,000
In Figures 12 dated 1992, Khalil Ibrahim masterfully captures the spirit and rhythm of East Coast life through a composition of swaying human forms adorned in colourful sarongs. Executed in acrylic on canvas, the work features a procession of female figures rendered in the artist’s distinctive stylised manner, elongated, rhythmic, and gracefully abstracted. The vibrant palette and fluid movement evoke a sense of harmony, community, and cultural identity. A native of Kelantan, Khalil Ibrahim (1934–2018) is celebrated as one of Malaysia’s leading modernists, known for blending figurative and abstract styles with influences drawn from traditional village life. His lifelong fascination with the East Coast’s people and customs forms the emotional and visual core of his practice. Figures 12 is a quintessential example of Khalil’s ability to transform the everyday into timeless expressions of movement, colour, and cultural pride.