LOT 21
ISMAIL MAT HUSSIN
B. Kelantan, 1938 – 2015
Mandi Bersama Ibu, 2004
Signed and dated “Ismail Mat Hussin 2004” on lower right
Batik
90 x 76 cm
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
RM 9,000 – 16,000
Born in 1938, in Pantai Sabak, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Ismail Mat Hussin’s art depicts everyday rural scenes from the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. He developed an interest in painting at 12 and took up weekly art painting classes at Padang Garong Malay School under the tutelage of Cikgu Nik Mahmud Idris between 1954 and 1955. In 1968, he took the plunge and took up painting full-time. At that time, experimentation with batik painting among artists in Malaysia was gaining momentum. This endearing piece by Ismail Mat Hussin embodies exactly what its title suggests, which is translated to bath time with mother. Two female figures are depicted donning sarongs and a small boy is illustrated naked in his bathroom, awaiting his mother to give him a bath. Ismail’s batik paintings may be found in the art collections of the National Art Gallery Kuala Lumpur, Petronas, Bank Negara Malaysia, ESSO Malaysia and Maybank among others, including a clutch full of notable individuals.