LOT 31
KHALIL IBRAHIM
B. Kelantan, 1934
Pembicaraan IV, 2002
Signed and dated “Khalil Ibrahim 002” on lower right
Watercolor on paper
50 x 65 cm
Provenance
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
Illustrated on page 49 of “KHALIL IBRAHIM A Continued Dialogue” exhibition catalogue
Published in 2004 by Galeri Petronas
Illustrated on page 171 of “KHALIL IBRAHIM The Art Journey” exhibition book
Published in 2015 by KL Lifestyle Art Space
RM 22,000 – RM 35,000
There may be presence of figures in this piece, if studied closely. They are tightly-knitted and almost amalgamated, rendered tastefully by Khalil Ibrahim in abstract form.
These shapes and forms are bits and pieces of the human form, torn and cautiously reassembled in arbitrary strips of flowing colours. It is crowded and concentrated, different tones, moods, movements and perspectives, echoing Khalil Ibrahim’s earlier inclination for Expressionism and Expressionistic abstraction. This piece is swarming, condensed and strong yet exuding ambiguity. This piece could be considered a dance, an intermingling between shapes and figures, a lively yet wavering cadence behind it all, leaving it up to the viewer what to take from it.
Khalil Ibrahim graduated from the prestigious St. Martin’s School of Art & Design, United Kingdom in 1964. Thereafter, he became a full-time artist and has been so for fifty years now. He has held solo and group exhibitions in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Switzerland, with most of his works center around figures and are heavily influenced by East Coast fishermen and women.