LOT 40
ISMAIL MAT HUSSIN
B. Kelantan, 1938-2015
Playing Gasing, 1977
Signed and dated “ISMAIL MAT HUSSIN 1977” on lower right
Batik
48 x 71 cm
Provenance Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
RM 20,000 – RM 32,000
Batik is no longer considered an substandard form of art, used solely for textiles and material to adorn the body, but it has evolved into a form of artistic and visual appreciation. Ismail Mat Hussin is one of the prominent artists who incorporates batik into his paintings and infuses his entire being into his work, making the feel as if they know the artist himself just by looking at the painting. It is both endearing and warm.
The inspiration for Ismail Mat Hussin’s consistent brand of paintings is not constructed merely for the sake of art, but it is something that comes from within, from his own person. How his work is shaped is heavily influenced by inherent traditional and cultural legacies from the East Cost, and that is a particular trait that is rooted in him.
This piece presents tranquility, reminisces of the past and daily experiences of people in the East Coast. The earthy, dim tones are something Ismail Mat Hussin has a proclivity for, using them often in his works. These colours are stable, friendly, calm and safe.
Ismail Mat Hussin was born in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. He developed an interest in batik at the mere age 12 years old and picked up his batik skills from well-known artist Khalil Ibrahim and art teacher Yusof Abdullah. His career began as a violinist for Radio Televisyen Malaysia Kota Bharu, but he left and decided to put his all into painting.