LOT 57
KHALIL IBRAHIM
B. Kelantan, 1934 – 2018
Movement in Blue, 1973
Signed “Khalil Ibrahim 73” on lower left
Batik
55 x 45 cm
Private Collection, Canada
RM 20,000 – RM 50,000
While the late Chuah Thean Teng pioneered batik in the 1930s, it was only accepted as a medium of artistic expression by the 1960s. Somewhat later, Khalil also forayed into this art medium, depicting the Malay life, primarily that of the fishermen fraternity, through the batik technique – in a more real sense. As can be seen in this work, colour and texture became the primary fascination for Khalil, he remained true to – firstly, the human figure albeit fragmented and secondly his people of the East Coast. ‘Movement in Blue, 1973’ illustrates a gradient of aquamarine to a cyan hue. Khalil went on to display the stances of these figures and their muscular form that almost looks like a dance.