LOT 64
Khalil Ibrahim
B. Kelantan, 1934
Nude Series, 1986
Signed and dated “Khalil Ibrahim 86” on lower right
Watercolour on paper
20 x 14 cm
Provenance Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
RM 2,000 – RM 3,500
Having held a fascination for the nude human body, Khalil Ibrahim paints figures in different poses, each showcasing the contours, shapes and lines of the nude body. The affection and admiration he has for women is showcased here, as he employs his flair in watercolour to highlight the soft curves, gentle shapes and crevices of the female body.
His subjects are undeniable heavier than the ones he was used to during his time in art school, but he paints them here in thicker, fuller forms and only focusing on the lower half to create a little mystery, so as to not take the focus away from the subject matter. The angles are different for each lady, which hints at the message of the piece – that no matter how differently they are positioned, the female body is definitely a masterpiece on its own.
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.