
LOT 68
ZULKIFLI YUSOFF
(B. Kedah, 1962)
Harimau Malaya V, 2009
Signed and dated “Zulkifli 09” on lower right
Acrylic on canvas
121.9 x 91.4 cm
Provenance
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
SOLD – RM 17,700
“The emergence, since late 1980’s until now, of Zulkifli and his eclectic body of work in the form of either drawing, sculpture, painting, print, installation or mixed media, has become a phenomenon that can be taken as an important milestone in the development of Malaysian art.” – Tsabri Ibrahim
Zulkifli revisits orthodox paintings once more after a series of installations inspired by Malay literature and history. According to artist, academician and theoretician Hasnul J. Saidon, he described Zulkifli’s work in this series as being “tightly composed, image-orientated (rather than gestural) and feature architectural pictorial plot. They are littered with text and multiple iconic images taken from images taken from various sources – thus acting as supplementary signifiers or index for his viewers to decode.” True enough, this piece dubbed Harimau Malaya V, is a composition of just that, with seemingly random (though reminiscent of the history of Malaysia) images such as planes, swords and the like, making this piece seem indecipherable and completely subjective for the audience to interpret.