LOT 70
KHALIL IBRAHIM
B. Kelantan, 1934
Wau Sketch, 1985
Signed and dated “Khalil Ibrahim 85” on lower right
Ink on paper
27 x 40.5 cm
Provenance
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
Illustrated on page 85 of “MALAYSIAN GEMS” exhibition catalogue
Published in 2011 by KL Lifestyle Art Space
SOLD
RM 1,465.36
Khalil had originally planned on going to Bandung, Indonesia, to further pursue his studies in the arts but his application wasn’t successful. That didn’t set him back one bit as it was during this period that the artist was first introduced to the District Officer, Claude Gibb Ferguson. With the guidance of Ferguson, Khalil studied English at the Clifford School, Kuala Lipis to gain the necessary language skills for him to continue his studies art in England. Khalil was sponsored by the Pahang state government to continue his studies at the prestigious Central St. Martin’s School of Art and Design in London.
Khalil managed to sell his batik works well enough to make a living even though some of his artist friends disapproved of what he was doing. As his fame grew, collectors and companies began to take notice of him. “Malaysia Airlines (MAS) commissioned me to do some batik works – huge pieces – for their first ticketing office in KL. Later, I produced more works for MAS offices in Singapore, Taiwan, Germany, Bangkok and Paris as well,” he says.
Throughout his career, among the corporate entities which have purchased his works are the Hilton hotels, Maybank, Petronas, National Art Gallery, Bank Negara, Bank Bumiputra and Telekom.