Al Fatihah: Ibrahim Hussein

"To me, painting is like praying. When I paint, I am dealing with my heart, my work and God. There is deep joy and gratitude. Each piece frames a moment in my life."
(Picture and quote taken from Malaysian Artists blog)

Ibrahim Hussein (1936 - 2008)

Dato Ibrahim Hussein met his maker.

I was informed that the legendary Malaysian panter died this morning at 4:30 am at Pantai Medical Centre. Jenazah prayers will be performed at 3:00 pm at his home in No. 8, Lorong Bukit Pantai 1, Bukit Pantai, 59100 Kuala Lumpur. The burial will be at the Bukit Kiara Muslim burial site.

He has contributed immensely to the Malaysian art scene. For those unfamiliar with this great painter, there is a brief history of his life here.

There is a 2002 interview entitled Ibrahim Hussein: Up Close and Personal by Alex Lankester in kakiseni.com here.

Ibrahim established the Ibrahim Hussein Museum and Cultural Foundation in Pulau Langkawi. In my visit to his Museum in 2007, I came to know how internationally reknown he is in the world of contemprary arts. There was a picture of him with Andy Warhol.

There is an excellent article about the Museum on Langkawi Insight website here.

It was my encounter of his work at the office of one of our premier local Bank that create my interest to learn to appreciate Malaysian Art work. It helped to develop a left side soul to this quatitative minded right brainer in the ruthless financial market. For that I am eternally greatfull.

Let me end with his words taken from the Museum website here:

"As a nation, it doesn't matter how economically powerful we are. Without the spiritual balance of the arts, we achieve nothing and there will be chaos in the end."

Muga Allah roh mu dicucuri rahmat. Al Fatihah.

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