March 7, 2005

• 
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Pix: (l-r) Ib, me, Sook Ching
  
  During the last Lunar New Year holidays, we drove up north to our hometown in Alor Star to visit with Sook Ching’s parents. Later we thought it would be good to spend a couple of days in Langkawi, and so we did. Parked at the Kuala Kedah Jetty, caught a ferry, and we were on the island in a little under an hour. Real hot and humid! Stayed at the Awana Porto Malai Hotel.
  
  One of the highlights was a visit to Ibrahim Hussein Museum and Cultural Foundation. Ibrahim Hussein is Malaysia’s painter extraordinaire and international art icon. Ib, as he’s popularly known, has been a fixture on the local art scene for as long as I can remember. Nearing 70 now, you’d never guess his age when you see him in person.  Met the man himself who greeted us at the very secure (and deserted) museum cum home for a look-see. Interesting place. 
  

  His style has evolved some since his Pop Art heyday and his most recent works are a swirl of sensuous, throbbing lines and intertwined bodies in positions that could well be influenced by the Karma Sutra. His famous Andy Warhol piece is on display here, (Ib is after all the Warhol of Malaysia) and he’s as socially conscious as ever, with works about the Bandit Queen, and another on 9/11. Bought a book about the artist and the museum, and had the man autograph it personally.

  • 11:35 am
  • Comments Off