The late Datuk Ibrahim Hussein is the focus of National Art Gallery Langkawi's new online series Arkib: Archiving Ibrahim Hussein, Part 1 – The Collective Memory Of The Ibrahim Hussein Museum And Cultural Foundation.
The YouTube series, which includes an online tour and mini documentary, looks back on one of Malaysia's most influential artists and how Ibrahim, or more popularly known as Ib, built his own "museum-in-the-rainforest" in Langkawi.
The Kedah-born Ibrahim, who died of heart attack in February 2009, would have celebrated his 85th birthday this year (March 13).
The Arkib: Archiving Ibrahim Hussein, Part 1 series, helmed by the National Art Gallery, explores the potential of collaborative archiving between the institution and the community it serves.
The internationally acclaimed artist's extraordinary legacy of paintings spanning 50 years revolved around his life and humanity, events and personalities.
A screen shot from the virtual series featuring architect Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat sharing his thoughts on the Ibrahim Hussein Museum And Cultural Foundation building.
Ibrahim Hussein Museum and Cultural Foundation (IHMCF) was formed in 1992 by the artist to fund the ambitious building project in Langkawi. The museum building - a proudly artist-run space - was officially launched in 1998. During its active years, the IHMCF was a destination for vibrant international-scale arts programmes, residencies and exhibitions.
IHMCF was left abandoned in 2009 after Ibrahim's death.
Arkib: Archiving Ibrahim Hussein, Part 1 revisits Ibrahim's museum dream in Langkawi, with a range of archival material, photographs, objects, models, drawings, audio recordings, artworks, newspaper articles and documents available as virtual content.
It also features input from senior architect Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat, who offers an insightful interview about IHMCF here, while contemporary artists, including Ahmad Fuad Osman, Hasnul Jamal Saidon, Suhaimi Fadzir and Wong Chee Meng, recall their time at the museum.
As a virtual experience, viewers can learn more about Ibrahim through rare interview footage and candid conversations. You also get a glimpse of the lively art scene and programmes at IHMCF through private photographs from Ahmad Fuad, and for reading material, you can revisit the museum's art catalogues and slideshows uploaded.
