Posthumous exhibit in KL pays tribute to Covid victim’s painterly legacy

Nostalgic kampung scenes were a big part of Mass Yusoff’s art career, including this pandemic-era work titled 'Tempat Asalku' (acrylic on canvas, 2020). Photo: Handout

The late watercolour artist Mohd Yusof Abdul Wahid, popularly known as Mass Yusoff, had been eagerly planning to return to the art scene with a new gallery exhibition in September this year.

However, that plan was tragically dashed when the prolific painter died in July of complications from Covid-19. He was 65.

In the last two months, Mass Yusoff’s family reflected on his passion for art as they gathered enough strength to work towards realising the planned exhibition, now a poignant tribute to his life.

Recently, they finally launched his posthumous exhibition titled Malaysiaku Indah – Remembering Mass Yusoff at the GMBB arts mall in Kuala Lumpur. The show features more than 100 works and was launched by National Laureate Datuk Dr Zurinah Hassan. It will run until Nov 7.

This visual celebration of Mass Yusoff’s career spans his paintings dating back to 2012 right to his most recent works.

More than 100 works from the late artist have been gathered in the 'Malaysiaku Indah – Remembering Mass Yusoff' exhibition in KL. Photo: Handout

Through art, Mass Yusoff, who was born in Klang, Selangor, had always channelled his love and longing for a rustic life in the kampung. Whether it was children playing traditional games or busy scenes at a fishing village, he knew how to capture the raw beauty of the moment.

“My father wanted his paintings to be accessible to as many people as possible. He sold some of them for only a few hundred ringgit and even gave some away. He was a generous man.

“His philosophy was that everyone should have a nice painting on their walls at home,” says his daughter Nur Firdaus.

From road trips to sketch books, Mass Yusoff mapped out many places across the nation. He enjoyed painting a Malaysia he fondly remembered, including sleepy fishing villages, old Malay wooden houses, padi fields and boat scenes.

'Two: Kedai Kopi' (acrylic on canvas, 2020). Photo: Handout

Many works also tapped into his childhood memories of growing up near Port Klang.

“He depicted scenes that we may no longer, or hardly, see today. He didn’t paint grand scenes or people all dressed up. He painted them as he saw them, sitting and gossiping at the market, queuing at the food stall,” says Linda Tan Lingard, the director of the Museum of Picture Book Art, which is organising the exhibition.

“In Mass Yusoff’s paintings, we see all that is precious and that we should hold dear,” she adds.

Cricket and art

Mass Yusoff, who was a member of the Malay Cricket Association of Malaysia, loved drawing ever since he was a child, often getting himself into trouble after he painted on walls.

It was during his primary school days (he received his early education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Telok Gadong in Klang) that his creative journey properly began, often winning poster drawing competitions.

He joined Utusan Melayu in 1980 after completing his studies at UiTM and served in various editorial positions before his last stint as its creative director. As a sportsman and artist, he also helped with draft plans for the Akademi Kriket Melayu Bayuemas Oval in Klang in the late 1990s.

'One: Kasih Nenek' (acrylic on canvas, 2012). Photo: Handout

After 30 years in the media world, Mass Yusoff decided to devote himself to painting and became a full-time artist.

His late uncle Tuan Haji Idris Salam, one of the founders of Angkatan Pelukis Semenanjung, took on a mentor role when Mass Yusoff was slowly building his artistic repertoire.

“Every morning after breakfast, he would drive me to out of town places like Banting, Kuala Selangor and sometimes even further like to Melaka or Parit Jawa in Johor to check out kampung scenes.

“He especially liked the fishing villages in Kuantan (Tanjung Lumpur) and the markets in Kelantan. Sometimes, we would just stay for the night when it’s too late to travel back,” recalls his wife Zabedah Koming, adding that the artist would take many photographs as reference material.

One evocative painting that’s on display is his 2012 acrylic piece called One: Kasih Nenek. This monochromatic piece shows a grandmother combing her granddaughter’s hair.

His daughter fondly describes him as a “jovial person who loved to tell jokes” and shares that he was the life of the party at family gatherings and weddings.

“He was always cheerful and fun to be with.”

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