Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described the passing of artist and former National Visual Arts Development Board member Sharifah Zuriah Aljeffri as a significant loss to the nation’s art community.
In a Bernama report, he noted her substantial contributions to the advancement of Malaysia’s visual arts.
"Azizah (Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Sharifah Zuriah Aljeffri yesterday," wrote Anwar in a Facebook post today.
"Among the works close to my heart is a painting titled Wither Compassion? Wither Justice? Wither Peace?, which was produced as a reflection of the events surrounding my sacking in 1998, a piece that captured the voice of conscience and the call for justice through the language of art,” he continued.
Sharifah, who passed away in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 25 at the age of 87, held the distinction of being the first Malay artist to master Chinese ink painting under the guidance of artist-gallerist Anthony Sum in the mid-1970s.
Over a 50-year painterly career, Sungai Petani, Kedah-born Sharifah masterfully combined Eastern ink and Western watercolours, infusing her work with vibrant colour and vitality to reflect multicultural harmony. Her calligraphy, marked by expressive energy, conveyed messages of compassion, peace, and moral reflection.
She gained recognition for her 1990 series on the Bosnia-Herzegovina genocide, which integrated Islamic calligraphy, and is also celebrated for her evocative depictions of lotus and mountain landscapes.
Beyond her art, Sharifah was a committed social activist and cultural advocate, co-founding the women’s rights organisation SIS Forum (Malaysia) and serving as Cultural Affairs Advisor at the US Embassy in Malaysia from 1971 for 21 years.
