Yusof Ghani’s work focuses on social issues and the environment

PABLO Picasso once said “painting is just another way of keeping a diary”.

For Johor-born Yusof Ghani, 61, his latest solo exhibition featuring his Taman series reflects his body of work at a point in his life where he spent a lot of time overseas.

“It was fascinating during winter,” he said.

He works on various themes that comments on social and environment issues in his art over 30 years as an artist.

In his Tari, Topeng, Wayang, Segerak, Biring and Wajah series, he worked on a platform to explore and voice out his concerns on human behaviour where as in Hijau and Ombak, he focused more on issues pertaining to nature and environment.

Taman, however, sees his attempt to deviate from his previous themes and instead, to utilise his senses and observation on his experience.

The visual landscape becomes the subject matter as opposed to the social commentary (as in Hijau and Ombak). Taman also reflects his strong belief that artists need to travel and explore to enhance their senses and application on arts. Yusof’s Taman series is his first solo exhibition in Malaysia in three years.

Ambassador and National Art Gallery director-general Datuk Mohd Yusof Ahmad said he was pleased to lend his support to a new art venue.

“This is always a positive sign that Malaysian contemporary art is still going strong and that it can only get better,” he said when launching Puncak Art Gallery and Yusof’s solo exhibition opening in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam recently.

The works in Yusof’s Taman series reflect his personal experience visiting three city parks during his travels to the United States and Europe recently. During those four months, Yusof took the opportunity to spend some time visiting Central Park in New York, Hyde Park in London and St.Denis in Paris. His personal observation and study of the colours in those parks moved him to illustrate these moments in his Taman series.

“I am thrilled that Yusof has not foresaken his fans, collectors and followers in Malaysia after a series of successful exhibitions overseas,” added Mohd Yusof.

Yusof’s intensive and rich layering of colours create the atmospheric space in the painting that illustrates the passing scenes during the time of winter when he was travelling through these cities.

The careful choice of colours serves as a representation of the vibrancy of these cities as well as the combination with the misty and mystic elements of the winter season at the same time.

Yusof uses his expressive style of brush strokes initiatively in producing spontaneous and immediate mood in the paintings.

“I apply a Western and Oriental approach to the Taman series using charcoal, ink, pastel and watercolours, layer by layer,” he said.

Just like how Kalimantan, Perth, South Africa and so many other places provided the source of inspiration for his previous series, these three city parks have provided the appeal for him to continue his colourful artistic journey in Taman 2011.

Puncak Art Gallery is a collaborative project between ESPI fine art, an art promotion and management company, a group of artists and art friends. “ESPI Fine Art is a company that we established to work closely with artists such as Yusof Ghani in expanding the reach of visual arts locally and internationally,” said Puncak Art Gallery director Ahmad Khairo Othman.

Originally a graphic artist between 1969 and 1979, Yusof’s transition to fine arts started when he received a grant to study graphic arts at George Mason University, Virginia, in 1979.

He eventually graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts (Graphic Art) and continued to obtain a Masters in Fine Arts (Painting) at Catholic University in Washington D.C..

Yusof’s Taman series exhibition will be held from now until July 23 at Puncak Art Gallery located at 27, Jalan Awan Larat U8/74, Bukit Jelutong, 40150, Shah Alam, Selangor. For more information, call Ahmad Khairo on 019-312 3299.