Yusof's new piece earns royal honour
A vision to behold: Yusof (right) doing a live painting demonstration before the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, after the launch of the 'Cenderawasih Energy Emotion' series at Tapak Gallery in Shah Alam. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
SHAH ALAM: In a celebration as resplendent as the bird that inspired it, Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah presided over the unveiling of Cenderawasih, the latest series by Malaysian painter Yusof Ghani.
The launch added a vibrant stroke to the canvas of Yusof's four-decade career, a journey defined by a lifelong devotion to Malaysian visual arts.
Held at Tapak Gallery, the exclusive event drew leading figures from the art, business, and financial worlds.
'It is a great honour to have Tuanku launch this new series,' Yusof said in his speech at the event yesterday.
'I encountered the majestic Cenderawasih, or bird-of-paradise, during a visit to Papua New Guinea nearly 10 years ago.
'Its colour, its energy, its sheer beauty left a lasting impression on me.'
That moment, Yusof shared, was almost hypnotic, an experience that lingered long after his return home and eventually inspired this body of work, which he described as an ode to beauty.
'In this series, I prioritised beauty, because if ever a subject deserved such reverence, it is the Cenderawasih.
'In my use of colour, I sought to create a visual symphony, an expression of the bird's splendour and spiritual resonance,' he said.
Titled Cenderawasih: Energy and Emotion, the series showcases Yusof's use of oil and charcoal on canvas, blending layered colours with tonal contrasts that channel the bird's spirit.
Sultan Sharafuddin also witnessed a live painting demonstration by Yusof, featuring a fresh work inspired by the Cenderawasih.
Yusof, a prominent national artist, began his artistic career in the early 1980s.
His paintings have since been exhibited at numerous international art exhibitions, including in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, the United States and Canada. Among his popular artworks are Tari, Protest, Topeng, Wayang, Hijau, Segerak, Biring, Wajah and Ombak.
The Selangor Ruler spent nearly 40 minutes viewing the works of the Johor-born artist.
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