Yusof Ghani
Encyclopedia
Yusof Ghani, born in 1950 in Johor
, Malaysia is a Malaysian painter
, sculptor, writer, professor and curator. His career spans over three decades which resulted into diverse series that deals with Southeast Asian motifs with an Abstract Expressionist approach. His works blend painting and drawing into an visual entity with controlled play of scupltural and collage elements
.
, Virginia, in 1979. It was there that he met Walter Kravitz, a professor in painting, who introduced him to fine arts.
He soon became interested in the works of the American Abstract Expressionist painters such as Jackson Pollock
and Willem de Kooning
. After receiving the Dr. Burt Amanda Scholarship for the most outstanding student of art, Yusof took classes in fine arts and eventually graduated with a Bachelor’s degree. He then continued to work for a Master’s Degree at the Catholic University of America
in Washington D.C., and met Professor Tom Nakashima who taught him the finer points in painting. While studying at the Chatholic University, he be-friended the Malaysian artist Awang Damit whose style is influenced by Abstract Expressionism.
After he completed his Master’s degree, he had his first solo exhibition at the prestigious Anton Gallery in Washington D.C. His Protest series, which protested the U.S. intervention in Nicaragua and El Salvador at that time, was well received and even drew rave reviews from Washington Post’s art critic – Jo Ann Lewis.
Currently, his mature works deals with contemporary issues concerning Malaysian society such as social issues regarding famine and injustice, the nation's history, distortions of Asian motifs and depiction of visual energy.
Ghani was an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Art and Design, Universiti Teknologi MARA
, Selangor, Malaysia. While at UiTM, He taught many young artists that became popular contemporary artists in Malaysia such as Yusri Sulaiman. He is currently represented by ESPI Fine Arts in Malaysia.
He has done a number of successful solo and group shows in-
Solo shows -
Group Shows -
His works are in numerous public collections such as -
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
, Malaysia is a Malaysian painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, sculptor, writer, professor and curator. His career spans over three decades which resulted into diverse series that deals with Southeast Asian motifs with an Abstract Expressionist approach. His works blend painting and drawing into an visual entity with controlled play of scupltural and collage elements
.
Early life and education
As a young boy in a small town in Johor, he enjoyed watching movies in a small movie theater close to his house that was run by a family member. Watching Western movies such as cowboy films developed his interest in painting to depict movement visually and a sense of time in his pictures early on. Originally a graphic artist in Malaysia between 1969 to 1979, Yusof Ghani’s transition to fine arts started when he received a scholarship from the government of Malaysia to study graphic arts at George Mason UniversityGeorge Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
, Virginia, in 1979. It was there that he met Walter Kravitz, a professor in painting, who introduced him to fine arts.
He soon became interested in the works of the American Abstract Expressionist painters such as Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock
Paul Jackson Pollock , known as Jackson Pollock, was an influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. During his lifetime, Pollock enjoyed considerable fame and notoriety. He was regarded as a mostly reclusive artist. He had a volatile personality, and...
and Willem de Kooning
Willem de Kooning
Willem de Kooning was a Dutch American abstract expressionist artist who was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands....
. After receiving the Dr. Burt Amanda Scholarship for the most outstanding student of art, Yusof took classes in fine arts and eventually graduated with a Bachelor’s degree. He then continued to work for a Master’s Degree at the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington D.C., and met Professor Tom Nakashima who taught him the finer points in painting. While studying at the Chatholic University, he be-friended the Malaysian artist Awang Damit whose style is influenced by Abstract Expressionism.
After he completed his Master’s degree, he had his first solo exhibition at the prestigious Anton Gallery in Washington D.C. His Protest series, which protested the U.S. intervention in Nicaragua and El Salvador at that time, was well received and even drew rave reviews from Washington Post’s art critic – Jo Ann Lewis.
Career
Upon returning to Malaysia, Yusof continued to work with a series of collection called Tari (Dance), Topeng (Mask), Wayang (Theater), Hijau (Green), Segerak (A Movement), Biring (Fighting Cockerals), Wajah (Faces), and currently working on Ombak (Waves).Currently, his mature works deals with contemporary issues concerning Malaysian society such as social issues regarding famine and injustice, the nation's history, distortions of Asian motifs and depiction of visual energy.
Ghani was an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Art and Design, Universiti Teknologi MARA
Universiti Teknologi MARA
Universiti Teknologi MARA is a coeducational public university with its main campus located in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.It is the flagship institution of the Universiti Teknologi MARA...
, Selangor, Malaysia. While at UiTM, He taught many young artists that became popular contemporary artists in Malaysia such as Yusri Sulaiman. He is currently represented by ESPI Fine Arts in Malaysia.
He has done a number of successful solo and group shows in-
Solo shows -
- Indonesia - Wajah II (2010)
- Canada - Wajah (2009)
- Hong Kong - Segerak IV (2008)
- Malaysia - Segerak III (2006), Segerak (2004), Hijau 1998 - 2002 (2002), Topeng (1993), Tari (1989)
- USA (Washington and San Francisco) - Topeng - Wayang (1997), Protest (1984)
- Singapore - Hijau - Rhythm of Nature (2000), Topeng III (1996)
Group Shows -
- Malaysia
- Beijing, China
- Wanchai, Hong Kong
- Karachi, Pakistan
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Singapore
- London, U.K
- New York, USA
- San Francisco, USA
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- New Delhi, India
- Madrid, Spain
- Tokyo, Japan
- Baghdad, Iraq
- Washington, USA
His works are in numerous public collections such as -
- Amerada Hess, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
- Anton Gallery, Washington DC, USA
- Artfolio Gallery, Singapore
- Ascott, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Bank Negara Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- BASF, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- CCM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Changi Airport, Singapore
- Concorde Hotel, Shah Alam, Malaysia
- DIGI Telecommunication, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore
- Equatorial Hotel, Penang/Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Galeri Citra, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Galeri Shah Alam, Shah Alam, Malaysia
- HEITECH PADU, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
- Hijjaz Kasturi & Associates, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Istana Mestika, Shah Alam, Malaysia
- Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, USA
- Kelab Darul Ehsan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Malayan Banking, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Malaysia Mining Corporation, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Malaysian Airlines, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- MTC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Oriental Bank, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Paremba, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- PNB, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Petronas Refinery, Melaka, Malaysia
- Petronas KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Sapura Holding, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Sheraton Hotel, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
- Silterra Corporation, Malaysia
- Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
- Spanco Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Solar Alert, Malaysia
- Southern Bank, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Standard Chartered Bank, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- State Development Corporation, Kuching, Malaysia
- The Aliya & Farouk Khan Collection, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Tokyo Gas, Tokyo, Japan
- UMW Toyota, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- UNILEVER, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Wisma Putra, Putrajaya, Malaysia
- Youth Center, Washington D.C, USA
- YTL Corporation, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Zain & Co, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia