Khalil Ibrahim, East Coast Fishermen I & II, 1991

Watercolour on paper
23.5 x 33 cm (visible), 46 x 55 x 3 cm (framed) (left)
25 x 33 cm (visible), 46 x 55 x 3 cm (framed) (right), sold as a pair
Condition: Good, with foxing on the top left section of the work and a small stain on the top right section of the work. Foxing throughout the matboard. (left)
Good, with a stain on the top left section of the work, slight discolouration on the top right section of the work, and a small stain on the bottom right section of the work. Fraying of paper on the top right section of the work. (right)

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Khalil Ibrahim's (Malaysian, 1934-2018) "East Coast Series" is a collection of paintings that vividly captures the essence of the daily lives of fisherfolk on Malaysia's East Coast Fishing Villages with his iconic depictions of the human forms, blending realism with poetic introspection, against the muted landscape of the Malaysian eastern coastline.

Khalil Ibrahim’s stylised and evocative watercolour paintings pays homage to the ordinary fisherfolk of his beloved homeland and is testament to the deep connection the artist has to his roots. 

This pair of 1991 paintings truly showcases Khalil’s mastery of watercolours at his prime. They are highly nuanced artworks that convey the resilience and joy of communal life of the east coast fishing villages of Kelantan and Terengganu.

This was a gift from an old friend, originally purchased from Art Forum.

(Photographed in April 2025)