MOHD Yusof Ismail, better known as Yusof Gajah, who’s art can be seen in all types of media, such as paintings, murals, art installations, sketches and children's books, died earlier today at the age of 68.
Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka, the national literary and arts institution, confirmed his death. The cause of death is yet to be disclosed.
Born in Johol, Negri Sembilan on February 10, 1954, Yusof Gajah had an affinity for the arts from an early age. He spent some of his youth in Singapore, before studying art at Sekolah Seni Rupa, Yogjakarta, Indonesia in the early 1970s.
Throughout his career as an artist, beginning in the mid-1970s in Kuala Lumpur, he was known as a person who saw the importance of making art accessible to a wider audience.
The elephant art that he became known for were first introduced into his works in the late 1970s. Over time they would become part of the mainstream of Malaysian arts and culture, part of a tradition of being fascinated with nature and exploring humanity’s relationship with the world around it.
The art and Yusof Gajah himself shared a sense of social issues and environmentalism, among other things. He also played a role in the artistic community by mentoring younger artists and by supporting community art spaces.
Away from the galleries, where he exhibited his Gajah series, Elephantidae series, and Mother and Child series, Yusof Gajah also contributed to a few children's books.
Over the course of his life, Yusof Gajah received several prizes including Best Children's Book Illustration from the National Book Council of Malaysia and the Noma Concours Grand Prix Award (ACCU) in Tokyo 1996 for The Real Elephant. – The Vibes, March 9, 2022
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