While some may look at Balinese masks, Yusof Ghani's source is closer home, the Kenyah and Kayan masks (hudoq), with talismanic and curative properties. This was triggered by a visit to Sarawak in 1988 and 1991. There is another aspect or phase to his Topeng, and that started after his South Africa visit in 1994.
Yusof Ghani worked as an artist-illustrator at the Agriculture Ministry (1967), instructor in the Fisheries Institute, Penang (1971) and a graphic artist at Radio-Television Malaysia (1977) before he got a scholarship to obtain his BFA at the George Mason University in the United States (1981), and MFA at the Catholic University in Washington, USA (1983). On his return, he lectured at the Universiti ITM with the rank of Associate Professor. But he is better known for his series of paintings - Tari, Topeng, Wayang, Hijau, Segerak, Biring, Wajah, Ombak and Kuda. He organised the Shah Alam Biennale involving artists from 15 countries in 2016. In April 2017, Yusof Ghani made his London debut with an exhibition, Segerak VI - Transcendent Figures, at the Asia House. His Segerak VIII - Utopia exhibition was organised by Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers in 2019 and was well received.