The heroic qualities of man can be seen in those doing menial labour on the fields, plantations or out at sea. They are all ordinary people going about their tasks without fanfare at dusk or at the crack of dawn and with a commitment, discipline and ethics that are second to none. One of Khalil Ibrahim’s favourite topics is about fishermen at work on shore after their haul from the sea. It’s tough work but many hands help to complete the tasks at hand faster, so that they can have a well-deserved rest with their families later in the evening. Khalil Ibrahim is one of the best southpaws in Malaysian art although he could not paint now after suffering a stroke in 2012. He studied at the St Martin’s School of Art and Design in London in 1959-64, for his National Diploma in Design, and followed up with a post-diploma in 1965. On his return from London, he had only a very brief stint teaching as he was on a Pahang government scholarship, but he was released from his bond, and decided to turn fulltime in 1966 and has never looked back since. He was also a co-founder of the Malaysian Watercolour Society. His first solo in 1970 at Samat Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, was of his batik and watercolours, and he followed it up with another solo in Indonesia.