It is one of the biggest tragedies in Malaysian art that the iconic museum in Datuk Ibrahim Hussein’s name is no more. Established in 1998, it was one of the first private art museums in Southeast Asia, ensconced on an ‘ong’ (propitious) land with Gunung Manchinchang in the backdrop and the seas of Pantai Tengkorak where red dolphins cavorted. This was the only coloured print from the six Langkawira series, launched in 1992 to raise funds for the museum under the Ibrahim Hussein Museum and Cultural Foundation. It coincided with the official launch of the museum by then prime minister Dato’ Seri (Tun) Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at The Paddock / Penthouse of KL Hilton on Dec 11, 1992. All the works were based on the fabled Langkawi island of Mahsuri. Ib, as the artist is fondly called, was also inspired to paint several works in acrylic. Ib went on to organise the 1st Langkawi Festival of Arts with his museum as the base in 2000, without the original government funding. He also organised the self-generated Asian Arts Festival in Cherating (Pahang) and Bali (Indonesia). Datuk Ibrahim Hussein or Ib, is incontrovertibly, Malaysia’s most iconic artist. He was invited to take part in the 1970 Venice Biennale via the Smithsonian Institute workshop; featured in the tripartite world’s best exhibition with Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali in Kuwait in 1977; awarded the World Economic Forum’s highly prestigious Crystal Award (1997), the Order of Bernardo O. Higgins (Chile), the Order of Andres Bello (Venezuela) and the Japan Foundation Cultural Award (1988). In 2007, he was awarded the country’s Anugerah Tokoh Terbilang, and the National Art Gallery accorded him a retrospective in 1986. Ib studied at the Byam Shaw School of Drawing and Painting in (1959-1963), and the Royal Academy in London (1963-1966).