Latiff Mohidin, born in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia in 1941 completed his primary education in Singapore. While in Singapore, at an early age, Latiff’s precocity in understanding paintings earned him the nickname, ‘Wonder Boy’. From 1960-1964, Latiff studied art at Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste in Berlin, Germany and did brief residencies in Paris and New York. Inspired by his exploration of Southeast Asia in 1964, Latiff has since produced compelling series of artworks – the result of a synthesis between his European experience and the rediscovery of his homeland. He is also a poet who has published several volumes of poetry. ‘Langkawi Senja (Yellow)’ is a wall sculpture from a series of work that signifies a subtle interplay of colours and textures. According to Latiff, it is highly technical as it demands utmost concentration to achieve the complicated colour textures which had to be applied in a very calculated way. Particularly with the final layers of the paint, he had to drip, splash and flick on the surface with his fingers, in order to achieve a better control of the desired effects. What seems like an intriguing description contributes towards the meditative and contemplative qualities of the Langkawi series.
