Ilham gallery launches with Datuk Hoessein Enas exhibition

A visitor viewing two of Datuk Hoessein Enas' portrait works from his family series (oil on canvas) in 1971 called 'My Daughters Tatie, Aida and Nana' and 'Tutie, Las, Jun' (right) at Ilham gallery at Ilham Tower in Kuala Lumpur. The public gallery houses a major Datuk Hoessein Enas (1924-1995) archival exhibition - from his private collection - which documents his portraiture work, sketches, books, photographs and more. Photos: The Star/Low Boon Tat

Ilham gallery, which opened its doors last weekend, is Kuala Lumpur’s newest public gallery space. Located at Ilham Tower, the gallery is divided into two floors – with the main gallery (on level 5) featuring the works from the estate of legendary portrait painter Datuk Hoessein Enas (1924-1995), while a group exhibition (on level 3) showcases four contemporary homegrown artists Yee I-Lann, Ahmad Zakii Anwar, Dain Iskandar Said and Vincent Leong.

All the artists are part of the gallery’s first show called Picturing The Nation, built around a core selection of sketches and and paintings by Hoessein.