Known as the foremost Malaysian artist using khat calligraphy technique in his painting practice, Ahmad Khalid breaks away from the prevailing style of Abstract Expressionism of his time with his Alif Ba Ta series, skillfully developed from 1971. The two key elements in his works are the choice of khat motifs as pictorial forms and the dimensions of his pictorial method. Rhythmic optical images are transformed in his compositions which essentially originated from the art of khat. Upon viewing Ahmad Khalid’s pictures, one’s perceptual sense is instantaneously aroused as he transports the viewer into a meditative sensory experience.

Ahmad Khalid Yusof was an art academician, an artist and an activist all ...