The hallmark of every great artist is, when walking into a room or gallery, one can at once identify his works. Van Gogh, Picasso, Gauguin, El Greco, Modigliani, Giacometti and Ibrahim Hussein were blessed with this genius of imbuing their work with a stamp as unique as a thumbprint.
A couple of years ago, just before his Retrospective at the Penang State Art Gallery, I staggered into a small pub off Kedah Road and, through a cumulus of cigarette smoke, discerned a large black and white print that had all the distinctive features of an Ismail Hashim piece.
On inquiry, the publican’s wife confirmed that this remarkable photo of Pula Banding was indeed by Ismail Hashim. But what was it doing hanging on a wall, festooned with clientele photographs and postcards, in a nondescript pub off the beaten track?
