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Multi-talented Yee I-Lann’s mostly photography-based works have a strong socio-political/anthropological thrust. This portrait on Dr Farish A Noor (born 1967), a prominent Malaysian political scientist cum human rights activist is part of her Writer’s Portrait Series which features Farish Noor together with 11 others.

Here, Dr Farish A Noor is garbed in Mid-Eastern clothing with an ancient map in the backdrop. The work is also used for the cover of his book, Qu’ran and Cricket: Travels Through The Madrasahs of Asia and Other Stories (Silverfish, 2009).

The Writer’s Portrait’ Series is Yee’s attempt to create a collective communal portrait made up of a selection of Malaysian Muslim male writers who are strong public voices that address various socio-political, local and personal issues through their works. In a write-up that Yee released along with this body of works, she stated, “They are also writers that have a sensibility I admire, that comes from a deep love, respect and understanding of their community as well as an essential critical dis-position that questions themselves and their community.”

Yee is a painter, still photographer, film and art director, and was props buyer for the Hollywood films, Anna And The King and Entrapment. Her works have been shown at major museums including the Tate Modern in London and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. She set an auction record when her 2003 work, Huminodun from the Kinabalu Series fetched HKD295,500 (RM117,000) at Christie’s Hong Kong sale in May 2008.