Artist Detail | Ilham Gallery
HRH Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah
1907 - 1979, Malaysia
HRH Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah
1907 - 1979, Malaysia

HRH Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah (b. 1907–d. 1979; Terengganu) was the fourth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and the sixteenth Sultan of Terengganu. Outside of his royal duties, he was an accomplished photographer, one of the first few pioneering photographers in Malaysia. In 1958, he was made an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain and in 1966 was awarded the distinction of Excellence from the Fédération Internationale de l'Art Photographique. His photographs offer unique glimpses into Malaysia at the dawn of its modern era. Some of his most memorable photographs are those of the depopulated streets of Kuala Lumpur during the 13 May 1969 race riots. In 2017, the Islamic Arts Museum of Malaysia held a retrospective of his work. His photo archives have been inherited by his grandson, Raja Mohd Zainol Ihsan Shah, who manages their publication and exhibition.