Quality Malaysian artwork on show

2009/03/08

Quality Malaysian artwork on show
By : R. Sittamparam

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Farouk Khan


KUALA LUMPUR: The Iskandar Malaysia Contemporary Art Show (Imcas) 2009, which will showcase about 1,000 works of more than 100 Malaysian artists, is set to place Malaysia at the forefront of the regional art market.


A painting by Hamir Shoib, valued around RM500,000

"The show, which begins on Saturday at the Danga City Mall in Johor Baru, is to promote art awareness in Johor Baru and indicate the kind of changes Iskandar Malaysia will bring to Johor," said Farouk Khan, who is the Imcas organising committee chairman.

Among the art on exhibit are works by leading artists that are from the private collection of Farouk and his wife, Aliya Khan.

Over the years, the Khans have scoured the country, buying up choice works of premier artists, convinced that Malaysian artworks were of world-class standard.

One choice work that will be exhibited is Pilihan by artist Hamir Shoib, which is valued around RM500,000.

"This is a unique and important event for the Malaysian art scene, especially as it is being held outside the artists' hub of Kuala Lumpur.

"I congratulate Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman and Danga City Mall for mooting the idea for Imcas, together with the National Art Gallery, with the aim of making it an annual affair," Farouk said.

"The development of a city state today is recognised not just in the number of buildings put up there, but the quality of life resulting from its technological and cultural development through advancement of the arts."

The unveiling of part of the couple's private artwork collection at the mall's 2,601 sq-metre anchor tenant space will represent the first public viewing of the collection.

It will serve as a preview to a show at the National Art Gallery in January next year.

Featured in the collection will be works of major contemporary artists, including Yusof Ghani, Zulkifli Yusof, Annuar Rashid, Tan Chin Kuan, Jalaini Abu Hassan, Masnoor Ramli, Ahmad Shukri, Jegadeva Anurendra, Jeganathan Ramachandram, Ivan Lam, Choy Chun Wei and Yau Bee Ling.

Farouk said although the works of Malaysian artists were highly sought after in the international art market, local buyers were quite averse to them.

"It would be sad if a situation arises here, as in China, where the government is forking out millions trying to buy back works of its local artists that are now in the hands of foreign collectors."

This is a strong possibility because many of the artworks of Malaysia's foremost artist, Datuk Ibrahim Hussein, who passed away recently, are in foreign lands.

Farouk said Imcas would include a fair for 100 young artists, who will vie for the top prizes of RM5,000, RM3,000, RM2,000 and seven consolation prizes of RM1,000 in an art competition.

"The artists' works will be for sale. It is a chance to become a beginner collector of reasonably-priced local artworks. This will be good investment as I'm sure every one of these artists will become major names and the value of their works will escalate sharply ."