Foreword by Datuk Gary Thanasan
Foreword by Datuk Gary Thanasan
CEO of KL Lifestyle Art Space
In conjunction with the opening of KL Lifestyle Art Space
2011 marks a milestone In my relationship with art. Its humble beginnings were when I was a student in England. Unable to afford proper artworks, I settled for reprints of originals, and by the early nineties, graduated to commissioning oil replicas from Vietnam of Impressionist masterpieces.
These traces of my early days have now been relegated to a storeroom or are In the possession of others, but what I’ve carried through to the present is the same burning passion. I still collect art, but I’m proud to say that, today, my interest is a little closer to home as it is one hundred percent Malaysian. And, I can honestly say that I cannot imagine having it any other way.
While many others have embarked on a similar journey with Malaysian Visual arts, It Is an exciting one that could certainly do with more company. The art scene Is growing on a daily basis, artists are producing more challenging and captivating works by the minute, and events like art auctions and festivals have made a crucial difference to the industry as a whole. One lamentable problem, however, is that there still remains a massive gap between the industry and the public.
This is why KL Lifestyle Art Space was born.
The gallery’s chief goal is to offer another avenue for the local public to view modern and contemporary Malaysian artworks beyond the institutions and existing art spaces, and, we were fortunate to have secured a prime spot in the Tropicana City Mall. Situated on the ground floor, our space’s visibility is high and its accessibility will no doubt encourage many walk-ins, thereby promoting the subject to the greater public.
While the Malaysian visual art scene Is growing rapidly, I believe more is needed to propel it to the same heights as many of our Asian neighbours like China, India, Indonesia and Thailand. With our newly launched art space, we hope to bring the country’s visual art scene one step closer — indeed, someday one step ahead even —to our counterparts.
As a commercial gallery, we hope to encourage a secondary market for Malaysian art, particularly for modern or pioneer works. These Chiefly constitute artworks produced up till the 1 960s and many will be surprised
to know that these artworks, as well as artworks by the pioneering artists, are still attainable at a relatively affordable price.
We will also provide the service of receiving consignments from artists or individual collectors, therefore making otherwise rare artworks available to Interested parties. This will no doubt Increase the chances of acquiring those haiti-to-secure pieces from specific periods, series, or Individuals, and, we also hope to encourage fresh, young collectors in the process.
All art collections begin somewhere. What matter most are the steps that follow, and as all serious collectors know, it is important to deal with a reputable source. KL Lifestyle Art Space offers an assurance of legitimacy for all the artworks that pass through our doors.
All acquisitions made with the gallery will come complete with a certificate of authenticity — with original artists’ signatures — and If It Is a posthumous work, then a guarantee will be made with an appropriate governing body at a token cost.
In time, our gallery will make its presence on the Internet too with a website that soon to be launched on www.kl-lifestyle.com.my/artspace. On this site, artworks that are physically in the gallery and consigned artworks will be displayed and audiences will be able to view them from the comfort of anywhere they are based.
We already have a series of exhibitions In the pipeline for the rest of the year and we hope to see you time and time again at our space, which consists of two parts: a main hall with a high ceiling that allows a miscellany of artworks to be displayed, while a smaller room will be used to exhibit smaller or more delicate works, such as those on paper.
Interestingly, the doors for this intimate and private space come from the home of artist Khalil Ibrahim, whose beautiful scenes of Malaysia’s countryside — together with his compatriot, Shafurdin Habib — form the gallery’s first exhibition, Peasant Landscape. Idyllic, tranquil, and distinctly Malaysian, these landscapes complement our gallery’s aim of promoting Malaysian visual arts and they form a fantastic counterpart to the more contemporary pieces that hang in the gallery’s main hail.
May the launch of KL Lifestyle Art Space signal the start of yet another wonderful art journey — for you and I, and of course, Malaysians at large.
KL Lifestyle Art Space Now Open At Lot G.36, Ground Floor, Tropicana City Moll,No.3 Jalan 5520/27,47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA
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Modern and Contemporary Art Showcase. Exclusively at KL Lifestyle Art Space
Featuring Works by Malaysian Masters and Emerging Artists Feb 23- March 15, 2011
l think Malaysian artists these days are lucky because they have more support from the public. -Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal
Born on Sept 19, 1929 in Muar, Johor, Datuk Syed Ahrnad Jamal received his early education at Sekolah Tambatan Rendah Johor Baru from 1936 to 19(38 before moving to Sekoiah Tambatan Tinggi In 1939. In 1940, he continued his education at Ngee Heng English School and at Bukit Zaharah English School from 1941. From 1945 to 1949, he studied at Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar.
Syed Ahmad Jamal is one of the personalities who played a significant role in the development of the National Art Gallery and held the post of Director-General from 1983 to 1991. In 2005, he received his Honorary Doctorate in Art Education horn University Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjung Malim, Malaysia. He is an incredibly talented artist and his works are appreciated by art lovers and the public. He has held several solo exhibitions, among which were ‘Antara Langit & Bumi’, Ruang” and “On & Off King’s Road’.
Solo Exhibitions
• Retrospective Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur (1975)
• ‘Kunang-Kunang’, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur (2000)
• ‘Antara Langit dan Bumi’, Galeri Petrorias, Kuala Lumpur (2000)
• Syed Abmad Jamal, Drawings & Sketches of the 1950’s, Elm Quay Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur (2002)
• ‘Ruang’, Islamic Art Museum, Kuala Lumpur (2004)
• ‘On & Off King’s Road’, Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur (2006)
• ‘Pelukis dan Peristiwa’, RA Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur (2008)
• ‘SyedAhmad Jamal: Pelukis’, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur (2009)
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A Watercolour Exhibition by Khalil Ibrahim and Shafurdin Habib
Feb23 – March 15, 2011
Shafurdin Habib
Inspiration comes in many forms, and for Shafurdin Habib, it is the countryside of Malaysia and its picturesque landscapes. For a true artist to put colour to canvas or paper, there must be a special connection between sub)ect and artist. This is very much the case for Shafurdin whose fuel for painting comes ii the form of the whole experience of being In the countryside, from the fishermen toiling at sea to the women pounding spices on their verandahs.
Born in Kanipung Basong, Perak Shafurdin now 50 smiles as he recals his childhood days in the village, as a schoolboy I loved sailing — all my school exercise books were full of my pencil drawings. A humble hobby soon turned into a deep passion. In his twenties, when Shafurdin, moved to Kuala Lumpur, he befriended established water colourists, among them the famed Khalil Ibrahim. In fact, Khalil’s influence is discerned in many of Shafurdin’s works; compare Khalil’s “Tumpat, Kelantan Fishing VilIage (1978)” and Shafurdin’s “Beilabuh”.
The artist actively pursued painting all through the 1980, mainly to compose a good number of pieces to join professional art dubs. During this time, he exhibited at P0k Baisi Seni Lukis Sabah (1987).
Some 30 pieces of Shafurdin’s artworks are currently available at KL Lifestyle Art Space.
