Art Expo Malaysia (AEM) 09 - Riding out the tough times By OOI KOK CHUEN
THE International Art Expo Malaysia 09 (AEM 09) faces one of its biggest challenges in its third edition this November.
Slated at the Matrade Exhibition and Convention Centre (MECC) from November 19 to 23, the AEM which is still a privately initiated and funded project is held under a swirl of economic uncertainty and competition from two new fairs from the Philippines and Singapore in the South-east Asian region.
When the US subprime and financial crisis hit early this year, AEM chairman Vincent Sim made a tough call of carrying on with the show and even went ahead with an upgrade which resulted in reputable local galleries and art spaces joining in. But this, at a heavy price of turning away many lesser galleries or artist-run spaces.
Said AEM project director Sim Pojinn: "We have finally convinced more of the more established galleries to come in, to showcase a broad spectrum of our art expressions and practices. We are also sparing no expenses despite the economic gloom in offering a range of exciting events to make this AEM 09 a memorable affair."
The Malaysian bandwagon will have Pelita Hati House of Art, Artseni, City Art Gallery, Metro Fine Art, Artcase Galleries, Threehundredsixty, Sutra Gallery, RA Fine Arts, Artfolio, Yahong Art Gallery, Richard Koh Fine Art, a2 Gallery, The Annexe Gallery, House of Matahati, ESPI Fine Arts, arteri and artsalon@SENI (The Art Gallery, Penang). There will be more than 100 Malaysian artists represented by these galleries in AEM 09.
Until this year, only Malaysia and Singapore share the Art Expo limelight, with Singapore basking in heavy government funding and support. However, the entry of new players may not necessarily stifle the market but the greater awareness and interest could instead spur more cross-border collecting which has huge potential.
This year's AEM will see the entry of Japan for the first time through Noda Contemporary, which has a dual base in Nagoya in Japan and Beijing in China, while Janus Art Gallery and Samanvai Art Gallery will re-stoke the ravenous interest in contemporary Indian art which saw a spectacular boom until the global recession set in. Janus Art Gallery boasts of a strong accent on Bengal art with a tradition going back to Abanindranath Tagore (1871-1951).
Singapore, with its enviable strategic role as a financial centre and growing cultural hub, not only showcases its home-grown talents but also the hot-ticket names from China and leading artists from the more reclusive Myanmar. Jasmine Fine Art and Linda Gallery will also be making an impact.
The Philippines and Indonesia will be represented by Galeri Joaquin whereas Indonesia will be represented by Koong Gallery, Puri Art Gallery, H Gallery. Chit Fung Art, a respected Hong Kong gallery in traditional Chinese brush painting dealership will doubtless unveil works by their heavyweights.
A three-time 'client' is ATR Gallery with its highly compelling stable of bankable Spanish artists such as Jesus Curia and Guillermo Oyaguez, one of the 'darlings' of the Madrid 2009 art fair, and ditto the Hungarian father-and-son outfit of Zoltan and Daniel Ludvig with their polished works.
Taiwan is also making a strong presence with Licence Art Gallery, William Contemporary Art Space and Capital Art Centre under York Hsiao.
As usual, South Korean artists under the International Art Cooperative Organization (IACO) will offer a tantalising potpourri of the traditional and the modern by repeat participants and newcomers. They will be led by Lee Byun-Lyol, whose accomplishments in watercolours are noted.
AEM 09 will also be chockful of interesting events. Heading the list must be the Digital Art China video art/animation bombardment from China's Super Six of Digital Art namely Miao Xiao Chun, Feng Jiangzhou, Bu Hua, Zhang Xiaotao, Li Qintan and Feng Mengbo. Miao, who mesmerised with his work based on Michelangelo's Last Judgement several years ago, will offer a futuristic take on Hieronymus Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights in a work called Microcosm.
There will also be a special exhibition called 19 Dons from China featuring works by 19 leading professors from the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA). That these two highlights are from China have nothing to do with China's growing economic and political clout in the world, but more so the celebrations of the 35th year of bilateral relations between Malaysia and China.
This year, the AEM's signature Tribute Pavilion honours academician-artist-ceramist Cheah Yew Saik, the founder-principal of the Kuala Lumpur College of Art (1968-2002). Previous tributes showcased the works of Datuk Chuah Thean Teng (1912-2008), Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal, Dr. Chung Chen Sun (all Malaysia), Prof. Li Chi Mao (Taiwan) and Prof. Jang Soon-Up (South Korea).
Malaysian Art Idols: New Directions/Different Voices will offer a glimpse of seven of Malaysia's leading contemporary artists in a pilot episode. They are Chan Kok Hooi, Fauzin Mustafa, I Lann Yee, Kelvin Chap Kok Leong, Kow Leong Kiang, Multhalib Musa and Ramlan Abdullah.
The National Art Gallery willbe presenting its Malaysian Open 2009 comprising the trinity of the exhibition, the auction (scheduled for December) and the formation of the Malaysian Association of Galleries.
The 1Malaysia Canvas Mosaic will assemble 5in x 5in strips representing interpretations of the 1Malaysia concept to be unveiled as a super mural early next year. Completed works will be previewed at the 1Malaysia Booth at the AEM 09.
AEM '09 will also stir up interest in the Henry Butcher Art Auction scheduled in Kuala Lumpur early next year, with a display of a few prominent works that will go under the hammer as well as entertaining pertinent enquiries.
Its commitment to charity will see the HeArt Group comprising young artists with special needs again showcasing their skills in art.
AEM 09 is under the patronage of the art-loving Raja Puan Muda of Perlis Tuanku Hajjah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil.
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