Malaysian gallery thrives on nurturing the next wave of artful minds

Hisyamuddin Abdullah's 'Magic Show' (acrylic on canvas, 2020). Photos: G13 Gallery

The “smell” of art can be a refreshing change.

For more than two weeks in 2015, artist Samsudin Wahab’s Orang Ikan Kering, a life-sized figure made out of salted fish, became the focal point of G13 Gallery’s Flush group exhibition by the Sebiji Padi art collective.

“This showcase is one that I will never forget because the smell lingered in our gallery for two weeks!” recalls Kenny Teng, 47, the gallery’s co-founder, with a laugh.

“It was a whole new experience for everyone, ” he adds.

This is one of the many fond memories Teng has of the Petaling Jaya-based gallery, which he co-founded with Wendy Chang some 10 years ago when the country was recovering from the 2008 financial crisis.

“It was a difficult decision to make but we insisted on taking up this challenge because we were passionate about art, ” shares Teng.

But the road ahead was not easy for them. With barely any knowledge about the art scene, Teng and Chang learned by attending art programmes and visiting studios of artists because, says Teng, “there was no right formula to excel in this industry”.

G13 Gallery's co-founders Wendy Chang and Kenny Teng will push forward new art exhibitions despite the pandemic challenges.

But the gallery has grown from strength to strength.

From the late Cheev’s wood sculptures and Samsudin’s projections powered by live mealworms and cockroaches to over 130 exhibitions of gallery paintings and contemporary mixed-media art, G13’s adventure in art has been a diverse one.

To date, G13 had exhibited 237 local and international artists.

It only seems logical to throw a birthday bash to celebrate G13’s 10th anniversary in the form of a multidisciplinary exhibition.

Aptly named Sedekad, the group exhibition features 33 artists from Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Creative connections

Sedekad encapsulates the gallery’s youthful vision, with sculptures, paintings and mixed media artworks.

“This show is to celebrate the collaboration between local and international artists who have been supporting the gallery programmes over the past 10 years, ” says Teng.

The exhibition features a good mix of young and established Malaysian artists alongside their regional counterparts.

Veteran artist Abdullah Jones' 'Hamba Cintamu' (mixed media on canvas, 2020) is part of the gallery's anniversary show.

Sedekad includes works by Sabihis Md Pandi, Shafiq Nordin, Gan Tee Sheng, Haslin Ismail, Hisyamuddin Abdullah, Khairudin Zainudin, Gan Sze Hooi, Najib Ahmad Bamadhaj, right to veteran names such as Sharifah Fatimah Syed Zubir, Awang Damit Ahmad, Abdullah Jones, Suzlee Ibrahim and Rafiee Ghani.

“The artists participating in this exhibition are those who have grown together with us over the past 10 years. There are a quite a few artists we have collaborated since they graduated) and today, they are known regionally, ” he continues.

Shafiq Nordin, 31, is a good example of how a gallery can help grow an artist’s career.

He started exhibiting at G13 in 2014. His first ever G13 show was a group exhibition entitled Configuration.

“The G13 gallery has been there since the start of my artistic career, locally and internationally.

Shafiq Nordin’s 'I’m Innocent' (acrylic on canvas stick on board, 2020).

"This is a gallery that’s brave enough to take risks and to encourage young artists to take the leap beyond Malaysian shores, ” says Shafiq.

The Negri Sembilan-born artist appreciates how G13 is very open to new ideas and does not look at things purely from a commercial angle.

Shafiq has been part of nearly 20 exhibitions with G13, including a solo show in 2018 called Aletheia.

For Sedekad, he contributes one work titled I’m Innocent, which has his signature psychedelic style.

The painting is also pointedly topical (maybe political), with a thieving racoon leaving the viewer to make their own guesses.

Haslin Ismail’s 'Kucing Jadian' (marker ink and Indian ink on raw canvas, 2020).

Another familiar G13 name is Haslin Ismail, 34, who had his early solo shows with the gallery.

His award-winning resume includes literature-based installations, drawings, art books, fanzines and paintings.

The Johor-born artist’s ink work for Sedekad is called Kucing Jadian, a mysterious half human, half cat figure based on his own pet cat.

Haslin has been at G13 since 2013 with 10 exhibitions so far.

“The gallery has definitely helped to promote my name as an artist, especially after Art Stage 2014 in Singapore, ” says Haslin.

The push forward

Promoting young artists outside Malaysia is shared vision for the G13 co-founders since the beginning.

“The main objective is to bring Malaysian art abroad and let the world know the true potential of Malaysian artists, ” says Teng.

Since its inception, 30 exhibitions have been held abroad, concentrating on Asian countries such as Indonesia, South Korea and Taiwan.

Regional art fairs have also helped boost the profiles of the artists.

“The G13 Project Room platform was also initiated in 2016 to open up opportunities for newcomer artists, ” says Teng.

A total of 19 Project Room showcases, involving 15 local artists and four international artists, have been presented.

“Artists scouted to exhibit in this programme usually must fit the criteria of having new and interesting approaches to art.”

Young artists such as Haziq Syawal, Raimi Sani and Faiz ZA have made their debut exhibition under this programme.

Sabihis Pandi's 'Halimunan Tidur' (woodcut and acrylic, 2020).

Another artist development programme is the G13 Bali Residency Programme. First realised in 2012, there has been three residencies under this programme, involving five artists.

“This residency programme is meant to develop and enhance new experiences for our local young artists.

“We believe that every artist, especially young ones, should travel, to claim their chance to learn, to experience and then grow, by exposing themselves with new ideas, cultures and world views, so they can explore the dimensions of their artistic possibilities,” says Teng.

This programme has hosted names such as Faizal Suhif, Hishamuddin Ahmad, Najib Ahmad Bamadhaj and Yuki Tham.

In light of the pandemic and the conditional movement control order (MCO), Teng concludes it will be a challenge ahead to run a gallery and keep artists motivated.

"G13 is not downsizing its line-up of artists, and it will be focused on helping them adapt.

“I would like to advise artists to innovate and rethink creative processes in this current situation.

"To be the best they can. Only the best works will survive, ” he says.

Sedekad is on at G13 Gallery, Kelana Square, Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya in Selangor till Oct 24. Viewing by appointment only. More info: www.g13gallery.com.