Twenty Malaysian art galleries will be participating in the Art For All: Art Gala event, which will take up an entire floor of the GMBB creative mall in Kuala Lumpur.
The art fair, scheduled for April 8-10, is the first major public art event in the capital since the country's borders reopened on April 1. It's another much-needed art recovery weekend in KL where artists, artist collectives, galleries and art publishers can interact with the public and art collectors.
Art For All: Art Gala is a free admission (pre-registration required) event, featuring over 500 artworks by 100 local and international artists from the Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, Indonesia, China, Australia, Britain, Spain and Japan.
Organised by Art Expo Malaysia and supported by the Cultural Economy Development Agency (Cendana), the Art For All: Art Gala event will include paintings, installations, sculptures, and print works right to photography, video works and NFTs.
“The fair was first conceived as a response to the changing art landscape resulting from the pandemic disruption. It has further expanded through collaborations with industry players ... everybody is working together to revive the local art scene,” says Sim Pojinn, Art Expo Malaysia co-founder and fair director.
The exhibitors include the National Art Gallery, fine art auction house - Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers, and independent art galleries such as A2 Gallery, AATO Room, Art Case Galleries, Art Weme Contemporary Gallery, Artemis Art, ATR Gallery, Chetak 17 + A.P. Art Gallery, Core Design Gallery, G13 Gallery, Gallery Des Artistes, HOM Art Trans, La Galerie du Monde, Minut Init, Nadine Fine Art, NN Gallery, RAG Studio, Rissim Contemporary, Suma Orientalis, The Back Room, V’Art Space, Wei-Ling Gallery, and Zhan Art | Space.
It will showcase the emerging and the established names, hosting everyone from Fadhli 'Pali' Ariffin and Kimberley Boudville to Rafiee Ghani and Tajuddin Ismail. Visitors can also look forward to a community-based NFT project titled "Sleepless Workshop".
Wei-Ling Gallery, a Malaysian gallery with an international standing, will also launch its IGNITE by WLG series, with an affordable art range. The show will feature artworks by local contemporary artists, which reflect their personal lives and identities, as well as present-day issues that affect them intimately.
Sim adds it was crucial that the art fair is presented in a “refreshed format”, giving new collectors and the public an opportunity to get discover the latest art trends and developments in Malaysia and abroad.
"With accents on 'Contemporary', 'Cutting-Edge', and 'Curated', the retail spaces at level 3A (GMBB) will be creatively transformed into an engaging art venue for the visitors to appreciate art beyond the boundaries of a typical art fair," outlines a media statement.
Sim adds that the art fair will focus predominantly on works from local artists, including programmes to introduce newcomer artists. Each gallery will present exhibitions based on its own curatorial direction, which are based on the space, selected artists, and exhibited artworks.
“Art Expo Malaysia is constantly on the lookout for exciting galleries with a strong track record, interesting concepts and unconventional spaces to present an inclusive art experience,” says Sim.
Visitor capacity is limited to 100 people at any one time. Exhibition hours: April 8 and 9 (11.30am - 8pm), April 10 (11.30am - 7pm). All public health guidelines will be strictly followed at Art For All: Art Gala.
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