Renowned Malaysian artists rally for Gaza art auction

Najib Bamadhaj's 'The Butterfly's Quest' (acrylic on jute, 2024) is one of the artworks featured in the Mercy Malaysia charity auction for Gaza this Saturday. Photo NAJIB BAMADHAJ

Mercy Malaysia is organising an auction in Kuala Lumpur on April 6 to raise funds for is humanitarian work in war-torn Gaza.

The international NGO, working together with the Gaza Health Ministry, has established a Palestinian medical point in al-Mawasi – a small and narrow area that is about 1km wide and 14km long where 1.5 million internally displaced populations (IDPs) are struggling to find food, water, healthcare, and shelter amid the war and winter cold.

Funding is critically needed to expand the usage of the medical facility and adequately address the pressing healthcare needs of the IDPs, including the provision of primary healthcare, mental health support, maternity care and other essential medical services.

A new work by Ahmad Zakii Anwar titled 'Pitcher & Bowl (acrylic on linen, 2024). Photo: Ahmad Zakii Anwar.

To meet these needs, Mercy Malaysia is holding a fine art and luxury goods auction at Menara CIMB, KL Sentral this Saturday in the hopes of raising RM2mil for emergency relief, medical aid and recovery programmes in Gaza.

"Your support through this fundraising auction initiative will enable us to sustain our humanitarian works in Gaza, providing essential aid and assistance to those who need it most. Together, we can make a difference and create a lasting impact on the lives of those affected by the crisis,” says Mercy Malaysia president Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus.

Awang Damit Ahmad's 'Payarama Baru ... Ikon Samudera' (mixed media, 2015) is one of the works to be auctioned off in the Mercy Malaysia event. Photo: Awang Damit Ahmad

The Mercy for Gaza auction will feature 20 to 30 artworks from prominent Malaysian artists, as well as specially donated items by well-known personalities.

Participating artists include Ahmad Fuad Osman, Yee I-Lann, Ilse Noor, Rafiee Ghani, Datuk Sharifah Fatimah Zubir, Ahmad Zakii Anwar, Sabri Idrus, Juhari Said, Chong Siew Ying, Chang Yoong Chia and Nadiah Bamadhaj. The family of the late artist Ahmad Khalid Yusof will also be contributing artworks.

Ahmad Fuad Osman's 'Qahr' (mixed media on canvas, 2023). Photo: Ahmad Fuad Osman

The featured artworks are curated by Suryani Senja of Cult Gallery, with support from auction house Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers and auctioneer Datuk Nick Sharif Lough.

The artists have committed to donating between 50% and 100% of their sales proceeds.

The Mercy for Gaza auction will be held on April 6 at Auditorium Md. Nor, Level 2, Menara CIMB KL Sentral. The preview is from 11am-3pm and the auction is from 3.30pm-5.30pm. More info here.