Veteran artist Awang Damit’s painting 'Olive, Canopy And Passing Cloud' (2025) is among the works to be auctioned at the 'Art For Humanity' fundraiser. Photo: Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
CIMB Artober Art & Soul returns this weekend, bringing together art, culture and fashion under one roof with exhibitions, workshops, talks and pop-up showcases. The annual series – free and open to all – has grown into a key date on Kuala Lumpur’s cultural calendar, offering a window into Malaysia’s diverse art scene and its ties to the wider region.
This year’s edition takes place at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) from Sept 26–28, drawing more than 30 local galleries and over 100 artists.
Among the participating galleries are G13 Gallery, Richard Koh Projects, Taksu, Core Design Gallery, Artas Galleri, Sasha Gallery, Sareng, and Tali Art Gallery. From contemporary painting to experimental installations, the fair reflects how Malaysia’s artists are both rooted in local traditions and connected to contemporary currents.
An exhibition of never-before-seen works by the late Datuk Ibrahim Hussein (1936–2009) is a highlight. Photo: Filepic
For a new generation of art lovers – and for longstanding fans – a highlight this year is a special exhibition of never-before-seen works by the late Datuk Ibrahim Hussein (1936–2009), a pioneering figure and one of Malaysia’s most celebrated artists.
Traditional textile arts - telepuk, keringkam, kelingkan, kain dastar and batik - will also be showcased as Yayasan Hasanah brings the public closer to these intricate heritage art forms beyond the museum walls, with live demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and exhibitions showcasing award-winning works from the Hasanah Gold Threads Awards collection.
Master crafters from Kelantan, Kuala Terengganu, Sarawak, and Sabah will be present at MITEC to share not only their techniques but also the cultural stories woven into each motif and stitch. Visitors will have the chance to witness rare skills passed down through generations — and even take home a piece of heritage, with select works available for purchase.
Traditional textile arts will also be showcased as Yayasan Hasanah celebrates Malaysia’s living heritage at MITEC. Photo: Yayasan Hasanah
Over the weekend, the Yayasan Hasanah booth will feature kelingkan crafter Nik Marhamah (Kelantan), telepuk craftsman Mohd Azwarin Ahmed, (Kuala Terengganu) and keringkam craftswoman Ros Salleh (Brooke Museum, Sarawak) leading demos, while Cipela, a Malaysian shoe social enterprise, highlights kain dastar from Sabah’s Iranun community.
Where art meets compassion
This year, Malaysian artists are also using the Artober Art & Soul event as a platform to show solidarity with Gaza, through works and an auction programme reflecting empathy, resilience and a shared call for peace.
“Art For Humanity,” a fundraising auction in support of Gaza, will take place on Sept 28 at 5.30pm. Curated by Suryani Senja and supported by Mercy Malaysia, CIMB, Cult Gallery and Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers, the initiative gathers the art community to channel creativity into compassion.
More than 25 artworks, rare collectibles and cultural treasures will be on the block, featuring leading Malaysian names such as Awang Damit Ahmad, Ahmad Zakii Anwar, Raja Shahriman Raja Aziddin, Fadilah Karim, Umibaizurah Mahir Ismail, Zulkifli Lee, Kow Leong Kiang and Jalaini Abu Hassan.
Works by Indonesian masters Kartika Affandi and Dyan Anggraini, drawn from private collections, add a rare regional dimension to the line-up.
“Art has the power to connect us beyond borders and bring attention to those in need. Through this auction, we are not just raising funds, but also hope and dignity for the people of Gaza. Mercy Malaysia remains committed to supporting their recovery and wellbeing, and we invite all Malaysians to join us in bidding for Gaza,” says Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus, Mercy Malaysia president.
Najib Ahmad Bamadhaj’s ‘Glory To Gaza’, which fuses bitumen, acrylic and gold leaf. Photo: Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers
Auction highlights include Ahmad Fuad Osman’s Monument Series #3, a large oil on canvas built from confronting photographs of Gaza’s destruction. By lingering with these images far longer than most would dare, Fuad transforms them into enduring spaces of remembrance.
Jalaini’s Reading Ibn Sina (2016), an acrylic-on-canvas work inspired by the Persian polymath, blends philosophical depth with painterly richness to reflect on knowledge, continuity and truth.
Other standouts include veteran artist Ilse Noor’s Olive Tree, a symbolic drawing paired with a poem, its imagery rooted in Palestinian culture, and Najib Ahmad Bamadhaj’s Glory To Gaza, a fusion of bitumen, acrylic and gold leaf as a testament of solidarity. Music legend Datuk M. Nasir has contributed a painting alongside a rare collection of his signed LPs, donated by a private collector.
Proceeds will directly support Mercy Malaysia’s humanitarian work in Gaza - from emergency medical aid and maternal health to food security and infrastructure rehabilitation.
