Painting a brighter future for women with HIV

3 Art pieces for sale through the ARTAID15 fundraiser will be exhibited to the public for ten days beginning 21 August 2015 at Segaris Art Center, Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.

THE ARTAID15 exhibition, a collaboration between the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) and Segaris Art Centre, hopes to highlight and relieve the plight of underprivileged women living with HIV in Malaysia.

Nineteen contemporary artists, 16 from Malaysia and three from Indonesia, contributed 23 original art pieces, some of which were their most cherished and personal, to be sold for the benefit of MAF’s treatment, care and support programmes. Also part of the group and leading the artists are two of Malaysia’s acclaimed fine artists Ahmad Zakii Anwar and Jalaini Abu Hassan.

“I am proud of my fellow artists for heeding the call to stand in solidarity with the more than 11,000 women in Malaysia whose lives have been directly impacted by HIV,” said Ahmad Zakii, who is also an MAF trustee.

“As storytellers and observers of issues that affect us, artists have a responsibility to share their talent and canvas with women whose voices have been unjustly silenced by HIV-associated stigma and discrimination,” he added.

While new HIV infections in Malaysia have declined by 50% in the past decade, new cases among women are showing no sign of slowing down.

“A little over 10 years ago, for every 10 new HIV infections reported, one involved a woman. Now, the ratio has narrowed to 4:1,” said MAF chairman Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman.

“Gender disparity and a myriad of other socio-economic and health inequalities predispose women to heightened risk of HIV. As women continue to bear the brunt of the HIV epidemic, we need to aggressively scale up our HIV interventions to meet their specific gender needs.

“Money raised from ARTAID15 will enable us to expand our reach to many more women living with HIV, particularly those in hard-to-reach, impoverished and underserved settings in Malaysia, with health literacy, education and empowerment training activities, livelihood support and financial assistance schemes.”

The first instalment of its kind, ARTAID15 is poised to become an annual arts and social event, especially with the participation of three renowned Indonesian artists Jumaldi Alfi, Putu Sutawijaya and Yunizar.

Jalaini, who also serves as Segaris Art Centre director said, “Not only do our Indonesian counterparts add an international flair to ARTAID15, they also speak to the universality of the HIV crisis and the urgency to respond to its negative health, socio-cultural and economic impact.”

Joining the three Indonesian artists are Malaysia’s own Ahmad Shukri Mohamed, Bayu Utomo Radjikin, Chang Fee Ming, Chong Ai Lei, Chong Siew Ying, Fadilah Karim, Fauzul Yusri, Johari Said, Kow Leong Kiang, Noor Mahnun Mohamed, Sabri Idrus, Shia Yih Ying, Umi Baizura and Yusri Suleiman, in addition to Ahmad Zakii and Jalaini.

ARTAID15 ends on Aug 31 in Segaris Art Centre, Publika Shopping Gallery, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur. The public are welcome to view all the 23 art pieces for sale and make purchases ranging from RM5,000 to RM60,000. All purchases are entitled to tax exemption.

For details, visit http://yam.org.my/artaid15 or call Arif (MAF) at 012-959 4596.