(From left) Nizam, Hanifah and Abdul Mutalib listening to artist Syafiq Ahmad at the exhibition launch. —Photos: GLENN GUAN/The Star
THE success of a visual arts residency is reflected partly in its culminating exhibition.
“Elevate” at Galeri Puteh in KL Eco City Mall, Kuala Lumpur, is one such showcase.
Displaying 69 works by 10 artists of the Iltizam Seni residency, the show is open to the public until Feb 2.
The residency since July 2024 is organised by Iltizam (meaning “commitment, determination and will”) which is the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas), a government-linked equity fund management company.
It is part of the second cycle of the Iltizam Seni programme, with the first starting October 2023 benefitting seven artists.
In the recent cycle, the artists spent six months in a bungalow to hone their craft.
In addition to mentorship from visiting veteran artists, participants also received training in skills such as communication, presentation, financial planning, entrepreneurship and personal branding.
Acrylic and Chinese ink ‘Menduga Samudera’ (Testing the Ocean) by Raden Hisbullah.
Accommodation, studio space, art materials, a monthly allowance and exhibition venue were provided by Ekuinas.
The company’s chief executive officer Datuk Syed Yasir Arafat Syed Abd Kadir shared that the second cycle artists had been selected from over 50 applicants.
Iltizam Seni art residencies, he said, were aimed at benefitting bumiputra artists from underprivileged backgrounds, and to support the country’s arts and culture ecosystem.
Ekuinas also viewed the arts as a reflection of cultural heritage as well as a catalyst for economic, societal and individual progress, he said.
“Through this programme, we remain committed to building an ecosystem where creative talent can flourish.
“Our aim is for artists to be empowered with the tools, skills and confidence to build a sustainable and thriving career in the arts,” he said.
Also present was art collector Pakhruddin Sulaiman, a longtime patron of young, contemporary visual artists whose presence is an indicator of the exhibition’s potential as a showcase of artists to look out for.
Pointillism and gouache utilised for ‘Big Bossing All The Way to Oblivion’ by Syafiq Ahmad.
Among the engaging works displayed was a woodcut print depicting a gorilla with wings.
There was also an acrylic and Chinese ink rendition of ships sailing in a stormy sea.
Adding to the variety of mediums is a gouache painting of a lion on an armchair using pointillism, where distinct dots of colour are applied in patterns to form an image.
Gracing the launch was Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib, who called for more corporations to sponsor residencies, fund exhibitions and organise mentorships for emerging talents.
Private sector participation remained critical, she said, even as the government provided support through initiatives like the Bumiputera Agenda.
“Arts and culture hold a vital place in the creative economy, contributing significantly to gross domestic product, job creation and cultural diplomacy.
“Initiatives like Iltizam Seni align with the government’s efforts to strengthen the creative sector, ensuring Malaysia’s competitive edge in the global creative economy,” she said in her speech.
National Visual Arts Development Board chairman Shaik Rizal Sulaiman described the works in “Elevate” as thought-provoking, outspoken as well as experimental.
Pointing to how Malaysian visual arts had grown through five successive generations of practitioners, he expressed hope that the exhibition artists would continue this legacy.
“The artists at this exhibition are all below the age of 30, yet one sees how developed their pieces are.
“This is why programmes like Iltizam Seni are necessary to nurture a succession of well-educated artists,” he said.
Also present were Ekuinas CSR committee chairman Datuk Abdul Mutalib Alias, stakeholders’ interest director Hizwani Hassan, Galeri Puteh director Nizam Rahmat and programme mentor artist Jalaini Abu Hassan.
‘Elevate’ is on at Galeri Puteh, KL Eco City Mall until Feb 2. Free admission. Opening hours: 10am to 7pm. The gallery is closed today and tomorrow.
