Art Expo Malaysia Spotlights Southeast Asia
A+Works of Art, Richard Koh Fine Art and more
By A&M
Pen Robit, ‘Movement #1’, 2019, acrylic on canvas, 150 x 120cm. Image courtesy of Richard Koh Fine Art and the artist.
The 13th edition of Art Expo Malaysia runs from 11 to 13 October 2019 at the MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur. For the second time, the fair will have a Southeast Asia curatorial focus through the Art Lab, Art Now and The Artist’s Wall. We ask a few participating galleries from the region what they are bringing to the fair, and their expectations.
Manit Sriwanichpoom, ‘Chatchai Puipia’s Funeral, 2008, lambda print, 120 x 170cm. Image courtesy of A+ Works of Art.
A+ Works of Art will present in the SEA Art Lab a pairing of recent works by Indonesian artist Mella Jaarsma and emerging Malaysian artist Tan Zi Hao in a commentary on going beyond perceived cultural limitations in their respective societies.
The gallery will also bring a strong group of artists from across Southeast Asia in the SEA Art Now section: Agus Suwage (Indonesia), Ahmad Fuad Osman (Malaysia), Ampannee Satoh (Thailand), Bui Cong Khanh (Vietnam), Chong Kim Chiew (Malaysia), Daido Moriyama (Japan), Gan Siong King (Malaysia), Luke Heng (Singapore), Manit Sriwanichpoom (Thailand), Phornphop Sittiruk (Thailand), Phuan Thai Meng (Malaysia), Soe Yu Nwe (Myanmar), Tan Zi Hao (Malaysia), Ugo Untoro (Indonesia), Vincent Leong (Malaysia). The selection is based on the practices of art patrons in Malaysia and how they collect, display and edit the artworks they own. The price range of the works are from RM6,000 to RM130,000.
Other galleries in this section are Segaris Art Center, Core Design Gallery, Linda Gallery, Kohesi Initiatives, Lawangwangi, Richard Koh Fine Art and Gajah Gallery.
Keith Teo, ‘I can't remember Adjacent Colors’, 2019, oil on canvas, 150 x 120cm. Image courtesy of Richard Koh Fine Art and the artist.
Richard Koh Fine Art, which has spaces in both Kuala Lumpur and Singapore will showcase a group of young artists. Founder Richard Koh says, “This year, RKFA is mounting a group showcase of young and talented Southeast Asian artists across the mediums of painting, drawing and sculpture. In terms of mood, this year's edition will be quite quirky, and hopefully serves as a reminder that contemporary art is not necessarily convoluted, but accessible via irony and parody.” Among the artists they will bring are Singaporean artist Keith Teo and Cambodian artist Pen Robit. Prices of works at the booth will be below RM15,000.
Dini Nur Aghnia, ‘Rock Behind the Wave’, 2019, clay flour on canvas board, 140 x 120cm. Image courtesy of Gajah Gallery.
Kayleigh Goh, ‘I wanted to look at the Sea’, 2019, cement and acrylic paint on wood, 100 x 160cm. Image courtesy of Gajah Gallery.
Gajah Gallery will similarly shine a spotlight on young artists, including Indonesian artist Erizal As with his latest series “Formless Existence’ currently on view in the gallery’s space in Singapore, as well as Dini Nur Aghnia, whose landscape works are composed of sculpted painted clay discs. More established Indonesian artists the gallery will present are I Made Djirna, Ibrahim, Semsar Siahaan and Yunizar. It will also present new works by young Malaysian artists Kara Inez, Kuat Zhi Hooi and Kayleigh Goh, who works with wood and cement to create contemplative spaces within two-dimensional works.
Khairudin Zainudin, ‘Paradox In Tranquil’, 2019, various dimensions, drawing on paper. Image courtesy of G13 Gallery.
Natisa Jones, ‘Unfamiliar Visits’, 2019, acrylic on canvas, 100 x 100cm. Image courtesy of G13 Gallery.
G13 Gallery, who is participating for the eighth time, will bring a group of both emerging and established artists as well across two booths. The younger artists are Faiz ZA, Wong Ming Hao, Lina Tan from Malaysia and Natisa Jones from Indonesia. More established artists are Chin Wan Kee, Dato’ Sharifah Fatimah Syed Zubir and Kow Leong Kiang.
It will also present eight works from Malaysian artist Khairudin Zainudin’s ‘Paradox in Tranquil’ series as a special project at The Artist’s Wall, which will feature three other artists: Anniketyni Madian and Nor Tijan Firdaus from Core Design Gallery, Choo Ai Xin from Artemis Art and Trần Tuấn from Ho Chi Minh City-based Vin Gallery.
Trần Tuấn, ‘Chim 2 Bird 2’, 2018, resin and paper, 35 x 30 x 15cm. Image courtesy of Vin Gallery.
Trần Tuấn works at The Artist’s Wall are from his ‘The First Lesson’ series, which are sculptures made of enlarged notebook pages and large painted imagery of textbooks that children use in Vietnam. Two other Vietnamese artists Vin Gallery will showcase are Đoàn Xuân Tặng and Lê Anh Cẩn. It will also present two international artists who work out of Ho Chi Minh City: Karine Guillermin and Yohei Yama. Works at the booth range from RM500 to RM25,000.
“We are committed to the SEA market, as we believe the market will grow in the next 5 years,” says Shyevin S’ng, Managing Director of Vin Gallery. “We appreciate having the platforms to exchange experiences with newer audiences and build relationship with other gallerists within the SEA region.”
Bangkok-based La Lanta Fine Art will also spotlight both regional and international artists. Of note is Chinese artist Lu Jun who won first prize in photography at the Florence Biennale. Gallery Director Sukontip Fon Prahanpap says, “We have strong presence in art fairs in major art cities globally. With our participation in Art Expo Malaysia, we hope to establish a relationship with art audience in Southeast Asia region via the platform provided by Art Expo Malaysia.”
For more information, visit artexpomalaysia.com.
