First Malaysian Art Auction Off To A Flying Start

Ibrahim Hussein's The Dream - RM455K

The first Malaysian Art Auction held by the Henry Butcher Auctioneers flew off to an impressive start with about RM1.5 million worth of local art business done. Heading the impressive sale was the late Ibrahim Hussein's work - The Dream (Acrylic on Canvas - 121cm by 121cm) 1969 - which went for RM500,500 – inclusive of the 10% buyer’s premium.

However, the greatest increase in price value was the pastel piece by Hoessin Enas (Peasant Girl - 48cm by 32cm - 1993) which went for RM44K, more than twice its expected price of RM20K.

Hoessein Enas's The Pesant Girl - RM41K

Yong Mun Sen's watercolour works The Bridge (1948) and Horse Carriage in Malacca (1953) went for RM23 and RM25K respectively.

Calling Young Artists

Are you a Malaysian artist aged between 18 to 40? A competition cum exhibition event is being organised by ArtGroup International, an web-based international artists network managed by Galeri Art Point.

The top 3 winners win a cash prize and a one-month artist-in-residence in a country outside Malaysia. ArtGroup International in collaboration with Clap & Tap (USA), Boxhill Community Art Center (Australia) and Art of Nature (Hongkong) provide sponsorship for the Artist-In- Residence Porgram.

Award/Exhibition is done online by a panel of International Judges. A webpage will be provided for online judging. The 500 selected best works for the semi-finalis will be published at official website at http://young-excellent-malaysia.artgrup.org

PLEASE BE PATIENT

Dear Readers,

If you arrive by search engines, or even book marks, you may find that there is something wrong with this site. Well, there is. I have just moved servers and some of the files are stranded somewhere between there and here. I hope you will be patient with me. I will upload them again, one by one if possible.

I am also planning to change the look of this site to make it more dynamic, which is the reason why I am changing servers so that I may redesign it again. All these changes will tax your patience, so please bear with me.

Thank you


Swee

Artist Teoh Continues Painting

These are the works of Teoh Gay Hian, 41, a Malaysian cinematographer living in Jakarta. Teoh decides to paint again after 25 years.

In his words: "The last 25 years I have been busy pursuing my career and I stopped almost totally painting watercolours. But recently I picked it up again and hope to paint regularly as much as I can. "I love watercolour and it has enough things for me to explore and there's no need for me to try other mediums (except pencil)."

Ikang




Behand Dadan's house

Ibrahim Hussein Work For Sale

This was sent to me by a reader. He is interested to sell the piece at the right price - as he is not interested in keeping the piece. I dont normally allow non-watercolour pieces to be here but just this once. According to the owner, it was one of the Langkawi series done by Ibrahim, a No18 out of the 200. Anyone wishing to purchase can write to me and I will provide the sender's email address. You can then contact him for further negotiations.

Artist pays tribute to IB

Malaysia lost yet another of its forerunners in art, Datuk Ibrahim Hussein, 72, who died of a heart attack at his Pantai home on Feb 19. Ibrahim, widely known as "Ib', had collapsed at his Lorong Bukit Pantai 1 home in Bukit Pantai.

Late last year, the country lost batil doyen Datuk Chuah Thean Teng. Malaysia’s world-acknowledged founder of batik painting, passed away in mid November at the age of 96.

There are many ways of paying tribute to artists who have passed on and one of them is to create works of art in their memory.

Artist Chee Eng Hong, who is renowned for his Sahut series, did this painting on the day he received an SMS of Ib's passing.


A painting dedicated to Datuk Ibrahim Hussein, Titled: i90209 (30"x30")

Anti-Drugs Poster Painting Competition 2008

A piece in the spirit of watercolour by Liew Yoke Hui of SMK Jinjang. This piece won first place in the Lower Secondary School category.

There is a lot of talent among children as evident from the recent nationwide Anti-Drugs Campaign Poster Painting Competition held in Kuala Lumpur recently.

I had the opportunity to attend the state finals and was given the chance to speak to a number of judges and art teachers there. The medium of painting comprised soft pastels/crayons and watercolour/poster colour(gouache).

More than a dozen students were selected from 12 district champions qualified for the finals from which the champion will represent Kuala Lumpur at the National Finals in Kota Baru later this year.

The judges must have had a tough time deciding who should rightly win based on the high quality of the paintings. I know I was at a loss for words looking at the variety of subjects and colours each had chosen to paint their message on such a grim subject as drugs. The art teachers have taught their students well, indeed.

Although there were great similarities between the subjects, there are also some gems among the lot. Many should have won but were not picked by the judges for reasons best known to them. But there was certainly no lack of originality and unique concepts in this finals.

One thing I saw at this competition, which I think is very unhealthy, is how some parents become too involved in wanting their children to win - to the extent of bad mouthing their children's rivals' work that were selected. Even the judges were not spared.

My advice to these parents is not to take part in such competition if it drives so much stress into themselves and their children. The prize money is not much - only a few hundred ringgit - and certainly not worth the gripe nor the bragging rights should your child win.

The desperation to see a winning work in the hands of their children is not doing anything to encourage the latter's love for art. In all likelihood, your children is going to despise art for the misery their work brings upon them in terms of scolding from you parents!

Anyway, here's a video of the final winners. These are good in my opinion - what more could you ask for from teens from 13 to 17?

Where Can I Get Information On KL Festival On The Net?

You may call this bitching... but where the heck can I get information on one of the biggest arts festival in Kuala Lumpur, supposedly to be held this month in the capital and sanctioned by the Government?

Google it and you will get to a daily's news piece on June 29. But the domain name that points to the organiser's website ends up in a nought.

Considering the hoo-haa created about the City Hall wanting to wifi entire Kuala Lumpur, one wonders how an event as big as this could go missing on the web!

At the very least, last year, there was a domain to which you could find out more.

Wonder the logo is still the same like last year's (below)?

Are you Aware of This Artists Day?

I was going through the website of the National Museum and found this entry:

29 May 2008
Location : Merdeka Hall, Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Synopsis : The Launching of National Artist Day 2008
Time : 9.30 am - 12.30 pm
Merdeka Hall, Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur
The Launching of Artist Day is to appreciate the contribution and roles of local artises in shaping Malaysia as kind-hearted, highly sprited and valued arts and culture as part of their life through arts programmes.
Artist Day will officially be launched by Y.A.B Dato' Seri abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi and will be participated by artistes, local performers that have been contributing in the local entertainment industry.
Everyone is invited.
Malaysia National Film Development Cor[oration (FINAS)

This post was taken in its entirety - including the spelling mistakes.

I have asked several artists and they said they knew nothing of this sort. I pondered and found out what happened. The artists here meant artist-es. The people who perform on stages, singers and dances and choreographers.

Not THE ARTIST you and I know. I now know why artists I asked knew nothing of the event. Whether the event was held or not, I am also unsure as I did not remember seeing it in the papers, heard it on the radio or see it on television.

Which brings me to another question:

Do you think we can actually have an ARTISTS DAY dedicated to the true artists in Malaysia, celebrated or struggling, to recognise their contribution? I am talking about the real artists not artistes. Perhaps, even an ARTS DAY.

Artists in Malaysia have been divided both by status and accomplishments. For a nation marching towards developed status, it will be a pity if we continue to neglect the sculptors and documentators of our journey.

Art Bazaar At KL Railway Station

Its days are numbered, but someone has found a creative way to "rebrand" the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station - probably as an art bazaar.

I know, you may not have heard about it before unless you stop over at the Railway Station. And these days, you don't need to as it is no longer useful as a transport hub because the next stop - KL Sentral - is much, much more useful and convenient.

Anyway, I found out that there is an art bazaar at station. Whoever put it there, I must say it is a good idea and the limited few stalls that I saw showed some potential as a mini art mart - nothing more, and even that, if you noticed them.

Perhaps, this is what the owners of KL Railway Station building can think about - turning the station into a viable economic venture than let it go to waste and grow cobwebs on the ceilings. With the Central Market a cough away, this could be yet another heritage reclamation project. And why not!

Anyway, from the art work on display, I gathered that there are only a handful of artists exhibiting. And selling. There are some watercolour and some oil. Some abstract, some sketches. The latter I liked a lot - splendid architectural pieces done in ink and pencil, depicting the nation's landmarks.



Seeing this place reminds me of the Laman Seni which is now but a memory. It was set up to give artists a place to converge once a month and sell their work amidst a carnival-lie atmosphere. Just when it was about to reap its first taste of success, some big brother decided that it would be better off in Putrajaya, and so it was dismantled and artists who sold here was invited to move to Putrajaya.

The idea fell splendidly on its face and without Laman Seni, few people find reason to visit the National Art Gallery in Jalan Temerloh. Otherwise, the first Sunday of every month is looked upon by people living around the Lake Titiwangsa area, which is just a stone's throw away from the gallery.

Footnote: Hopefully the new Tourism Minister Shafie Apdal will read this blog and perhaps bring back the Laman Seni? You can't draw crowd to the gallery with art alone. Activities like Laman Seni is important and popular. Just look at Amcorp Mall's flea mart. There is a lesson to be learned there. Bring back the Laman Seni at Balai Seni Lukis Negara and I bet your last packet of nasi lemak the crowd will be back and the National Art Gallery not so eeriely deserted on weekends.

Monsoon Gust - By Abdullah Ariff - To Be auctioned

I have been informed that an original watercolour by Abdullah Ariff titled "Monsoon Gust" will be sold at auction on Tuesday (May 27th) by the Rowley's auctioneers in Newmarket, Suffolk, England.

According to Silas Currie (Auctioneer and Head Of Valuations
Rowley's - Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers), the work was signed and dated 1955 and measures 37 by 54cm. I was also informed that the reserved price would be around 3,000 British Pounds.

If there are any Malaysians out there - as the National Art Gallery has not made any enquiry about it since I listed information and whereabouts of this national treasure on this site and even after having written to one of the officials of they were interested - here is your chance to bring the work home.

Thank you.

More Abdullah Ariff's Works Coming Home?

I have just been contacted by another owner of Abdullah Ariff's works entitled Storm. Received the email below from a reader named Jim in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, he must have misspelt his email because the reply bounced as the mail daemon informed me.

Hi,
I have got a picture by this artist called the storm signed and dated 1956
Please, where would be the best place to sell this. Can you help please. Thanks
Jim

Are there more Abdullah Ariff out there and is our National Art Gallery interested in acquiring them? These are national treasures and I am amazed no one from the gallery has contacted me so that I could forward the owner' addresses. Are we waiting for these works to be lost forever?

Picture right: Thumbnails of some of Ariff's works.

Abdullah Ariff Original Found!

Abdullah painted this in 1954 when he held his one-man shows in the US.

Recently a reader wrote to me to find out more about this painting and would like to have it appraised and possibly sold - at a fair price.

When I took a look of the painting, it turned out to be an Abdullah Ariff work. It was a painting of a riverine fisherman, with the usual signature colours used by the late artist.

This was one of the pieces the watercolour pioneer did when he held his one-man show at North Carolina, and alsO the Mint Museum of Art at Charlotte, New York, way back in 1954.

I am wondering if there are any party interested in the painting out there. I will put you in touch with the owner (he is from overseas) and you can deal direct with him. According to the current owner, the painting was almost gotten rid of once. So, if you are a collector of Abdullah Ariff's work, here's your chance to own it.

Straying a bit from the topic, I think the National Art Gallery should make an attempt to purchase this piece as it is one the remaining works of the great artist-watercolourist that are still around.

The painting has been framed and from the digital picture, seemed in good condition, too.

Get in touch with me at editor@malaysian-watercolours.com .

The artist's signature.

RM3,000 plus for Yong Mun Sen's Work?

I was surprised when I found out that this piece of Yong Mun Sen's work is priced at a remarkable USD1,200. What a bargain, don't you think? At the current coversion rate of RM3.30 to USD1.00, it works out to be about RM3, 960.

From the information I gathered, this piece was that of a Chinese Temple drawn in 1948. A signature imprint was also show.

I think Malaysian galleries, better still - the National Art Gallery, should make a purchase of it. It's our national trasure!

For those who don't know Yong Mun Sen, he was one of the pioneers of Malaysian art and among his famed peers was Abdullah Ariff.

Mun Sen's signature.

Khoo Cheang Jin's solo

Nile River (watercolour 56x76cm 2006)

IF you are a fan of artist Khoo Cheang Jin, you might want to know that he is having a solo exhibition at the NN Gallery in Ampang.

The solo exhibition by this Penang born artist cum architect, entitled 'Spaces: Here and Now' will be held from Aug 4 till 25.

As usual, you will be treated by Khoo's depiction of indigenous buildings, marketplaces and other places of historical charm which resulted from his journey to Egypt, China and his homestate Penang. Apart from Khoo's watercolours, there will also be some ink sketches in this two year collection.
Khoo is a member of the Malaysian Watercolour Organization and the Penang Watercolour Society.


Yellow Carpet, Angkor (watercolour 56x76cm 2007)

NN gallery is located at:
53A & 56 Jalan Sulaiman 1, Taman Ampang Hilir, Ampang
Tel: 03-4270-6588

National Art Gallery - To reopen on July 30

Yes, finally, after close to 10 months being closed, the National Art Gallery will be reopened this month.

This is a long-awaited moment, especially for artists, after the place was closed for massive renovations - one of which was due to termite attacks on the floorboards and leaky roofing. I still recall the last day of the Putrajaya Landscape Watercolour exhibition. One end of the main gallery was leaky and water was dripping from the ceiling and watercolour paintings were several feet away from it. Hopefully when it reopens, the saga of the leaky roofs will end there - after having caused so much embarrassment to the ministries involved until one minister had to blame the weather for all the leaks.

This is, if I am not mistaken, the second massive facelift for the gallery after it moved from opposite the Railway Station. This new site is a much more conducive to a gallery of national repute. Surrounding the gallery are the sprawling Lake Titiwangsa, the majestic National Theatre, the National Library and just several kilometres away from KLCC. It is also well serviced by a bus route and the compound is well-shaded.

I don't know if the ministry in charge will bring back the monthly Craft Mart or Laman Seni which had been quite successful since its introduction about two years ago until the gallery was closed end last year. This was shifted to Putrajaya, near Souq, an impractical move that has now reduced the number of artists participating to just a handful. This is understood since Putrajaya is not exactly within the tourist belt and what are we promoting the mart to if not foreign and domestic tourists, as well as weekenders who can arrive at the venue within 30 minutes' journey.

The grounds around the gallery is stil under-utilised and is perfect for weeken art events. I remember the time when the gallery just moved from the Majestic Hotel (its former home) opposite Railway Station. The crowd to the gallery was sparse and remained so several years until the managers introduced the once-a-monthly Laman Seni. The gallery was then under the able leadership of Wairah Marzuki, if I am not mistaken.

The event became quite a hit with the people, especially locals, but suffered because there was a visible lack of focus. Later it became more like a day pasar malam until it was scrapped for the renovation work.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that with the renovation work complete and the gallery restored to his former glory, efforts would be made to draw art lovers to it - this being not only confined to craft but also visual art such as acrylic, oil and watercolour paintings. For without interesting and related activities, you will have an ivory tower that draw no visitor.