Wei-Ling Gallery is pleased to announce its participation in Art Basel’s inaugural fair in Hong Kong in May 2013 – the most important international platform for art in Asia – where we will be the only gallery representing Malaysia.

Art Basel is renowned as both the largest and most highly acclaimed display of contemporary art in the world, often dubbed the Olympics of the art world. Typically holding events in both Europe and America, the Art Basel conglomerate opens its first portal within Asia, thereby accentuating artists from Asia and the Pacific. Out of more than 600 galleries who applied, only 245 were selected for participation. On display will be the highest quality paintings, sculptures, drawings, instalaations, photographs, video, and editioned works from the 20th and 21st centuries, by more than 2,000 artists from Asia and around the globe. The show will also offer extensive opportunities for intellectual discovery, through discussions and presentations, creating a platform of cross-cultural exchange for artists, gallerists, collectors, and visitors.

Wei-Ling Gallery presents Ivan Lam at ABHK under the “Insights” section, a unique section for projects developed specifically for the Hong Kong show. “Insights” is comprised of solo shows, exceptional art-historical material, and thematic exhibitions of two or more artists, each selected on the strength of the proposed project.

We hope to see you in Art Basel Hong Kong in May 2013!

VENDING COMA
SPECIAL PROJECT BY IVAN LAM FOR ABHK 13

For this project, the artist extended invitations to all practicing artists in Malaysia in a bid to ‘take’ the entire Malaysian art scene to Art Basel HK. The artworks received became the ‘strokes’ of Ivan Lam’s work for together they form part of the whole.

By inviting and commissioning artists to be a part of this project Ivan Lam wanted to relinquish full control of the ‘making’ of his works to other artists. This is a significant departure for him as Ivan has always chosen to work in solitude, beginning and ending a work entirely by himself. The art-making process has always been a somewhat meditative practice for him and he has manifested his quest to attain perfection in his works by being entirely hands on.

This is quite the antithesis to contemporary artists today, who have droves of workers at their disposal, to carry through their ideas.

This time it will be different as this project will turn everything on its head and will enable him to work like a ‘manager’ operating a factory of workers. This would be akin to removing the artist’s signature but in turn creating a new one. This would also be a commentary on art as a commodity and of art practices in the industry today.

He states:

I strongly believe this project touches on a plethora of pertinent issues that are prevalent in the art world today. Many layers are at work. I am just trying to make it coherent and relevant in making the artwork.