Kuala Lumpur, 25 November 2010 – ABSOLUT vodka, the leading international premium vodka brand, is once again extending its association with the Malaysian art community by collaborating with the Wei-Ling Gallery on the milestone 5th incarnation of its 18@8 Art Exhibition.

Wei-Ling Gallery Director, Lim Wei-Ling said, “The 18@8 exhibition has become a definitive event on the Malaysian art scene as it consistently features contemporary artists who have made waves in the preceding year and will be the ones to watch out for in the year ahead. A veritable smorgasbord of talent adorns the artist line-up every year, bringing together new and familiar talent alike.

“Over the years, each 18@8 exhibition has had a different theme to inspire the artists to push boundaries to come up with works which are both compelling and iconic and allows them to experiment with new themes and ideas. This collaboration with ABSOLUT is bound to inspire them further”, she added.

For 2010, Wei-Ling Gallery has teamed up with ABSOLUT Vodka who have a long and illustrious association with art worldwide to co-present ABSOLUT 18@8. The exhibition, now in its fifth edition will bring together some of the country’s most established and cutting-edge artists in one of the most awaited shows on the art calendar that will include all art mediums ranging from paintings and sculptures to installations and video and will take place from November 30thh 2010-January 2nd 2011 at Wei-Ling Gallery.

Absolut 18@8 will feature the artworks of artists young and established such as Ivan Lam, Anurendra Jegadeva, Chee Meng, Hamidi Hadi, Annabelle Ng, Al Khuzairie Ali, Chee Eng Hong, Chee Way, Cheng Yeng Pheng, Cheong Tuck Wai, Choy Chun Wei, Chin Kong Yee, Faizal Suhif, Gan Tee Sheng, Stephen Menon, Yau Bee Ling and Yim Yen Sum.

In addition to this there is a special project where each artist will be creating an original artwork using the Absolut bottle and this part of the project entitled Absolut 18@8 Bottles will be exhibited concurrently at the concourse of the Gardens Mall.

A private auction will be held on 8th December 2010 in which a portion of the proceeds from sale of the Absolut 18@8 Bottles will go to SPCA.

“I think the SPCA is doing a wonderful job and with this auction I am happy that The Gardens Mall is doing its part in giving abandoned and abused animals a better quality of living” The Gardens Mall Marketing Director Gabrielle Tan said.

Wei-Ling Gallery Director, Lim Wei-Ling said, “We are really pleased that The Gardens Mall has come on board. The idea of this exhibition was to integrate art with a well known brand, in this case Absolut Vodka, who have had an illustrious relationship with art over the years and take it to a public venue so we can bridge the gap between people and art. It is brilliant that The Gardens Mall is leading the way by taking beautiful and expressive art,making it accessible to the public, all in the spirit of giving”, Lim Wei-Ling added.