{"id":3296,"date":"2015-07-05T12:25:54","date_gmt":"2015-07-05T04:25:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.weiling-gallery.com\/contemporary\/?post_type=portfolio&p=3296"},"modified":"2015-07-31T15:17:26","modified_gmt":"2015-07-31T07:17:26","slug":"from-kuala-lumpur-to-karachi-by-su-aziz","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/weiling-gallery.com\/contemporary\/portfolio-item\/from-kuala-lumpur-to-karachi-by-su-aziz\/","title":{"rendered":"From Kuala Lumpur to Karachi by Su Aziz"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

New Straits Times, 11 December 2006
\nFrom Kuala Lumpur to Karachi
\nby Su Aziz<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"kara1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The works of 18 of Malaysia\u2019s most progressive artists go on display for the first time in Karachi today. SU AZIZ finds out the significance of this exhibition.<\/p>\n

ONE is a bank that prides itself on its global\/local approach \u2014 after all, it thinks of itself as the world\u2019s local bank \u2014 and the other is an art gallery that is making a name for itself by showing works that speak both to the head and the heart.<\/p>\n

Together, HSBC and Wei-Ling Gallery are making history: they took the works of 18 Malaysian artists to Karachi, Pakistan. These pieces, representative of Malaysia\u2019s evolution in the contemporary art world, will be exhibited for two weeks in the gallery of world-renowned Pakistani sculptor Amin Gulgee.<\/p>\n

Does he sound familiar to you? Well, Gulgee has had two successful exhibitions here in Kuala Lumpur. Bothof which were in galleries owned by Lim Wei-Ling. Now do you see the connection?<\/p>\n

Wei-Ling is also the curator of the 18@8, Kuala Lumpur-Karachi project. The title was coined from the gallery\u2019s address and the number of artists involved in the project.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are whom we felt best represented our gallery and what we believe in,\u201d Wei-Ling explained when I caught up with her a few weeks before the landmark Karachi show. \u201cAlso, the fact that they have evolved in the past year …not drastic changes but little ones. And that evolution or change was important during the selection process.\u201d<\/p>\n

The chosen ones are: Yusof Ghani, Anurendra Jagaeva, Phuan Thai Meng, Chan Kok Hooi, Bayu Utomo Radjikin, Hamir Soib, Ahmad Shukri Mohamed, Umibaizurah Mahir, Ahmad Fuad Osman, Choy Chun Wei, Yau Bee Ling, Izan Tahir, Sabri Idrus, Hamidi Hadi, Multhalib Musa, Ivan Lam, Chin Kong Yee and Juhari Said.<\/p>\n

But, of course, nothing would have been possible without funding, which is where HSBC In The Arts comes in. Support has also come from International Industries Limited and Arif Habib Investments Limited which are two established Pakistani corporations.<\/p>\n

But what brought Wei-Ling and HSBC together was, as I found out, a simple thing. The quest to change the global perception of Malaysian art. If indeed the world out there even knows about Malaysian art.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t even know we have artists here producing contemporary work …many people out there think Malaysia is only about pretty padi fields and water colours,\u201d said Wei-Ling ruefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is what we would like to help do,\u201d said Datuk Zarir J. Cama. So the education begins in Karachi, \u201cYes,\u201d continued Cama, \u201cI just thought, if you are an intelligent Malaysian artist, it doesn\u2019t matter where you exhibit as long as your works are shown out of Malaysia.\u201d<\/p>\n

And to the world, of course.<\/p>\n

\"kara2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Cama can be dubbed the godparent of Malaysia\u2019s art world. Hailing from India, he moved here to assume the role of HSBC\u2019s (Malaysia) CEO four years ago and has single-handedly ensured that HSBC In The Arts \u201ccreates more and more interest (in the arts among Malaysians). It is what we encourage. The worst thing for an artist is to produce works of art that nobody sees.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the past four years I have been here, I have noticed a change (in Malaysia\u2019s art scene). There is progress (in the arts scene) and more interest coming from the general public. Malaysians are maturing and Malaysian artists are interpreting that in their art.\u201d<\/p>\n

HSBC worldwide has always supported the arts but HSBC In The Arts is unique to Malaysia alone. The difference between HSBC In The Arts\u2019 involvement in the arts as opposed to that in other corporations?<\/p>\n

\u201cThe scope of what we do is very varied. We try to take it across the spectrum from writing for theatre, for instance, to dance, to fine arts, to drums …,\u201d Cama explained.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Wee, HSBC Malaysia\u2019s head of Group Public Affairs, interrupted: \u201cWe do not just focus on sponsorship. We nurture what talent already exists.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cama nodded in agreement, \u201cBasically, we are here for them (the artists)… to help them continue with their skills,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth has been buying art pieces from galleries showcasing young, emerging artists, \u201cand by young, we mean inexperienced but with potential, vision and focus\u201d, she explained and added with a smile, \u201cand he (referring to Cama) controls my art buying budget!\u201d<\/p>\n

These art pieces are hung all over HSBC branch offices. \u201cI really think our staff have actually enjoyed the experience (of real artworks) and we did away with the tired prints that we had hanging on those same walls,\u201d said Cama with pride.<\/p>\n

\u201cElizabeth scouts for art pieces from various galleries while observing the various other art projects we are involved in,\u201d explained Cama further. Although Elizabeth claimed to not be an expert in the art field, she certainly is soaking up the experience and acquiring a keen eye as HSBC In The Arts\u2019 keeper.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d support and nurture any aspect of the arts, as long as they are apolitical, non-racial and non-religious. We\u2019d like to be a mainstay entity in the arts world. So that when people look at our logo, they immediately link it with HSBC In The Arts,\u201d explained Elizabeth.<\/p>\n

\"kara3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Meanwhile Wei-Ling intends to keep 18@8 an ongoing project with biennial exhibitions abroad and HSBC In The Arts intends to move \u201ctowards individual grants,\u201d said Elizabeth quietly.<\/p>\n

Just before our interview came to a close, I noticed Cama scrutinising a couple of paintings hanging on the gallery walls. When asked what particular style of art he favoured, he said, \u201cI am not somebody who goes for a particular name but when I like a piece of art, then I like it but if I have to say… then my favourites are the Impressionists.\u201d After some more thought, he added, \u201cI like portrait art as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New Straits Times, 11 December 2006 From Kuala Lumpur to Karachi by Su Aziz The works of 18 of Malaysia\u2019s most progressive artists go on display for the first time in Karachi today. SU AZIZ finds out the significance of this exhibition. ONE is a bank that prides itself on its global\/local approach \u2014 after [...]","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"portfolio_entries":[17],"class_list":["post-3296","portfolio","type-portfolio","status-publish","hentry","portfolio_entries-news-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/weiling-gallery.com\/contemporary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio\/3296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/weiling-gallery.com\/contemporary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/weiling-gallery.com\/contemporary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/portfolio"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/weiling-gallery.com\/contemporary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3296"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/weiling-gallery.com\/contemporary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio\/3296\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/weiling-gallery.com\/contemporary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/weiling-gallery.com\/contemporary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3296"},{"taxonomy":"portfolio_entries","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/weiling-gallery.com\/contemporary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio_entries?post=3296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}