KUALA LUMPUR: The works of 114 artists, both from Malaysia and abroad, are on display at the National Art Gallery as part of the Kuala Lumpur Biennale 2017 event.
The international contemporary art exhibition, which runs from Nov 1 to March 30 next year, aims to, among others, foster the identity and profile of Malaysia and it as one of the Asian countries that is persistent in developing a competitive creative economic sector globally.
At the launch today, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said the visual arts industry has the potential to contribute to the nation's development.
"Most importantly, it is a part of cultural tourism where we celebrate the cultural life of a city, and attract domestic and international visitors.
"This kind of event also illustrates cultural development and gives an opportunity for local artists to go international," he said.
The term Biennale was popularised by the Venice Biennale that was first held in 1895. Other biennales that have gained popularity worldwide include Turkey, South Korea and Singapore.
Exhibition chairman Johan Ishak said the exhibition's theme, Be Loved, carries five pillars which are love for humanity, nature, animals, heritage, and spirituality.
"If we look at other Biennale events across the world, the themes they choose are usually sensational or out of the box.
"But we, as an Asean country, choose the concept of love and we only select art pieces which carry a positive meaning," he said.
Also present at the launch were National Art Gallery director-general Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Najib Ahmad Dawa, National Visual Arts Board chairman Datuk Seri Farid Ridzuan, Tourism and Culture Ministry secretary-general Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah, and Tourism and Culture Ministry deputy secretary-general Nor Hayati Awang.
Local artists featured in this year's installation include Awang Damit Ahmad, Sharmiza Abu Hassan, Bibi Chew Chon Bee, Ahmad Zakii Anwar, Jeganthan Ramachandran, Hayati Mukhtar, and Bayu Utomo Radjikin.
One of the artists, Shamsu Mohamad, 55, utilises clay as part of his 'nature' theme to open the eyes of the public to the beauty of nature. He said he uses the material to create objects which resemble natural items such as wood and rocks.
"My intention is to convey to the people that art does not necessarily need to be perfect and beautiful; it can be unique and beautiful in many ways," he said