KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 181 paintings by Malaysian and South East Asian artists on display at the Galeri Prima will be auctioned off at the Henry Butcher Malaysian and Southeast Asian Art Auction.
The auction set to be held in Bangsar on April 29 include paintings by famous local artists and the starting bid is as low as RM1,000.
Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers director Sim Polenn said the value of the bid is competitive to allow everyone who is an art fan to bid during the auction.
“Lately, we have seen an increase in young bidders and I think we need to make art more accessible to everyone, hence, the low bidding price.
“About 90 percent of the art auction feature works by Malaysia’s famous painters and also collections from emerging local artists.”
“Usually, we source the paintings from collectors and auction off some of Malaysia’s finest works ranging from abstract paintings to sculptures.
“This time, the art auction offers many acclaimed works which include Serangga Series by Abdul Latiff Mohidin who is the first South East Asian artist to be featured at Centre Pompidou’s In-Focus Gallery, Paris, France.
“We have also Awang Damit Ahmad’s 2008 work, entitled Iraga “Northern Journey,” which will be auctioned off at the starting bid valued at RM110,000.”
He was speaking to New Straits Times Press reporters at the launch of the Malaysian and South East Asian art auction exhibition at Galeri Prima, Balai Berita, Bangsar here today.
He added the auction also features young local talents such as Fadilah Karim’s Light Inside These Dreams (2012), as part of its efforts to encourage young talents in the art scene.
Sim said Henry Butcher have auctioned off 1,800 works by Malaysian and South East Asian artists valued at RM36 million for the last eight years.
He said around RM1.9 million were collected by Henry Butcher’s art auction held twice annually at the Galeri Prima for the last three years.