SHIFT – A Contemporary Visual Art Exhibition to Cultivate A New Generation of Artists and Art Lovers in Malaysia
CENDANA’s SH/FT features more than 170 art works from 42 independent local artists CENDANA, the Cultural Economy Development Agency, today marked the official launch of SHIFT, a contemporary Visual Art Exhibition under its Art In The City programme. Featuring more than 170 art works from 42 independent Malaysian artists, SHIFT hopes to nurture a demand and appreciation for local art among the younger generation. Taking place from today until 11 August at White Box and Black Box, MAPKL @ Publika, SH/FT aims to raise the profiles of homegrown artists and collectives by giving them a platform to create awareness, showcase and sell their unique works of art to potential collectors and the wider public. As part of CENDANA’s continued efforts to energise the arts by promoting and educating the wider public about art, this exhibition will revolve around a topic that is significant to Malaysia today, and tomorrow. SH/IFT as the name suggest will focus on the theme of ‘change’ – SH/FT <Identity>, SH/FT <Technology> and SH/FT <Pop Culture>.The exhibition, with free admission for members of the public, displays artworks across various mediums including paintings, printed works, art installations, audio visual, and performance. SH/FT invites visitors to adjust their understanding of what they know through the interpretation of the artists. Officiating the launch of SHIFT was Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Khairul Anwar Salleh, Vice President, Chief of Malay and Nusantara Content Management Group, Astro, and EXCO Member of CENDANA, who highlighted the importance of creating strategic platforms like SHIFT that not only recognise the artistic abilities of our local talents but also, fuel the creative sector while contributing to the economy. “The arts and culture sector is a highly transformative economic driver - one that focuses on human-centered development, job creation, income generation and export earnings. As such, we need initiatives like SH/FT to support the growing ecosystem while connecting local artists with the wider public and stimulating a demand for Malaysian art works," said Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Khairul Anwar Salleh.“SH/FT closes one of our campaigns that started in 2018. It is a contemporary-focused effort that contributes to the sustainability of the independent artists, collectives and art associations that are working on their own and require more platforms to showcase their work to the wider public. We wish to continue working closely with our local artists so that Malaysia can be known for its great art and artists, and for Kuala Lumpur to be positioned as a cultural and creative city,” said Izan Satrina Mohd Sallehudin, Founding CEO of CENDANA.From April until May 2019, CENDANA received over 90 submissions from 80 local independent artists. The shortlisted artworks were chosen based on their unique representation of the themes. Commissioned by CENDANA, SH/FT is led by a curatorial team of three members from Malaysia - independent curator Sharmin Parameswaran, associate curator of the Singapore Biennale 2016, curator Nur Hanim Mohamed Khairuddin, and co-founder of alternative space Minut Init, curator James Ly.“For SH/FT, we engaged with a wide network of artists and creatives, asking how we can continue to encourage robust and dynamic participation in the visual arts ecosystem and in turn, further showcasing our artistic talent to a wider audience. With the open call for applications, we were pleasantly surprised and encouraged by the artists who applied; they range from painters, graffiti artists, architects and designers to fashion practitioners and even programmers, each presenting their point of view on living in contemporary Malaysia,” said Sharmin Parameswaran, Lead Curator of SH/FT. The participating artists includeAjim Juxta, Alias Mat, Alya Hatta, Amar Shahid, Ammar Idris, Anas Afandi, Azarikh, Blank Malaysia, Cristjen Lai, Emir Nazren, Fauzan Fuad, Fizrie Azhan, Haris Rashid, I-Ling, Jack Yong, Kara Inez, Khairul Zariq, Kua Chia Chi, Lai Chang Shiang, Lee Mok Yee, LimJing, Lith Ng, Mark Tan, Max Jala, Mohsin Aminuddin, Myra Myn, Nabihah Haiyee, Ng Kim Peow, Nicholas Choong, Rico Leong, Sanker Ganesh, September Khu, Seven Sans Set & Foie, Sheila Samsuri, Tsa Meera, Sophia Kamal, Syazana Afrina, Tajrin Fariqi, Tomi Heri, Victor Khoo, Wong Xiang Yi, Yati and Zariq Zin. The art works presented are predominantly new and specifically created for SH/FT 2019. About CENDANACENDANA (Cultural Economy Development Agency) is a government agency that was officially launched on 6 September 2017 to shape a vibrant, sustainable and ambitious cultural economy for Malaysia, further raising the profile of Malaysian arts and culture to help form the identity of Malaysia as an arts destination and strategically place Malaysia on the global stage. It is supported by the Malaysian Government through MyCreative Ventures Sdn. Bhd. (a wholly owned company of Minister of Finance Incorporated) and reports to Ministry of Communications and Multimedia.
