Malaysian Art to be Premiered at Prestigious International Art Exhibition for the First Time

By Ameera Rosli  •  04 Apr 2019 in Design

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The renowned International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, Italy is featuring Malaysian artists for the first time next month. This incredible step forward for the art community in Malaysia is attributed to art gallery owner, Wei-ling Lim.

After the government has turned over a new leaf, appointing Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister, Wei-ling was overcome with the urge to spark a change within the community that she lives and breathes for.

Honing in that excitement, she materialised a heartfelt letter to the Prime Minister, which she describes as “a fit of madness”, where she addressed her desire to bring Malaysia and its artists to the most eminent contemporary art exhibition in the world.

Mahathir Mohamad replied stating that she had their support, but she had to be financially independent during the process. After four months, she fulfilled her wish.

The exhibition called Holding Up A Mirror will open on May 9 and include works by Anurendra Jegadeva, H.H Lim, Ivan Lam Wai-hoe and Zulkifli Yusoff.

The artists, all of different racial and cultural backgrounds, will present a heterogeneous and all-encompassing insight into the art scene in Malaysia. This is what Wei-ling had to say,

“I have seen how they have evolved as contemporary artists making statements about the world in which they live. They will do us proud in representing Malaysia on this international platform.”

Thank you to Wei-ling Lim for showing us that #MalaysiaBoleh

Main image: Artist, H.H. Lim taken from tangcontemporary