PAINT me a picture, and I’ll give you a booth. This whimsical concept was what kick-started the first Art Expo Malaysia (AEM) in 2007, where exhibition space was allocated in exchange for a donated artwork.
The unique approach was developed by art collector, dealer and occasional curator Vincent Sim when he encountered scepticism about the feasibility of holding a Malaysian art expo of the magnitude he was aiming for. But he was not about to let doubt stand in the way of his efforts to support local artists.
“My father’s dream was to eventually be able to promote local art on an international platform,” said Sim’s son, Pojinn, adding, “he is very passionate about art, so he will give up a lot for it.”
From the east: Chinese artist Yue Minjun is one of the seminal figures of the Post- 1989 contemporary China art scene and in this work, he implies the idealism of man and heaven coexisting in harmony, while the absurdity of the characters and their expressions suggest irony instead. Today, the younger two of the four Sim children — brothers Pojinn, 30, and Polenn, 28 — have taken on the roles of the art expo’s project director and project manager, respectively.
Sim, who remains the organising chairman of AEM 2011, concentrates on the family’s Chinese galleries, as he has many years of experience and contacts in the Chinese art market.
“My brother and I decided to build up the expo as it is my father’s dream and something good for the industry and for the country. It is very tedious for one person to organise such a huge event, so we are here to support his dream. He built a road, we are just making it into a highway,” Pojinn said.
He added that the objectives of AEM include gathering artists, art galleries, art collectors, dealers and enthusiasts under one roof to create an art networking hub, as well as to promote Malaysian art on an international platform.
“We bring in foreign galleries and foreign artists’ works to Malaysia, and with that comes international exposure because of foreign media coverage,” he explained.
Spanish magic: Under the Almond Tree by Rocio Villatoro from the ATR Gallery in Spain. When Pojinn stepped in to assist with the running of AEM at the end of 2007, he realised that changes had to be introduced if the intention was to sustain the art expo as a successful annual event.
“We can’t exactly get in a contractor to do some work and ask if we can pay him with paintings,” Polenn said with a laugh.
Now in its fifth consecutive year, the AEM is no longer the simple artist-run booth affair it was when it first started out.
There are 65 exhibitors from 23 countries participating in AEM 2011, a record for the fair. Most of the exhibitors are art galleries, but also making their presence felt this year are museums, embassies, auction houses and art organisations.
The works of more than 400 artists — totalling about 2,000 pieces — will be on display, and they run the gamut from paintings, sculptures and digital art to traditional, abstract and contemporary works.
“We have more countries coming in this year and also some big names in the art industry, like works by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. Some of China’s most well-known names in contemporary art — Yue Minjun, Fang Lijun and Wang Guangyi — will also have their works shown for the first time in this country,” Polenn said.
Other participating countries include Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Japan, Macau, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan and the Philippines.
Colourful: Galerie Joaquin from The Philippines presents Migs Villanueva’s The Loop. Iran also makes a debut with works from two galleries and on the local front, artist-gallerist Hoe Say Yong’s works will be showcased in WaterWorld: Reflected Reality and Illusions.
The Embassy Row at the expo will feature artists from Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador and Switzerland.
“We are happy that there are many returning exhibitors this year. About two thirds have exhibited at the expo in previous years,” Polenn said.
He added that the art expo strives to be accessible to the public and people from all walks of life.
“Admission is free. It’s a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and we encourage families to visit. We also welcome teachers to bring their students to the expo. And we want to reach out to the youth and different expatriate communities in Malaysia.”
As reported last week in The Star after the official launch of the expo in Putrajaya by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, AEM has grown in leaps and bounds, with last year’s expo attracting 12,000 visitors and selling RM11mil in works, including silkscreens by pop artist Andy Warhol that went for RM2mil.
“We keep pushing for a better show each year,” Pojinn said.
“Many of the international exhibitors have participated in art fairs around the world, and we have to be competitive and meet their expectations. It is really challenging.”
He says that the success of an art expo hinges on two things — participating galleries and overall sales.
“Of course, there are other things to consider, like being able to offer better service,” he said, adding that they were now equipped with the expertise to run the expo but would welcome financial backing.
“This is the best we can do to promote art within our current means. This is as far as we can go. But if someone steps in to adopt this project, then the art expo will be able to go very far,” Polenn said.
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