A total of 31 women artists are showcasing their talents in a special art exhibition entitled ‘RRRWARRR!!!: Maybank’s Emerging Women Artists Show 2018’ in conjunction with International Women’s Day 2018.
The exhibition, organised by Maybank Foundation, commemorates the start of its Balai Seni Art Series, which aims to highlight the works of new, emerging talents in the art circle.
The exhibition was officially opened by Maybank Group Chief Human Capital Officer, Nora Abdul Manaf in Menara Maybank today as part of the International Women’s Day celebration of the Maybank Group.
Speaking at the event, Nora said, “International Women’s Day is not just to celebrate women’s achievements, but also to acknowledge the challenges that women continue to face in the quest for gender equality. With its theme ‘Press for Progress’, these young and upcoming Malaysian female artists are a good example of whom you will see have broken boundaries, set fresh perspectives, and have created fantastic art along the way. These women are building a new vision of our future.”
“Women have been and continue to be integral to the institution of art, but despite being engaged with the art world in every way, many women artists have found obstacles in the traditional narrative of art history,” she added.
“Nonetheless, I am hopeful that with support by corporate bodies like Maybank, internationally the public art sector is increasingly gender aware. Galleries like Tate Modern in London have curators who make a conscious effort to support female artists.”
The women artists are presenting their works in various mediums and approaches, touching on a variety of subject matters ranging from the personal to beyond, and offering refreshing takes on the realities of everyday life. The exhibition features 31 works of art which are for sale, with 20% of the proceeds to be channelled to the Women’s Aid Organisation.
The participating artists are Amy Nazira, Agnes Lau, Alicia Lau, Caryn Koh, Choo Yan Xin, Dhaniya Yusof, Elizabeth Low, Farrah Ashiela Samsuri, Ho Mei Kei, Jasmine Cheong, Jane Stephanny, Julienne Mei Tan, Jolene Tew, Koo Yeanni, Liew Mei Toong, Lyia Meta, Liew Sze Lin, Marisa Ridzuan Ng, Monica Lee, Mona K.V, Nor Tijan Firdaus, Ng Yee Leng, Nia Khalisa, Ong Cai Bin, Ruby Subramaniam, Sarah Joan Mokhtar, Yasmeen Cheong Pooi Sum, Yasmine Aminanda, Viko Ng, Yuyu Roslan and Zulaiha binti Zulkapli.
Meanwhile, Maybank Foundation CEO Shahril Azuar Jimin said that this inaugural event of the Balai Seni Art Series aims to position the gallery as a new and exciting contemporary art platform to support and highlight works by selected women artists from the growing number of women art practitioners in the local art scene today.
He said Maybank Foundation focuses its initiatives in six main areas – Education, Community Empowerment, Environmental Diversity, Healthy Living, Arts & Culture, and Disaster Relief.
“Recognizing its importance for future generations, we have involved ourselves in preserving and encouraging the sustainability of our arts and culture, not just in Malaysia but also regionally. Our very own Balai Seni Maybank here has featured the works of many of the country’s foremost artists, and we hope to provide the same opportunities to more young emerging talents regionally.”
Prior to the art exhibition, Maybank hosted a panel session moderated by Nora (who is also Executive Advisor of the Maybank Women Mentor Women Council) to draw insights from the diverse lenses and experiences of six notable personalities. The panellists were Anita Ahmad, Head Community Development of Yayasan Hasanah & Eisenhower Fellow; Sajith Sivanandan, Managing Director of Google Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and New Emerging Markets; Chong Chye Neo, Managing Director of IBM Malaysia; Jacqueline Fong, Co-founder of Tanoti; Niluh Djelantik, Founder of Niluh Djelantik and Johan Mahmood Merican, Deputy Director General, Human Capital of the Economic Planning Unit.
The ‘RRRWARRR!!!: Maybank’s Emerging Women Artists Show 2018’ exhibition will run from 9-23 March and is open from 10am to 5pm daily. Admission to Balai Seni Maybank which is on the first floor of Menara Maybank, is free.