COMING SOON: A NEW PUBLICATION ON MALAYSIAN ART
Narratives in Malaysian Art is the working title of a planned publication about Malaysian art. To date, Malaysia lacks a comprehensive overview and discussion of its rich and diverse art history and practice. A group of editors and writers have come together on this ambitious project, with an aim to publish in June 2011.
The objectives of this project are:
- To invigorate the debates and discourses around Malaysian art history
- To create a valuable resource for students, artists, curators, writers and members of the general public
- To support the tradition of critical research and writing in Malaysia by providing a platform for both established and emerging authors
Following discussion and feedback from the public, Narratives in Malaysian Art is now planned as a multi-volume softcover set of books (4-5 volumes, 600 words in total) comprising essays and interviews, in separate English and Bahasa Malaysia editions, with 300 colour illustrations, presenting multiple entry and exit points into the development of Malaysian visual art practice. Reflecting the dedication of artists, patrons, educators, art workers, critics and thinkers, the publication aims to document, reflect and reinvigorate new and existing discussions on Malaysian art. However, rather then be a definitive “history of Malaysian art” we hope to provide a considered and diverse body of research that reflects the myriad voices and debates that have helped to shape our visual culture.
We hope this can become a useful publication supported by the community that reaches out to a wide spectrum of readers today and in years to come. A companion publication, An A to Z of Malaysian Art will be printed concurrently, providing a light overview of key issues, major artworks and a directory listing of art spaces and services.
The editorial team for Narratives in Malaysian Art comprises of Beverly Yong, Nur Hanim Khairuddin, Hasnul J Saidon, Anurendra Jegadeva and Eva McGovern, with renowned Southeast Asian art historian TK Sabapathy as Consultant Editor. We wish to collect seminal writings by Redza Piyadasa, Ismail Zain, Syed Ahmad Jamal and Sulaiman Esa to be re-published in the book together with interviews with key figures, and new essays by over 30 art and cultural writers, curators and academics. KL-based art consultancy RogueArt are project managers for the publication.
As Narratives in Malaysian Art is an independent, non-profit publication, we seek the support of the community as a whole to make this major project a reality. We are currently seeking funding of up to RM360,000 to cover writing, translation, editorial, design, project management and production costs. We hope that this will be an opportunity for institutions, corporations and individuals to invest in knowledge and development in art through contributing to this project.
Become a book friend! All contributions above RM200 are fully refundable should we fail to raise enough funds to proceed with the project by 30 April 2010. All profits from book sales will go towards a Malaysian art research fund to be managed by Universiti Sains Malaysia.
We hope that this will be an opportunity for institutions, corporations and individuals to invest in knowledge and development in art through contributing to this project.
Please click here for a full project proposal. To find out about our sponsorship benefits, please contact beverly@rogueart.asia, or +60162667413. To find out how to make a contribution, please contact us, or download the contribution form.
The project was launched with Talk the Walk: A Discussion on Narratives in Malaysian Art on Saturday 5th December at 19 Jalan Berangan, Kuala Lumpur. Please click here for the press release.