Day 3Friday 30 July 2021, 14:00
Globalisation has been seen as an opportunity in the contemporary art scene, as the visibility of art out of its basal community has enormously increased while the subject matter is largely enriched as artists gain greater access to a variety of materials and get exposed to a wider scope of concerns. However, the recent years witnessed a great deal of socio-economic changes as worldwide health crisis brings forth a contemplation on the fragility of globalisation. As much as the fate of mankind across national boundaries is intertwined, the world inhabitants are experiencing an extraordinary degree of the necessity of self-isolating. The way art is created, presented and experienced is inevitably affected as well. This presentation focuses on the attempts of the artist-maker and the gallerist-curator in tuning to the clash between alienation and globalisation, as well as the relevance of art practice, curatorial direction and gallery programming to the audience at large in such context.
Suma Orientalis is a modern and contemporary art gallery founded and incorporated in December 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Kris Lee and Sophia Shung. Under the leadership Executive Director Sophia Shung, the gallery regularly hosts art exhibitions, talks, open discussions, critics sessions and art festivals. Growing from their Southeast Asian root, Suma Orientalis holds the tagline "All About Asian Art" to heart, as the gallery's programmes reflect their passion in the arts of Southeast Asia and commitment to showcasing the work of emerging Malaysian artists. The gallery has hosted the debut solo exhibitions of Jane Stephanny and Sofia Haron, and represents UOB Painting of the Year award recipients Ong Cai Bin and Tiong Chai Heing, among others.