Sultan of Selangor launches Galeri Prima showcase
PART of Sultan Sharafuddin’s private art collection goes on display for the first time.
SULTAN of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah last night graced the opening ceremony of an exclusive showcase of his private art collection at the New Straits Times Press’ Galeri Prima.
The sultan also officially launched the gallery, a dedicated platform for the exhibition and promotion of the artworks of local artists, both established and budding.
The exhibition titled “Terrains of the Heart” will showcase for the very first time outside the palace 33 artworks of 14 local painters, including by renowned Malaysian artist, the late Datuk Ibrahim Hussein; Selangor’s royal painters Ahmad Nazri Abdullah and Datuk Azman Yusoff, as well as visual artist Haron Mokhtar.
The 33 priceless paintings and artworks on display, which represent only a fraction of Sultan Sharafuddin’s expansive private art collection, were selected personally by the sultan himself.
It is learnt that the sultan started the collection in his early 20s when he was the Raja Muda of Selangor.
Among those on display are a matte black helmet that was decorated with the creative work of Ibrahim as a birthday gift for the sultan in 2000.
Another work by Ibrahim, a painting called Father and Son, is featured on the cover of the exhibition’s catalogue.
The painting, which is priced at RM85,000, was the sultan’s gift to his son, Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, on his 18th birthday in 2008.
Another rare item at the exhibition is a huge drawing which depicts a “kenduri” in a village by Malaysia’s beloved cartoonist Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid, famously known as Lat, entitled Rewang.
Measuring 165cm x 165cm, the piece which was commissioned by Sultan Sharafuddin for his dining room, is the only huge drawing ever created by Lat.
Several still photos of Sultan Sharafuddin and his family members, which were carefully selected from the archives of the New Straits Times Press (NSTP) Resource Centre, are also on display.
MPB Group chairman Tan Sri Ismee Ismail said the staunch support and firm belief of Sultan Sharafuddin that local artists were as gifted and creative as their foreign counterparts had enabled talents such as the late Ibrahim, Azman, Lat and Raja Azhar Idris and many others to gain recognition and command higher prices for their masterpieces.
“Undeniably, his support also allowed the local visual arts and creative industry to flourish, forcing market watchers to reevaluate the market’s lucrative potential, while also serving as an inspiration to those looking to break into the industry.”
NSTP chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid said he hoped Galeri Prima could play a significant role in the development of the Malaysian arts scene.
“It is my wish that Galeri Prima will chart remarkable growth and continue to strive for local and international recognition, all for the benefit of budding and established local artists,” he said.
Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, Tengku Amir Shah and his sister, Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, were present at the event.
Also present were MPB Group managing director Datuk Kamal Khalid, NSTP chairman Tan Sri Ismail Omar and Lat.
The exhibition, which is open to the public with free admission, will last until Oct 20. The gallery is open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm.
Page 1 pic: Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah speaking about one of the 33 pieces of art from his private collection being showcased at Galeri Prima in an exhibition titled ‘Terrains of the Heart’. With him are (from left) New Straits Times Press (NSTP) chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid, Datuk
Mohd Nor Khalid, or Lat, NSTP chairman Tan Sri Ismail Omar (partly hidden) and Media Prima Group chairman Tan Sri Ismee Ismail. The artwork is a drawing of a ‘kenduri’ commissioned by the sultan from Lat.