The Service of Archives to the Past, Present, and Future
By Elizabeth Low
What is the significance behind history? From a young age, we are taught the importance of developing an understanding of how past societies, ideologies, cultures, and governments, among other things, were built. We observed how they were established, what they accomplished, and their shortcomings. As human beings, we thrive on knowledge; there is merit in being able to look back to a time before we existed to study what has grown, changed, or remained constant through the ages. The concept of learning from and about the past has the potential to encourage critical thinking and a sense of awareness in tackling current issues, while also cultivating appreciation towards all that has been achieved.
Archives are essentially time capsules that safeguard elements of the past and fragments of human identity living within a collective of memorabilia. They are understood to be an assemblage of historical documents or records kept for the purpose of research and historical preservation. There was a time where the impression of archives was of dusty, dark rooms, swimming with old parchments or dry academia. However, with the revival of archives within the cultural world, modern archives are filled not only with official documents, but with other forms of unique and original artifacts such as, images, videos, sketchbooks, catalogues, letters, and more. Essentially, the journey and history of a work of art can be found in the trails and traces left behind by art exhibitions, sales documents, photographs, and articles.
Yet, the role of art archives extends beyond the purposes of provenance research and catalogue raisonnés; archives can provide documentation of the decisions and activities of organisations, art practitioners, collectives. The wealth of information within the data has the ability to provide further perspective and context regarding anything ranging from completed works of art, to art movements, or pioneering efforts within the industry. Insight to the story behind artworks and the lives of artists can be found anywhere within correspondence between artists, diaries, records of business contacts, and more. With access to an abundance of data like these, we have the opportunity to dive into processes and behind-the-scenes narrative accounts of significant artworks and events in the art world. This in return enriches our existing knowledge, initiates critical discourse, and provide alternative insights.
Evidently, archives have the power to educate, nurture, and inspire; the importance of their role reaches beyond just historians and researchers, but also to artists and art professionals alike. In the case of the Malaysian Art Archive & Research Support (MARS), the historical value of this public art archive lies in the ability to observe the development of the visual art scene in Malaysia, and its potential to inspire and nurture innovative initiatives in the visual arts. Through exhibition catalogues, academic literature, videos of performance art, and the series of other articles of information, there is room for great discoveries. Access to spaces like MARS are necessary in creating and uncovering the different narratives and experiences that have shaped the industry in various ways. Thus, the work of preserving and celebrating a space that makes available an environment for constant growth and learning in our community lives on through this annual exhibition.
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Portrait 2021#1
Kow Leong Kiang
Oil on Canvas
30.5 X 30.5 cm
2021
RM 4,000 / Sold
Why Rose?
Dr. Sharmiza Abu Hassan
Glass , Plastic & Metal
28cm (h) x 16 cm diameter
2021
RM 1,000
26 Sept 2020 to 26 May 2021
Masnoor Ramli
Graphite on 250 gm paper
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 2,000
Miss Nature V
Shia Yih Ying
Oil on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 4,000
Crying Superboy: Tribute to Palestine
Aznan Omar
Aluminium cast dan plate Aluminium
30 x 20 cm
2021
RM 4,000
Bias # Tumbuh
Hamdan Shaarani
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 1,000 / Sold
Apathetic
Edroger Rosili
Paperclay, Artificial grass, acrylic resin, wood
30 x 30 x 10 cm
2021
RM 2,021
Structure
Kim Ng
Fired clay powder, acrylic and varnish on patinated galvanized zinc.
30.5 x 30.5cm
2021
RM 1,800
Enlighten Me, Then
Haslin Ismail
Indian ink and white acrylic ink on raw canvas
30.5 X 30.5 cm
2021
RM 1,000 / Sold
Bisikan Bayangan
Samsuddin Wahab
Oil on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 1,400 / Sold
Batas batas....
Faizal Suhif
Oil, monoprint on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 1,200 / Sold
All Access Accessory
Ruzzeki Haris
Oil on canvas
34 x 34 cm
2021
RM 1,500 / Sold
Special Caste
Meor Saifullah
Mixed Media and Collage on Found Board.
30.48cm x 30.48cm (with frame)
2021
RM 400
Tiada Masalah
Sukor Romat
Mixed media on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 1,500
Stripped and Striped
Chan Kok Hooi
Acrylic on wooden stretcher, wooden frame
2021
RM 3,000 / Reserved
Jalan Abadi
Anisa Abdullah
Collage paper on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 1,200 / Sold
When Land tortoise meet Sea turtle
Cheng Yen Pheng
Mixed media
Diameter 12"
2021
RM 1,200
Unpredictable Mission
Cheong Tuck Wai
Water colour paper, clear glue, oil and acrylic on non-woven fabric, latex & rabbit
glue, gloss gel finishing
30.5 x 30.5cm
2021
RM 1,200 / Sold
Philodendron
Chong Ai Lei
Oil on Canvas
30.5 x 30.5cm
2021
RM 1,200 / Sold
Donald Duck Symptom
Amy Nazira
Oil on canvas
30 cm x 30 cm
2021
RM 400 / Sold
Belum Bebas
Husin Othman
Acrylic, Galvanized on canvas
30.48 cm x 30.48 cm
2021
RM 1,200 / Sold
Melihat
Nik Mohd Shahfiz
Oil on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 900
The Blue Garden
Nik Shazmie
Acrylics on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 2,600
Last Kiss
Sabihis Pandi
Woodcut print on canvas and woodblock
30 x 30 cm (Diptych)
2021
RM 2,000 / Sold
Santun
Ajim Juxta
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 450
Meditation
Shafiq Nordin
Acrylic on jute
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 1,200 / Sold
Pupus
Jamil Zakaria
Chicken wire, plastic (PVC)
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 1,600
Mother’s Orchid
Trixie Tan Lu Man
Oil on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 800 / Sold
Flowers
Fazrin Abd Rahman
Spray paint on aluminium strips
30.48 x 30.48 cm
2021
RM 800 / Sold
FREE SPEECH
Aiman Aisamuddin
Oil on Canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 400 / Sold
Unconcious
Isa Ishak
Oil on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 200 / Sold
Luaran
Amirul Roslan
Acrylic on canvas
30.5 x 30.5 cm
2021
RM 350 / Sold
The Government Of Chrysalis
Ehlid Luli
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 1,250
Rebirth
Nazreen Nor
Oil on canvas
31 x 31 cm
2021
RM 400 / Sold
Ocean Sunset
Nazrin Haziq
Oil on canvas
31 x 31 cm
2021
RM 400 / Sold
HUJAN SEMALAM
Loqman Hakim
Oil on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 350 / Sold
I’m Arrive !! (New Varian’s)
Hafizuddin Mat Yassim
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 350 / Sold
The Dylesia
Syazwan Rahim
Mixed media & collage on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 300 / Sold
Pop Landscape I
Syukur Rani
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 400 / Sold
Soul in the Shell
Fong Jia Lok
Oil and charcoal on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 900
Unity
Syafiqah Sanusi
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 500 / Sold
Don’t Break My Walls
Aina Arif
PVC clear hose tube, fabric discards and acrylic on canvas
34.2 cm x 34.3 cm
2021
RM 1,500
In Between of Reality
Izwa Ahmad
Acrylic in canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 200 / Sold
Composition of Pucuk Baru
Shahnaz Azlin
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 400 / Sold
Holi Series : Haven
Sharini Yogi
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 650
The Still Life of “AI-M-I”
Aimi Atikah
Oil on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 500 / Sold
Bukan Zaman Atom
Wan Ahmad Idham Zulfi
Ballpoint pen and coloured pencil on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 350
The Bird Catcher
Mary Ann Thomas
Oil on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 1,000 / Sold
Immunity
Putri Amrizal
Fabric collage, coated with clear acrylic finishing on canvas
30 x 30 cm
2021
RM 250 / Sold
Animal Farm 3.0
Firdauz Baharuddin
Mixed media - Clay, Found items.
42 x 60 cm
2021
RM 2,500
(Artwork details)
