All Star Artist Turn Out at IMCAS

VIPs took a backseat as the all-star artist line-up at the opening of Iskandar Malaysia Contemporary Art Show (IMCAS) last weekend was enough to leave even the most coolest of art groupies breathlessly starstruck.

Besides Johoreans Yusof Ghani and Shooshie Sulaiman, Jai, Choy Chun Wei, the Matahati 5, Rajinder Singh and Yusof Majid were amongst some of the biggest names in the local art scene who came out in full force to support their peers and emerging talent in the single largest show to be pulled off locally -ever.




IMCAS spread over 80,000 square feet features 1000 art works by about 100 young artists up for grabs (works are priced from RM400 for smaller pieces to RM10K-15K), the IMCAS Art Awards in recognition of outstanding new talent, a silent auction and 5 spots in a Residency Program.

The real highlight though, is an exhibition of 200 pieces, never before seen art from the Aliya & Farouk Khan Collection. The largest (not for sale) collection of contemporary art, private or public which includes a section devoted to Jai's work. The collection will also be travelling to National Arts Gallery later this year.

IMCAS, the brainchild of Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman is organized by Danga City Mall, supported by National Art Gallery and Iskandar Malaysia. Ghani, said in his opening speech that the Johor Goverment was commited to create a vibrant and robust art and cultural scene and thus the focus would be to develop and promote contemporary art. Ghani pledged that the Johor Government would continue to support the arts despite the economic downturn citing that a Biannale (the Johor Bahru Biannale), an International Residency Programme and a RM45mil Arts and Cultural Center (ready by 2011) is in the works. -Go Johor!

Since the soft opening last month, about 100 pieces have already been sold hitting a total revenue of RM200 000. Go see! Buy a few pieces if you have some cash to spare... you never know you could be picking up the next Zakii.

Don't complain that nothing ever happens in these here parts!
IMCAS going on now 'till June 14th, 2009 @ Level 4 of Danga City Mall in Johor Bahru.
Here's the bestest part: -Admission is free.