ART galleries in the Klang Valley are welcoming visitors again after the easing of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

While buyers and collectors are back, curators say they cannot depend on seasonal sales of artwork. Instead, the government needs to bring in policies that can help the “art ecosystem” survive crises.

Jaafar Ismail, founder and curator of Fergana Art, said that small galleries, performing arts centres and artists had been surviving on whatever grants were available during the pandemic.

“The movement control order (MCO) brought into focus the lack of economic safety nets,” he said.

Fergana Art had been closed since October 2020 but is currently running a show, titled Recovery: Renewal (Pemulihan: Pembaharuan) at its gallery in the Publika Shopping Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, until December 5.

The exhibition documents the responses of Malaysians towards the Covid-19 pandemic.

Joshua Lim, director of contemporary art gallery A+ Works of Art, said the health of the arts sector cannot be judged based on sales figures.

“Markets are one thing, but the larger art ecosystem should be the focus.

“We have to recognise that the arts are a large complex ecosystem. It’s good and important to give grants to artists, but they are only part of this ecosystem.

“What about curators and writers and administrators? What about small independent art spaces? Or museums and public art spaces? What about art publishing and media, or art education?” he said.

Lim stated that it is important to have a strategic vision for the arts as an ecosystem. That way, the sector can sustain itself during crises, when governments tend to neglect it and deem it as non-essential.

“On one hand, because of this crisis, a lot of us have a better appreciation of what is truly valuable, whether that is culture, the arts, our heritage, or friendship and family,” Lim said.

Smaller art galleries barely survived during the pandemic, much like small and medium enterprises (SMEs), but big, blue-chip international galleries have been thriving, he added.

“The world’s wealthiest have only become wealthier, and they have continued to buy expensive art. Yet, for many of us, it has been a real struggle.”

Jaafar said although collectors are buying art again, he is unsure if demand will last or grow. Demand, overall, has shrunk.

“The crowd is largely driven by fads. These are direct and immediate responses to being freed from entrapment of lockdowns. Are these sustainable? I don’t know.”

The pandemic is leading Fergana Art to review its business model.

“We have to assess the demand far more carefully and aggressively.

“Unfortunately, the old tried and tested model of art and aesthetics advisory and intermediary services – which is the core function of the gallery model – is becoming less viable. It is a similar situation for artists too,” he said.

This means exploring digital alternatives, but Jaafar currently doubtful if this will yield actual purchases.

Increasing art appreciation

More Malaysians need to appreciate art if galleries and artists are to survive. The G13 Gallery in Petaling Jaya is noticing greater interest from younger people and new buyers from this generation.

“Visitors started coming to our gallery as soon as the lockdown was eased, and we met some young collectors, too,” said G13 Gallery director Kenny Teng.

“I notice that there are more and more visitors are from the younger generation, compared to before.”

The G13 Gallery is now showing The Moderns Across Generations, a group exhibition by local artists, Jolly Koh, Sharifah Fatimah, Tajuddin Ismail and Awang Damit Ahmad.

It will also hold a solo exhibition Sirik-Sirik Alas by Nik Mohd Husyaidie from December 10 to 24, as well as a solo exhibition by Koh in January 2022 to commemorate his 80th birthday.

Teng added that art programmes need to be increased to raise Malaysians’ interest in the subject.

“I hope that there will be more art programmes, domestic and overseas, which are supported by the government. Promoting our art and culture is essential,” he said in response to Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz’s statement that Malaysian artists need better market access across Asean.

Tengku Zafrul said the government has spent RM22 million in the past 14 months on more than 8,000 artists through the Cultural Economy Development Agency (Cendana). 

“Cendana has played an important role in helping the art economy through sponsoring art programmes during the pandemic.

“This is not only helping the artists that are involved, but also the industries that are related to art,” Teng said.

Other art shows on the calendar for December include:

The Malaysia Art Ecosystem Festival at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, from December 3 to 5.

A solo exhibition by Yim Yen Sum, Line of Connection, at the A+ Works of Art gallery in Sentul on December 12.

An exhibition by Nadiah Bamadhaj, The Inconsistencies of Success, a collaboration between A+ Works of Art food and wine bar SSS: Small Shifting Space, on Jalan Petaling, December 12. – December 2, 2021.