Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh and a very good evening to all of you. 

 

Thank you very much for gracing us with your wonderful presence here for tonight’s official opening of “TAMAN NURAINI: ISLAMIC IMPRESSIONS IN CONTEMPORARY MALAYSIAN ART”

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Ladies and Gentlemen, 

The arts and its practitioners, from time immemorial, have always been intimate servants to the great religions of the world since their inception. 

This is due to the fact that the medium of the visual arts (not forgetting to mention the performing arts) is the best instrument to materialize and deliver the messages of the Almighty in symbolic forms that are awe-inspiring, enduring and universally comprehensible. 

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The meticulous embellishments employing sacred symbols, texts and motifs on the exterior and interior of the many magnificent houses of worships around the world, the artistic treatment lavished upon sacred manuscripts and objects used for ritual and worship,  IS testament to the power of the visual arts to move and inspire its followers to greater awareness with regards to the truth, beauty and the omnipotence of the Creator.    

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Ladies and Gentlemen, 

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The presence of Islam in the Malay world was recorded between the late 13th and early 14th century with the conversion of the Sultan of Pasai, North Sumatra (Samudra), Indonesia. But it was in the 15th and 16th century especially with the conversion of the Malacca Sultanate that Islam became widely accepted. 

And Islam had greatly influenced the outlook of the Malays as well as other nationalities around the world; from cultural-dietary practices and daily etiquettes to their traditional visual and performing arts.  

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The six artistic approaches as identified by the late Professor Lois Lamya Al Faruqi employed by Muslim artisans in representing the greatness of the Creator are abstraction, modular structure, infinite patterns, repetition, dynamism and intricacy. Here in Malaysia, it is the use of Jawi scripts, modest non-figurative motifs and unostentatious decorative elements which are commonly found in the architecture, textile, wood, metal and jewelry works of the Malays. 

 

However, the artistic approaches that were introduced through the British administration before Merdeka and years after, focused more on the expressive and representational qualities which celebrates a more personal worldview, thus hastening the already dislocation of culture and spirituality from the visual arts.  

Aware of the significant role culture and spirituality can play in revitalizing and uniting the peoples of this nation as both a respond to unbridled onslaught of globalization and to inspire confidence and national pride, efforts were made in the 1970’s to encourage, via policy and patronage, artistic productions which recovers, explores or incorporates spiritual and cultural elements with modern art practices.       

Islam allows for such undertakings so long as prohibitions outlined in the Quran are observed. This I believe is enough to set the Muslim artists free to create art without contravening the tenets of their faith. 

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Here in ‘Taman Nuraini’, the examples of their boundless creativity and artistry are for all to see.       

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The works of our late National Art Laureate Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal, the always innovative Dr. Sulaiman Hj Esa, the late Ahmad Khalid Yusof and Sheik Omar Basaree, Professor Ruzaika Omar Basaree, Fatimah Chik, Sharifah Fatimah Zubir and Nizar Kamal Ariffin are but some of our more prominent artists who have successfully incorporated calligraphy, geometric shapes, semi abstract forms and dynamic strokes with modern art approaches to express the Islamic in their cultural practices and private outlooks.      

  

Ladies and Gentlemen,

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Before I conclude my speech, allow me to extend my heartiest congratulations to the guest curator and writers, the artists and the staff of Galeri P for organizing this most interesting exhibition entitled ‘Taman Nuraini: Islamic Impressions in Contemporary Malaysian Art’. 

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Such efforts and commitment helps to further reaffirm the objectives of this Galeri since its inception in 1993, which is to support and promote Malaysia’s modern, contemporary art and related initiatives for the public’s educational and viewing pleasure. 

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My sincerest appreciation to the National Visual Arts Gallery for the loan of important works by modern and contemporary masters to this exhibition and their unconditional support for all of our initiatives over the years, I look forward to many more years of fruitful outcome between our two institutions.  

    

And finally, to you dear art lovers, for your loyal support and constructive feedback which Insya Allah, will only spur us to perform better in bringing you the best in modern and contemporary art this country and the world has to offer.   

With that, I declare this exhibition open.

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Please enjoy the rest of the evening. Thank You.   

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