Art Establishments
Local manifestations of the Western convention of pictorial art had their beginnings in the 1920s, at first in Penang, and later in other urban centres such as Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. Art infrastructure in the country developed gradually, culminating in a vibrant art scene towards the end of the 20th century.
The Malayan Arts Council, established in 1952, was the first art organization to promote art activities on a national scale by organizing art exhibitions and competitions. It was also the first to initiate the concept of a national art gallery to collect, keep and preserve works by Malaysian artists, thus ensuring the continuity of artistic traditions, preserving cultural heritage and encouraging artistic developments in the nation. While the early patrons of art were mainly Malay royalty, businessmen, professionals and expatriates, the opening of the National Art Gallery in 1958 by then Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman marked the beginning of official government support, which boosted the morale of artists. The government patronizes national and state galleries, which are also sponsored by the public and corporate sectors.
During the post-Independence period, artists who were greatly affected by the spirit of nationalism and the aspiration of freedom of expression sought a national cultural identity in art. Artists and art teachers who had returned from training abroad become the vanguard of art in the country; some of them being prominent artists as well as art educators, contributing greatly to the advancement of art and art education in Malaysia. The Specialist Teachers’ Training Institute, established in 1960, provided professional training for teachers, thus greatly improving the standard of art teaching in schools. The School of Art and Design of MARA Institute of Technology, established in 1967, provided professional courses for art and design at diploma level. The Fine Art Department of Universiti Sains Malaysia, established in 1972, offered a three-year degree course for studio art and theory. Its curriculum, which emphasized both theory and practical aspects of the subject, has contributed greatly in the development of the critical mind and intellectual consciousness of aspiring artists and art teachers. Private institutions also helped to produce a number of skilful artists and designers to cater for the demand for art arising from the rapid advancement of the local economy and industries. Computer-aided design and multimedia art soon became a core art and design curriculum.
As Malaysian society has become more affluent, art appreciation has become widespread. Economic progress and the emergence of a new group of collectors contributed to a booming art market in the 1990s. With the increasing number of art activities and exhibitions organized by both the government and private galleries, the artistic atmosphere in Malaysia has further been enhanced.
