ART: Strokes of hope

One hotel takes the lead to make art accessible to all, writes Kerry-Ann Augustin

HIS messy mane and silver beard are not just a trademark look. There’s something sophisticated about his scruffiness that demands your attention almost immediately.
Clad in a dark blue batik shirt decorated with his signature elephant motif, he extends a hand and introduces himself: “I’m Yusof Gajah.”
In truth, an artist of his calibre needs no introduction. The country’s principal painter has been at the forefront of the nation’s naive art scene, although he never brands himself as a naive painter.
“I call myself an artist who just loves painting elephants,” the Negri Sembilan native once said. But today he is playing the role of mentor rather than master of his craft. Working hand in hand with Seri Pacific Hotel as advisor for a project called Artiseri, he has selected a group of artists specialising in different mediums to showcase a spectrum of talent and styles. But here’s the twist: The open gallery is a platform for them to showcase their work for free and to sell without a middle man.

ART FOR ALL?
Seated at Seri Pacific’s plush Chereza Lounge, its general manager, Halim Merican explains the significance of the showcase. “Art is often considered highbrow because you have to go to a gallery where pieces on sale can be expensive because of the costs involved in using the space.”
Yusof Gajah tugs at his silver beard and adds: “Sometimes, you even have to make an appointment with the gallery. Can’t even just walk in.”
But the lack of space for art seems like a worldwide phenomenon. Websites dedicated to championing public spaces for art are in abundance. Under the banner of Art For All, communities exist in all corners of the globe. Some promote spaces where lesser known artists can display and sell their artworks, some are spaces dedicated to entire neighbourhoods and some, like Art For All in Europe, have specially designed spaces for people with disabilities to showcase their work. No matter what their cause, it all points to one basic, missing element: Accessibility to art.

EXPENSIVE EXPRESSIONS
“My dream is to open a gallery one day for new upcoming artists to give them an opportunity and then to promote the space for young people to start collecting art at affordable prices,” says Errol Capel, a local artist who specialises in abstract and abstract pop. “For new artists like myself, you have to find galleries which fit your style in art and are willing to support your work. But all galleries work on a commission basis, which is why they are choosy. They need to see how much they can make before they give you an opportunity. So they rarely look for new artists, preferring to bank on established ones.”
Capel’s views are shared by prominent painter Mass Yusof. “Young artists and even well known ones who are either self-taught or into realism art, are often left behind. Of course, gallery owners have a right to choose. Some galleries set too many conditions for the artist to craft pieces they can sell, while others take up to 50 per cent in commissions. It’s disheartening because they are in a position to help the art scene grow, but many just think of how they can make money,” says Mass Yusof.

PAINTING A FUTURE
But what can inaccessibility to art mean?
Eric Friedenwald-Fishman, the creative director and president of Metropolitan Group, a social marketing agency, famously said: “There is no discipline that nurtures and sparks the cognitive ability to imagine, and unleashes creativity and innovation, more than arts and culture.”
Both Yusof Gajah and Halim Merican echo Friedenwald-Fishman’s sentiments. Halim says: “I have seen so many artists — painters, musicians and sculptors - struggle to put forward their creations. So I said, why not? I have the platform with the number of local and international guests who walk into Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur. It’s cultural branding. Not only will Malaysians be aware of how much talent we have but people from all over the world will also be able to gain access to these pieces too, right here in our lobby.”
Mass Yusof concurs: “I think Seri Pacific Hotel is setting a wonderful example for the other hotels. It’s a place where new, upcoming or unknown artists can display and sell their work. Without middle men, they will be able to sell at affordable prices.
“It’s more than just that. As an artist, you feel a sense of recognition which encourages you to want to do more to promote the arts and to inspire others.”
Halim and Yusof Gajah explain that art accessibility is both in terms of price and space. “Art should never be an intimidating experience,” he says before concluding with a smile: “I admit that art is not a talent I can develop but this is our bid to make great art accessible.”