A Tale Of Two Biennales

Five senior Malaysian artists shine the spotlight on Malaysian narratives with installation presentations at the Venice and Sharjah Biennales this year.

- Zena Khan

THE ART world is becoming increasingly borderless, thanks in part to a variety of cosmopolitan events. Surely, the biennale is one of the best known. A mix of cultural and networking platform, biennales allow artists to display seminal artworks in settings which inject a desired social capital into the art world’s intellectual capital. Crucially, biennales present opportunities to raise both the host city’s profile as well as that of the artists on display—heightening awareness on links between established and emerging art scenes.

This characteristic of bringing together several cultures and viewpoints within a single space parallels the nature of Malaysian art itself. Malaysia is often described as a ‘melting pot’, made up of several ethnicities and a history coloured by experiences brought on by trade, colonialism, and migration. Naturally, it seems, this has led to conceptually and technically complex contemporary art practices, capturing international attentions, and securing invites for Malaysian contemporary artists to international events. Excitingly, in 2019, five senior Malaysian contemporary artists showcased seminal installations at two of the world’s most prestigious Biennales: Sharjah Biennale and Venice Biennale.