negaraku, my country, may stir feelings of nostalgia, longing for the tastes of home, or a deep-seeded desire for youthful days.
Art collectors Bingley Sim and Ima Norbinsha will display works from their collection at the iconic Hin Bus Depot-Exhibition Space, opening on 12 July 2024 at 8:00 p.m. The event will be officiated by Mr. Lee Khai, Chairman of Penang State Art Gallery.
The husband-and-wife contemporary art collectors share a selection of artworks from their approximately 20-year aggregation, representations of the country’s trials and tribulations, nation building, and a hope of a brighter future.
Bingley said,
“We are passionate about the collection being exhibited and the power it conveys, the feelings of negaraku, the connection to the country and the artworks to each other. The vibe at Hin Bus Depot, adds to the story of this show with its 1947 structure yet a contemporary setting with modern businesses.”
“This exhibition is the story of Malaysia. However it invokes feelings, this exhibit is meant to remind and revitalize, where we come from and where we are going.”
The roughly 77 pieces of sculpture, canvas and silk screen artworks will be showcased during the Georgetown Art Festival 2024. negaraku is thematic to the upcoming Merdeka holiday, and the deeper symbolism which a country must endure to be reborn at points throughout its existence.
The perpetuity of the cycles-of-life found in the racial harmony and ample natural resources of Malaysia provide the inspiration for collection’s staging, like a child’s life journey from birth to discovery/education to cognition/productivity and an end, tanah tumpahnya darahku.
The exhibition is supported by Yayasan Mr. D.I.Y. and HB Art Auctioneers, admission is free and runs from 13 July to 11 August 2024. Whether you are an antiquarian or an art lover, negaraku’s purpose is a country’s story, laid out within a masterfully crafted catalogue.
The exclusive catalogues document the show, the tales of the pieces and are collector’s items respectively. The uniqueness of the various volumes of catalogue, available at the opening, feature different casings, numbering and autograph. Monies raised from the sale of the catalogue by negaraku during the exhibition will be donated to charity.
The artworks displayed at the exhibition are not for sale. Each artwork narrates a story of negaraku, its past, present and future.
For more information visit www.hinbusdepot.com.
