Largest collection of local art to be auctioned

Biggest ever: Thanasan says the second auction is being organised following the success of the first.

An Oil-On-Canvas painting entitled Rimba Landscape is expected to sell for a whopping RM700,000 at the Malaysian Modern and Contemporary Art Auction 2012 to be held on Dec 2.

Created by renowned artist and poet Abdul Latiff Mohidin, famed for his bold brush strokes, the Rimba series brought forth a sense of volume generated through tonal shades that simulate sensations of space.

Latiff’s works will be among a total of 108 art pieces from 90 renowned artists such as Datuk Ibrahim Hussein, Yusof Ghani and Chuah Thean Teng, with an estimated price between RM2,200 and RM500,000 each, that will go under the hammer.

Touted as the largest auction to feature established Malaysian artists, it is organised by KL Lifestyle Art Space (KLAS). It will be held at the Nusantara Ballroom at the Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur from 1pm to 5pm.

This will be the second auction organised by KLAS chief executive officer Datuk Gary Thanasan; his first, on Sept 30, brought in RM2.76 mil in sales. Thanasan said the upcoming auction would focus on Malaysian artwork to help build an interest among locals.

“This auction will be the largest collection of Malaysian art pieces, ranging from batik to canvas to be auctioned off. “We will have a full viewing from 10am to 7pm today until Dec 1 at KLAS in Jalan Maarof, Bangsar,” he added.

Thanasan said the success of the first auction prompted him to hold another auction within two months. “We have gone through the consignment list and we have enough to go for another round. “KLAS plans to hold such auctions on a regular basis, perhaps three times a year,” he added.

-thestar online.