KUALA LUMPUR: Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia today launched the CIMB Artober Art and Soul showcase, marking the start of one of Malaysia's largest art events aimed at spotlighting the nation's most talented artists.
Her Majesty's arrival at 11 am, accompanied by Raja Di Hilir Perak Raja Iskandar Dzulkarnain, was greeted by CIMB Group chairman Tan Sri Mohd Nasir Ahmad.
The Queen then spent approximately 30 minutes touring the gallery and interacting with the artists and exhibitors before gracing a fashion show titled Bunga Lado by Royal Sembilan, accompanied by orchestral music and singing by CIMB Rising Start Asean champion, Nuril, or Sharifah Nurilmuhayati Syed Hussain.
More than 30 collections using Malaysian traditional brocade design by five local designers, including students of Pasir Gudang Community College, were showcased at the fashion show.
The art fair, running from Oct 25 to 27, takes place at Hall 1, Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) here, with free admission.
The annual showcase, organised by CIMB Group Holdings Berhad (CIMB) aims to support and empower Malaysia's vibrant art community while positioning the country as a world-class hub for arts and culture.
Over 1,000 artworks by more than 100 local artists will be featured, and presented by 20 leading galleries including Taksu, Sareng, Segaris, and Galeri Puteh.
The event will also showcase 30 iconic works from The AFK Collection, a renowned archive dedicated to preserving contemporary Malaysian art, including pieces by the esteemed Fauzan Omar.
In his welcoming speech, Mohd Nasir noted that CIMB Artober has contributed over RM15 million to the local art ecosystem, benefiting at least 200 artists since its inception.
"CIMB Artober continues to gain wider recognition each year, serving as a platform for Malaysian artists to showcase their works to a broader audience, and we are committed to further empowering the local creative economy," he said.
The event also featured Bungolado, a fashion show presented by Royal Sembilan, featuring a special collection of songket woven by inmates from Marang Prison as part of the prison's rehabilitation programme. The show was a key highlight, drawing attention to the intersection of art and social empowerment.
Throughout the weekend, visitors can enjoy a series of art-themed activities, including fashion shows featuring collections by renowned designers Datuk Radzuan Radziwill and Ezuwan Ismail, as well as works by students from University Teknologi MARA (Perak), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology and Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.
The exhibition will also serve as a platform for intellectual discourse, with a series of art talks led by prominent figures in the local art scene, including Khairy Jamaluddin and Datuk Tiffanee Marie Lim. — BERNAMA