If you couldn't make it to George Town, you can still view these 'Kecik-Kecik Group Show' works in an online exhibition, which ends on March 31. Photo: Jeremy Tan
Good things often come in small packages. Art is no exception, if the recent Kecik-Kecik Group Show 2023 in George Town in Penang was anything to go by.
All 154 artworks featured in the exhibition at Hin Bus Depot measured no more than 0.6m (two feet) in width, height or depth, but were certainly impactful.
There was everything from landscape, streetscapes, abstract and still life paintings to handmade sculptures, digital art, photography, mixed media pieces and even upcycled works from 89 established and emerging Malaysia-based artists.
If you couldn't make it to George Town, you can still view these works in an online exhibition, which ends this month.
Fisshyyee's contribution to the exhibition titled 'No.19 Towards'. Photo: Jeremy Tan
The final selection for this latest Kecik-Kecik Group Show was chosen from an initial pool of 291 submissions. Besides captivating visitors, the diversity of styles and subject matter on display was also testament to the breadth of creative talent within the country.
Kenny Ng, project manager for event organisers Penang Art District (PAD), said the biennial show was meant to give artists of all genres a platform to reach a wider audience. At the same time, it sought to promote a culture of collecting art locally.
Prices for pieces this year ranged from just RM100 to RM2,000, making it an affordable and practical starting point for potential collectors to acquire their first pieces. Ng hoped this initiative would spark a long term interest in art.
A visitor taking a closer look at the artworks featured in this year's 'Kecik-Kecik Group Show' at the Hin Bus Depot in George Town. Photo: Jeremy Tan
And that would be good for creatives across the industry, particularly emerging names who often lack the opportunities or visibility enjoyed by their more established counterparts.
Those ideals were what PAD and Penang-based artist Bibichun had in mind when they initiated the first Kecik-Kecik show in 2019. Modelled after a group show series held by graffiti artists in Kuala Lumpur, it proved that there was a whole vibrant world of contemporary art beyond the typical white box spaces.
Though that maiden edition was successful, Covid-19 forced the second installment in 2021 to be held online. This year marked its eagerly awaited return to a physical format.
Wan Zeti Fadhlina Chek Ani's abstract piece titled 'Lavender Haze II'. Photo: Jeremy Tan
Notably, Kecik-Kecik this year was also the first exhibition in Malaysia to issue NFT-based Certificate of Authenticities (NFT-COA) for each of its physical artworks under a collaboration with Arteesan.io.
NFTs or non-fungible tokens are unique, cryptographic assets with unique properties that exist on a blockchain.
Ng said the NFT-COAs offer a secure and verifiable provenance of each Kecik-Kecik artwork. This protects against fraud and increases the value of pieces as it proves ownership and authenticity.
“The accompanying NFT can also be a digital representation of the physical artwork, allowing artists and collectors alike to showcase it online to a wider audience.
Ngu Mei Cui's 'Dao Gao (Prayer)', a portraiture work. Photo: Jeremy Tan
“On platforms like Instagram and Facebook, you get a special checkmark that verifies you being the owner. This can potentially attract new buyers as the artwork becomes more well-known or sought-after,” he explained.
Arteesan.io director Vin Lim said the nature of blockchains makes NFTs indestructible and tamper-resistant. Every transaction that occurs is permanently recorded and nobody can change its content.
“You can see who was the artist who minted the artwork, the different people who bought or traded it and who currently owns it. This secure form of provenance will give artworks better value over time,” said Lim.
Jillian Lee's artwork titled 'Merdeka Village', an urban village situated in George Town. Photo: Jeremy Tan
Penang State Tourism and Creative Economy committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin believes the use of NFTs as certificates of authenticity for physical artworks is another exciting development that demonstrates how technology and art can come together to protect and create value.
He added that the state will continue to attach great importance to the arts, promote local artists and celebrate their creativity, as this is a key part of its cultural heritage.
“Shows like Kecik-Kecik remind us of art’s capacity to inspire, heal and connect. Art is not just a luxury but an essential part of our lives,” said Yeoh.
The online version of the Kecik-Kecik Group Show 2023 can be viewed here. The online show ends March 31.
