KUALA LUMPUR: Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, has launched the CIMB Artober Art and Soul showcase, marking the start of one of Malaysia’s largest art events aimed at highlighting the nation's most talented artists.
Her Majesty arrived at 11am, accompanied by Raja Di Hilir Perak Raja Iskandar Dzulkarnain, and was welcomed by CIMB Group chairman Tan Sri Mohd Nasir Ahmad.
The Queen spent around 30 minutes touring the gallery, engaging with artists and exhibitors, and attended a fashion show titled Bunga Lado by Royal Sembilan.
The event featured orchestral music and singing by CIMB Rising Star Asean champion Nuril, or Sharifah Nurilmuhayati Syed Hussain.
More than 30 collections featuring Malaysian traditional brocade designs by five local designers, including students from Pasir Gudang Community College, were showcased.
The art fair, running from Oct 25 to 27, takes place at Hall 1, Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), with free admission.
Organised by CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (CIMB), the annual showcase 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, presented by 20 leading galleries including Taksu, Sareng, Segaris and Galeri Puteh.
The event will also display 30 iconic works from The AFK Collection, a renowned archive dedicated to preserving contemporary Malaysian art, including pieces by esteemed artist Fauzan Omar.
In his speech, Mohd Nasir highlighted that CIMB Artober has contributed over RM15mil 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 by Royal Sembilan, showcasing a special collection of songket woven by inmates from Marang Prison as part of a rehabilitation programme.
This 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, featuring art talks by prominent figures in the local art scene, including Khairy Jamaluddin and Datuk Tiffanee Marie Lim. – Bernama
