Local Artists Pulls Out of Exhibition After Their Art Were Hung Around The Mall “Like Laundry”

At least two participating artists from the Artisfair exhibition at the Fahrenheit 88 Mall in Kuala Lumpur are withdrawing their artworks.

In the past few days, organizers of the exhibition have been criticized for disrespecting the artworks on display by hanging their canvases around the mall’s railings like laundry.

One of the artists, Nawwar Shukriah Ali (@BonoStellar) took to Twitter confirming that she has withdrawn her Clair De Lune glass on wood piece from the exhibition.

“Lol just took down my own work at an exhibition that just started,” she wrote in her Tweet.

“No, you can’t be serious [about] hanging those canvases like that.”

Not performance art.. ? lol just took down my own work at an exhibition that just started..no you can’t be serious abt hanging those canvases like that.. ?? pic.twitter.com/DLldx4qsSJ

— Nawwar Shukriah Ali (@BonoStellar) November 11, 2021

Another artist, Indra Gondhi (@indragondhi) took to Twitter to confirm that he too has decided to withdraw his art from the exhibition.

“The worst way to display artworks. I’m pulling out my pieces. This is disrespectful!”

Many other artists replied to Indra’s tweet claiming that they too will be withdrawing their art from the exhibition.

Woke up to this unacceptable and very unprofessional behavior! The worst way to display artworks. I'm pulling out my pieces. This is disrespectful! https://t.co/WekB0Sb8Us

— Indra Gondi (@indragondi) November 12, 2021

The art fair, organized by the Bookxcess bookstore, started on 11 November and was set to run till 28 November.

As stated on their website, the art fair features over 2,000 paintings, prints, and 3D installations by both rookies and established artists from across Malaysia and Indonesia that strive to challenge “conventional presentations or art.”

Netizens too took to social media to express their disappointment towards the exhibition.

“Uishh.. won’t this destroy the art piece,” a netizen commented.

“That’s what we’re afraid of, that’s one of the problem. Threatening the physical artwork. Another this is that it doesn’t meet at eye level,” a netizen replied.

“Ah long bunting also clever to place at eye level. These are artwork that took days of brainstorming, looking for ideas using talent, but display like it’s a towel hanging by the balcony at Sepang Goldcoast,” another commented.

“True they don’t respect the artwork, is this the artwork of school students? Hanging it just like that,” another said.

“Thought they were drying carpets at a flat,” another netizen commented after viewing the pictures of the exhibition.

“Do they think these drawings are a print or what by doing that? It’s tiring for artists to finish their drawings. Don’t even appreciate their efforts.”

What are your thoughts on the art fair? Let us know in the comment section below!

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