The Art of Activism
Datin Shalini Ganendra brings Jessica Liew up to speed on her creative crusade through the inaugural international art marquee, the Gallery Weekend Kuala Lumpur
The art scene was once reserved for a private set of audience in Malaysia, when Datin Shalini Ganendra founded the eponymous Shalini Ganendra Fine Art (SGFA) in 1998. At the time, The Private Gallery (as it was known) was developed on the premise of living with art, explains the formidable lawyer-turned-art consultant. Word spread and soon, Datin Shalini’s ‘byappointment’ gallery graduated to a dedicated public space, a purpose-built residence that was also an award-winning ode to green living. Five years onward, the crusading Datin is spearheading the Gallery Weekend Kuala Lumpur (GWKL), an initiative to bring contemporary Malaysian art and design to local and global audiences, happening from November 25 to 27 this year. Although the current arts industry is still finding its footing, Datin Shalini is positive that Malaysians’ knowledge of it is developing well. Curiosity, she declares, is an important element of art education and appreciation. “We have a variety of guests at SGFA, all united by interest in aesthetics and culture, often from different perspectives,” she says, adding that it’s a real pleasure to respond through information and context. A Sri Lankan native, the now Malaysian Datin Shalini spent several formative years in the United States and the United Kingdom, where she read law at Cambridge and practiced as a corporate finance lawyer in Wall Street, New York. In 1993, she settled in Malaysia with her husband Dato’ Dennis Ganendra, where she became a cultural commentator. In reflection of the ever-changing local creativity, Datin Shalini explains that the gallery evolves every two months. “SGFA hosts about six exhibitions annually, in addition to special projects. Emphasising the multi-disciplinary is the Pavilionnow series,” she shares, in reference to the outdoor Shadow Garden designed by Eleena Jamil Architect. Artists on exhibit are a mix of local and international, with a focus on emerging regions, but most importantly, mid-career artists. So, how does Datin Shalini describe her art? “My creativity is in bringing art pieces together, and to connect artists. I aspire to develop an appreciative audience who can critique and feel confident to voice opinions and ask questions.” This desire was the tipping point of Datin Shalini’s GWKL endeavour. “GWKL creates a platform to showcase some of the best of Malaysia’s art and design,” she explains, adding that there will be more than 20 participating galleries and public institutions, showcasing creativity through paintings, photography, sculpting and heritage works. GWKL will also host the Luminary Pulse sessions with two international luminaries, Hanif Kara and Christopher Phillips—an opportunity to spark creative dialogue. Among her sentiments which made the deepest impression was her faith in Malaysia
“I aspire to develop an appreciative audience who can critique and feel confident to voice opinions”
as a world-class player. “Malaysia has the potential to be a significant voice because there’s so much to say in this transitional period,” says Datin Shalini. We’ve never been more eager to see how our creative scene grows from here.