AN AFFAIR OF THE ARTS
FAROUK and ALIYA KHAN share what drew them to Malaysian contemporary art and the hidden value of the local creative industry, writes kiran pillay
Curators Aliya and Farouk Khan discuss their eponymous collection
Stepping into the home of Aliya and Farouk Khan, it’s easy to feel like Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. Their elegant abode is a veritable labyrinth of warm Persian rugs, and walls lined end-to-end with pieces from their prodigious collection of Malaysian contemporary art, stealing attention at every turn. The Khans themselves are gregarious and hospitable hosts, ever ready to share their insight and expansive wisdom about artistry and the curator’s craft.
“One of the main things about collecting is having access to the artists ,” Farouk says while discussing the significance of the couple’s eponymous assemblage. “You are always able to unlock knowledge through the arts. That’s why they say that history is the study of the past and art is the study of the present. If you understand your movement, it gives you a macro picture of what is going on within society.”
What initially drew the couple to focus on curating Malaysian works, apart from the “very high quality,” as Aliya indicates, was the uniqueness of the Malaysian voice. “If you go to other countries, everybody’s making similar art and having similar conversations. But in Malaysia, it’s very different. Even if the artists are trying to have a similar conversation, their approach and styles are very different from each other.”
The Aliya & Farouk Collection ( The AFK Collection) is a definitive collection of the first generation of Malaysian contemporary artworks, spanning the early 1980s and the present day. Comprising 1,064 artworks across a wide range of media – including canvas, wood and ceramics – it is a living storybook of the nation’s journey towards maturation and modernisation, created by over 100 local artists.
CULTURAL TIME CAPSULE
“The changes that were going on (in Malaysia) were reflected in the arts. From painting buffalos in paddy fields to highly developed artforms – by tracking these changes, you’re able to enjoy that growth even more,” Farouk comments, before Aliya chimes in, “you don’t have to buy all the arts, you just need to interact with it to be aware of what’s going on. We learnt a lot through the collection over what Malaysia’s about.”
The couple took an early interest in the works of Jalaini Abu Hassan, better known as Jai, who is known for his nostalgic viewpoint.