Abu Dhabi to Host Landmark Exhibition Showcasing Pioneering Malaysian Contemporary Art

Abu Dhabi, April 4 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi, under the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), will present a major exhibition titled To Know Malaysia is to Love Malaysia: Major Highlights from The AFK Collection, running from April 10 to September 10, 2025.

The exhibition will feature significant works by first-generation Malaysian contemporary artists, marking a milestone in the UAE’s cultural calendar and further reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s status as a hub for international artistic engagement.

The AFK Collection, widely regarded as the most comprehensive archive of Malaysia’s Golden Era of contemporary art, will be showcased in a curated presentation highlighting the intellectual, aesthetic, and historical contributions of pioneering Malaysian artists. The works will be displayed individually, illustrating the artists’ stylistic evolution and their broader influence on Malaysia’s art education and publishing spheres.

Structured around five thematic sections, the exhibition will explore the foundations of Malaysian contemporary art, interpretations of historical and socio-political developments, cultural identity transformations, environmental shifts, and early movements in expressionism and surrealism. The aim is to foster a deeper understanding of Malaysia’s modern artistic landscape within a broader socio-political context.

Artists featured in the exhibition include Ahmad Shukri Mohammed, Ahmad Fuad Osman, Ali Nurazmal, Anniketyni Madian, Fauzan Omar, Hamir Soib, Masnoor Ramli, Susyilawati Sulaiman, Yusof Ghani, and Zulkifli Yusoff.

The exhibition is expected to engage regional audiences with Malaysian narratives that challenge prevailing perceptions, illuminate lesser-known histories, and establish connections between past and present cultural discourses.