MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

ARTAID15 paints hope for women living with HIV

Art exhibition unites 19 Malaysian and Indonesian artists speaking to the urgency of taking action on the HIV epidemic and raising funds for the Malaysian AIDS Foundation.

KUALA LUMPUR, 17 August 2015 – A group of 19 contemporary artists from Malaysia and Indonesia, through a collaboration between the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) and Segaris Art Center, came together to launch the ARTAID15 exhibition in the hope of highlighting and relieving the plight of underprivileged women living with HIV in Malaysia.

(From left) Johari Said, artist; Ahmad Zakii Anwar, Trustee of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF); Hisham Hussein, Honorary Secretary of MAF; and Jalaini Abu Hassan, Director of Segaris Art Center launch the ARTAID15 exhibition in support of MAF on 17 August 2015 at Segaris Art Center, Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.

Led by two of Malaysia’s most acclaimed fine artists Ahmad Zakii Anwar and Jalaini Abu Hassan, the ARTAID15 artists contributed between them a total of 23 original art pieces, some of which were their most cherished and personal, to be sold for the benefit of MAF’s treatment, care and support programmes.

“I am proud of my fellow artists for heeding the call to stand in solidarity with the more than 11,000 women in Malaysia whose lives have been directly impacted by HIV,” said Ahmad Zakii who is also a Trustee of MAF. “As storytellers and observers of issues that affect us, artists have a responsibility to share their talent and canvas with our women whose voices are unjustly silenced by HIV associated stigma and discrimination.”

Ahmad Zakii Anwar, artist and Trustee of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation poses with one of his contributions to the ARTAID15 fundraiser (“Orang Kelantan”)

While new HIV infections in Malaysia have declined by 50 per cent in the past decade, new cases among women are showing no sign of slowing down. “A little over ten years ago, for every 10 new HIV infections reported, one involved a woman. Now the ratio has narrowed to 4:1,” explained Professor Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Chairman of MAF.

“Gender disparity and a myriad of other socio-economic and health inequalities predispose women to heightened risks of HIV. As women continue to bear the brunt of the HIV epidemic, we need to aggressively scale up our HIV interventions to meet their specific gender needs. Money raised from ARTAID15 will enable us to expand our reach to many more women living with HIV, particularly those in hard-to-reach, impoverished and underserved settings in Malaysia, with health literacy, education and empowerment training activities, livelihood support, and financial assistance schemes that would improve their access to lifesaving HIV treatment and care.”

The first installment of its kind, ARTAID15 is poised to place itself among the most anticipated annual arts and social events in the years to come, especially with the participation of three renowned Indonesian artists Jumaldi Alfi, Putu Sutawijaya and Yunizar.

Jalaini, who also serves as Director of Segaris Art Center noted, “Not only do our Indonesian counterparts add an international flair to ARTAID15, they also speak to the universality of the HIV crisis and the urgency to respond to its negative health, socio-cultural and economic impact.”

Jailani Abu Hassan, Director of Segaris Art Center offers his own original work “Kelab Dermawan Budiman” (pictured) for sale through ARTAID15 to benefit Malaysian AIDS Foundation’s treatment, care and support programmes.

Joining the three Indonesian artists are Malaysia’s own Ahmad Shukri Mohamed, Bayu Utomo Radjikin, Chang Fee Ming, Chong Ai Lei, Chong Siew Ying, Fadilah Karim, Fauzul Yusri, Johari Said, Kow Leong Kiang, Noor Mahnun Mohamed, Sabri Idrus, Shia Yih Ying, Umi Baizura and Yusri Suleiman, in addition to Ahmad Zakii and Jailani.

Art pieces for sale through the ARTAID15 fundraiser will be exhibited to the public for ten days beginning 21 August 2015 at Segaris Art Center, Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.

ARTAID15 opens on 21 August 2015 and will run for ten days ending 31 August at Segaris Art Center, Publika Shopping Gallery, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur. Public is welcomed to view all the 23 art pieces for sale and make purchases ranging from RM 5,000 to RM 60,000. All purchases are entitled to tax exemption.

For more information, visit https://maf.org.my/artaid15 or call Arif (MAF) at 012-959-4596.

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Malaysian AIDS Foundation

The Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) was formed in 1992 to raise and administer funds to support the activities and programmes of Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) and its Partner Organisations. MAF funds prevention, treatment and care programmes conducted by MAC. MAF also distributes corporate donors’ funds to support projects that have been unable to secure government funding or projects located in parts of the country where resources are scarce. To learn more, visithttps://maf.org.my/V2/

 Segaris Art Center

Segaris Art Center is a new established commercial gallery fully owned by UiTM Art & Design located at Publika, Solaris Dutamas Kuala Lumpur. The Gallery is a profit organization which mandates to provide local art to their clientele and to assist the artists in the sales and promotion of their work. Segaris Art Center works to forge a platform for established and emerging artists to share their creativity and knowledge, either through solo or group exhibition. With the aim of being a key industry player, helping private art collectors and companies to own exceptional works of art for their collections, Segaris Art Center’s artists are well-sought-after professionals whose cutting-edge works are known for setting the trends in the field of contemporary Malaysian art.

 Contact

Media & Communications Department, Malaysian AIDS Foundation

Zaki Arzmi | 016-292-2948 | zaki@mac.org.my

Meera Abi | 016-414-6400 | meera@mac.org.my