(from left to right) Lee Jui Siang, Vice President, Mobile, IT & Digital Imaging, Samsung Malaysia Electronics; Iola Lenzi, Samsung Masterpieces curator and Southeast Asian contemporary art critic and researcher; and Rosli Abdul Rahman, Director, Galeri PETRONAS introduced Samsung’s very own digital art gallery — Masterpieces — that showcases a collection of curated contemporary visual artworks by established and emerging Malaysian artists.
Samsung Malaysia Electronics announced the launch of Masterpieces at Galeri PETRONAS. A digital art gallery, Masterpieces is an application that showcases a collection of curated contemporary visual artworks by established and emerging artists based in Malaysia.
Available exclusively on Samsung Apps and Google Play, Masterpieces is optimised for a range of Samsung GALAXY Note series. Curated by Masterpieces curator, Iola Lenzi, a leading regional contemporary art curator, critic and writer, Masterpieces will feature contributed artworks by established and emerging artists, and selected student works in digital forms such as graphics, photos and videos, created with the Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 LTE.
“At Samsung, we want to provide a channel for designers and art lovers to share their artwork but in digital form. Through Masterpieces, we hope to help increase the appreciation of digital artworks and, at the same time, contribute towards the arts community in Malaysia. We are honoured to have a pool of Malaysia’s very best artists on-board to create unique and beautiful works of art exclusively for Masterpieces,” said Lee Dong Yong, President of Samsung Malaysia Electronics.
Masterpieces allows established and emerging artists to collectively build a library of works representative of this part of the world, as they collaborate and exchange ideas with renowned industry veterans such as Iola Lenzi. As an online platform, Masterpieces also allows artists to present their works to a broader audience, and help cultivate public interest in digital art by artists based in Malaysia.
No stranger to the art scene, Galeri PETRONAS, who is also the venue sponsor, has long hosted many art showcases in Kuala Lumpur. “PETRONAS has always prided itself as an innovative company as well as being a strong supporter of the development of Malaysian arts. Today we’re happy to be playing a small part towards acknowledging digital art as a new medium in Malaysia. This is another testament of PETRONAS’ focus on innovation and our effort in promoting the 11 Malaysian artists with their digital masterpieces at Galeri PETRONAS,” said Liz Kamaruddin, Senior General Manager of Strategic Communications Division, PETRONAS.
Through Masterpieces, audiences can now look forward to gaining easy access to a plethora of quality artworks, enhancing their appreciation of visual arts in varied forms and getting to know the works of various Malaysia-based artists. They can also take the opportunity to share and dedicate their favourite artworks to their loved ones.
Enabling Audience Appreciation of Works by Established Malaysia-based Visual Artists
Samsung is working with 11 prominent and up-and-coming Malaysia-based contemporary artists to contribute to the Masterpieces gallery. The artists include Ahmad Zakii Anwar, Al-Khuzairie Ali, Chi Too, Chris Chong, Jalaini Abu Hassan (Jai), Phuan Thai Meng, Poodien, Roslisham Ismail (Ise), Sherman Ong, Umibaizurah Mahir Ismail and Chang Yoong Chia.
“I see this as a potential platform for the burgeoning of artists in Malaysia and in the region, facilitating the growth of a visual arts canon in Southeast Asia. The big virtue of this project is that it does not limit art and offers a new experience for artists in the creation process. I’m pleasantly surprised by the capabilities of the GALAXY Note 10.1 LTE and how artists have been able to think outside the box to create wonderful pieces with the help of technology,” said Iola Lenzi, curator of Masterpieces.
Samsung’s Continued Commitment to the Arts
Samsung has already spearheaded the formation of this digital art gallery by expanding Masterpieces to include Southeast Asian art contributed by more established and emerging artists in the region. Artists and arts enthusiasts are invited to continue sharing their artworks on Masterpieces, and to engage in artistic exchange with the arts community, helmed by curator Iola Lenzi.
Samsung is committed to helping to grow the digital art scene in Asia and will continue to engage in meaningful dialogues with the arts community and relevant stakeholders.
The Masterpieces app is also available on Samsung Smart TVs and will be available on Smart TV Version 2.0 by the first quarter of 2015 for an optimal viewing experience.