Inception represents a birth, a beginning, but not from nothingness. A new beginning also often signifies the end of an era or a period. But it is not the case here. Because we are in search for continuity with history, determining continuity in our history is vital in both tracing our roots and also to form a trajectory for our future direction. It is no small feat in search of a beginning. How do we find the links between us and what was before?

Our primary intention of putting together this exhibition is to celebrate the inception of the Oriental Art & Cultural Center Kuala Lumpur (OACC). A survey of pioneering artists were made with particular interest in the modern Nanyang artists of the 60s and 70s, the pioneers who later become educators to ensure continuity and those who have worked diligently to master the specific medium of their choice.

Thus, this exhibition is also loosely inspired by the diversity of artistic medium, expression, techniques and methods many of our pioneers have perfected throughout the years. These media included the more common tradition of oil, acrylic and watercolour to chinese ink, batik, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramic.

23 Malaysian artists were identified and invited. For all the artists we have selected for this exhibition, they have been the witness for more than half a century in our history, of change and of visual continuity. Although this survey may not represent the entire spectrum of artistic movements in our art history, it does attempt to present a loose representation of our rich and diverse local art history. 20 master artists from China and 1 prominent artist from Taiwan were also invited to let us catch a glimpse at our past and what has become of the Chinese ink painting tradition today.

Website: http://www.efoacc.org