By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 29: Sarawak’s premier art gallery, Hoan Gallery at La Promenade Mall, will mark its fourth anniversary this Friday (Oct 31) with a lively evening of art, reflection, and community celebration.
“In the blink of an eye, Hoan Gallery is already four years old. In that time, we’ve organised nine exhibitions — from Rebirth, which featured local masters, to songstress Alena Murang’s debut art show Colours of the Highlands,” said gallery founder Kee Huang in a media release today.
He added that the anniversary event will highlight Sarawak’s outstanding creative talents. “Our gallery has been able to consistently host solo shows — from oil paintings to modern interpretive art — because there is such a rich pool of local talent.”
The celebration, which begins at 7pm at Resort Duplex inside La Promenade, is open to the public and free of charge.
Guests can look forward to a special retrospective of past exhibitions, including Dialogue With Our Nature by Bong Choo Chew (2023), Hidden Gems: The Life Works of Chong Liew Syn (2024), Colourful Echoes by Joanne Lau (2024), Come Into Your Own by David Chew (2024), Through the Canvas, Across the Sea featuring five West Malaysian masters (2025), and The Continuum: 3 Generasi by Sylvester Weilding Jussem and Dr Faizuan Mat, with a tribute to the late RSA (2025).
The guest list includes students from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), government officials, art society members, past collectors, and La Promenade residents, who have been among the gallery’s most loyal supporters.
Hoan Gallery was established in December 2021 with strong backing from Hock Seng Lee (HSL), the mall’s developer and the gallery’s main benefactor.
“Our key personnel at HSL are directly involved in the gallery. The directors sponsor shows and often purchases artworks as corporate gifts — recipients are always amazed by these unique mementoes,” said Angeline Ong, HSL’s mall leasing manager.
“I really enjoy the opportunities to work with artists. I feel I’ve grown closer to Sarawak through the artworks I’ve seen and the engagement I’ve had while helping to organise art shows.”
Through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, HSL also supports media coverage for the gallery and features local artworks in all its show houses.
“It’s cliché to say this, but houses don’t become homes until you personalise them — and art is one of the best ways to do that,” said Angie Joan, HSL assistant property sales manager.
fitting venue for Hoan Gallery’s 4th anniversary celebration.
She recalled how a homebuyer recently purchased three artworks displayed at the Resort Duplex show house, describing it as “a fulfilling moment that adds meaning to what we do.”
Looking ahead, Kee Huang said the gallery aims to continue organising more shows. Since 2021, the gallery has presented quarterly exhibitions.
“When solo shows can’t be planned in time, I curate off-season displays from our archives. The response is always encouraging — students, collectors, even bankers drop by and ask, ‘What’s the next show?’ The four years have flown by because of how active we’ve been,” he said.
Hoan Gallery’s reach has extended beyond Malaysia, with buyers from the UK, Spain, and Singapore. Kee Huang recalled how mural artist Leonard Siaw sold his first canvas paintings through the gallery to a Singaporean buyer who had them shipped over. “Leonard was incredibly surprised and proud,” he said.
The anniversary celebration will feature food prepared by HSL’s culinary brands, Terrace and Iced Bar. Visitors can also explore the current exhibition by Singapore-based watercolourist Marvin Chew, showcasing over 70 pieces capturing the heritage and charm of his hometown, Kuching.
Art lovers can view and purchase works from both current and past exhibitions. Hoan Gallery, located at La Promenade Mall, Kuching, is open daily. For more information, call +60 17 854 5651, visit hoangallery.com, or follow @hoanartgallery on social media. — DayakDaily
