18 September 2013—In line with its thrust to promote Philippine arts in Malaysia, the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur makes its debut at Art Expo Malaysia (AEM) 2013 with the participation of the Malayang Alagad ng Sining at Adhikain (MASA) as its representative for the event.
The artist-members who are expected to fly to Kuala Lumpur for the AEM 2013 this week include MASA Founder and Chairman Arao Salamat, Dante Enage, Ge Ann Balintec, Reich De Dios, Prof. Lakan Olivares, Phoebe Beltran, Ayen Quias, and Rowel Naanep. Expected to join the artists are Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Department of Tourism secretary Atty. Jehanne Mutin-Mapupuno and Dr. Sainuddin Moti.
“As part of the Embassy's cultural diplomacy program, we have been showcasing the best of the Philippines and the Filipino in Malaysia. This year is the time for Philippine visual arts to take centerstage in our pursuit of spreading Filipino culture to the Malaysian public, and we believe that the talented and remarkable artists of MASA would do just that,” Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya said.
MASA is composed of artists from different parts of the country, led by its founder and chairman, Arao Salamat. The member-artists who will participate in the AEM were chosen based on their commitment and body of works.
The organization was established in June 2012 and is composed of passionate and dedicated Filipino artists in different disciplines. The vision of the group is to promulgate Philippine arts and culture by means of exhibition, collaboration, interaction, and workshop locally and internationally.
“The AEM 2013 is the second international event for this organization. Artists who join MASA international event are committed and passionate people. We all know the difficulty of joining international art fairs and festivals but with perseverance, we can penetrate, as long as we have the desire to join, the willingness to join and the ability to join,” Mr. Salamat said.
Their participation in the AEM 2013 is part of MASA's full calendar of events during their visit to Kuala Lumpur dubbed “Pinoy Artists Art Experience II.”
They will also hold an exhibit at the Embassy which will open on September 20 called “SINING PINOY: Sariling Atin, Pagyamanin Natin” (Philippine Art: Our Own, Let Us Enrich It), as well as an art session with Filipino community organization KL Pinoy. The exhibit at the Embassy will run until September 23.
AEM 2013 will open on September 19 at the Matrade Export Exhibition Centre (MEEC) in Kuala Lumpur on September 19 and will run until September 22. The Philippine Embassy booth is at E8 of the AEM’s Embassy Row. END