KOTA SAMARAHAN: Hoan Gallery at La Promenade Mall is set to celebrate its fourth anniversary this Friday (Oct 31) with a public art event..
The celebration, to be held at 7 pm at Resort Duplex inside La Promenade, is open to all and free of charge.
It will feature a retrospective of the gallery’s past exhibitions, paying tribute to Sarawak’s art scene and the creative community that has supported it since its establishment in Dec 2021.
Gallery founder Kee Huang said the milestone marks four busy years of consistent growth and creative collaboration.
“In the blink of an eye, Hoan Gallery is already four years old. In that time, we’ve organised nine exhibitions from Rebirth featuring local masters to songstress Alena Murang’s first art show, Colours of the Highlands.
“Our gallery has been able to consistently host solo shows, from oil painting to modern interpretive art because there is such a rich local talent pool,” Huang said in a press release today (Oct 29).
The event is supported by Hock Seng Lee (HSL) as part of its ongoing efforts to nurture Sarawak’s creative ecosystem.
Kee said the gallery aims to continue presenting quarterly exhibitions, including archive displays during off-seasons to maintain engagement with visitors and collectors.
“I’m always surprised by the response. We get many repeat visitors, students on museum dates, serious collectors like bankers always asking, ‘What’s the next show?’ The four years have flown by because of how busy we’ve been,” Kee added.
Meanwhile, La Promenade Mall leasing manager Angeline Ong said the company’s involvement has strengthened its connection with the local art community.
“Our key personnel at HSL are directly involved in the gallery. The directors have sponsored shows and often purchase artworks as corporate gifts, and recipients are always amazed by these unique mementoes.
“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,” she said.
Among the highlights to be showcased are 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), and The Continuum: 3 Generasi by Sylvester Weilding Jussem and Dr Faizuan Mat, with a tribute to the late RSA (2025).
Through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, HSL also sponsors media coverage for the gallery and features local artworks in its show houses.
Currently, Hoan Gallery is exhibiting over 70 watercolour works by Singapore-based artist Marvin Chew, all depicting Kuching’s heritage, a reflection of his deep connection to his hometown.
Over the years, the gallery has attracted buyers from as far as the UK, Spain and Singapore, showcasing Sarawak’s growing footprint in the international art scene.
The anniversary bash will also feature food served by HSL’s Terrace and Iced Bar, adding to the evening’s celebration of creativity and community.
Hoan Gallery, located at La Promenade Mall, Kuching, is open daily. For more information, contact +6017-8545651, visit hoangallery.com, or follow @hoanartgallery on social media.
