Malaysia is both proud and pleased to have been so cordialIy invited by the Fundaçao de Sao Paulo to be a "guest country" at the X Biennial de Sao Paulo. We are particular1y happy that this invitation coincides with the special celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Biennial, which has made Sao Paulo renowned as the host and sponsor of the world's top-ranking exhibition of art. I think it is true to say that the artists of Malaysia feel alI the more deeply honoured with the opportunity presented to them to take part in this most signüicant Biennial as it is, in effect, our debut in the international arena of art competition. It máy weH be woundered why we in Malaysia should react with such warmth of feeling. The answer is very simple. In the fine arts, Malaysia is a neophyte among the nations, as our development in these fields of expression realIy began only twenty years ago. For centuries past, music and song, dance and poetry, and a rich variety of folk-crafts have been an integral part of our heritagé; but strangely enough, this was not the case with the fine arts, such as painting and sculpture. In fact, the fine arts in Malaysia can be truly said to be a direct result of our birth as a free nation. Since World War 11, paralIel with our emergence into fuH national independence, the spirit of freedom dramaticalIy exploded in alI forms of creative artistic expression, a happy state of affairs which has continued to grow frutüulIy ever since. Malaysian artists, there fore, are in a most enviable position, as they are neither handicapped nor overshadowed by having a long tradition in fine arts either to live up to or to surpass. They are lucky enough virtualIy to have started from scratch. So it is not surprising that art in Malaysia should be distinguished for its high degree of individuality and variety, very healthy elements indeed in a practising democracy and a highly cosmopolitan multi-racial society. Whether their names happen to be Malay, Chinese 't'>i' Indian, the artists of Malaysia think and work together in the cause of art. Each new chalIenge evokes a ready response; each passing year uncovers new talents. The Malaysian entry for the X Biennial de Sao Paulo reflects both these aspects, our exhibition comprising 59 works by 22 leading artists, alI, with one exception, executed within the past three years. The Exhibition also reveals that while our artists are conscious of standing on Malaysian soil, they also throw open windows wide to the world outside. What we have to say in art, is, we think, a contribution to the whole world, reflecting an outlook that is as happy, as fresh, as distinctive and düferent as our nation itself. For instance, batik painting is Malaysia's güt to the world of a new medium for art. It is our hope that alI art-Iovers who view the X Biennial de Sao Paulo will enjoy the works presented by the artists of Malaysia. In doing so, we wish spontaneously ot express our feelings of friendship and goodwill for the peoples of our brother-nation of Brazil, which, like ours stands astride the Equator _ warm lands with warm hearts. Frank Sullivan
CHEW, Teng Beng (1938) Óleo sôbre tela 1. Outubro, 1968. 113 x 113 2. Mito Malaio, 1969. 120 x 120
HUSSEIN, Ibrabim (1936) Acrílico sôbre tela 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
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Dilema, 1969. 128 x 128 Momento n.o 1, 1969. 67 X 67 Momento n.o 2, 1969. 82 x 32 "Rendez-vous", 1969. 143 x 99 Cerimônia, 1969. 123 x 59