Hoan Gallery to organise fourth anniversary bash

Sarawak’s premier art gallery, Hoan Gallery at La Promenade Mall, will celebrate its fourth anniversary this Friday (Oct 31), inviting the public to a lively evening of art and celebration.

“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,” said gallery founder Kee Huang.

HISTORICAL: The establishment of Hoan Gallery in 2020 marked the beginning of its journey in promoting Sarawakian art.

“The birthday party will showcase Sarawak’s outstanding talents. 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.”

The celebration will begin at 7pm at Resort Duplex inside La Promenade. HSL, the builder-developer, is the gallery’s main benefactor.

LUXURY: With its elegant design and refined architectural details, the Resort Duplex serves as a fitting venue for Hoan Gallery’s 4th anniversary celebration.

Open to all, the free event will include a retrospective of past exhibitions, including:

• Dialogue With Our Nature — Bong Choo Chew (2023)

• Hidden Gems: The Life Works of Chong Liew Syn (2024)

• Colourful Echoes — Joanne Lau (2024)

• Come Into Your Own — David Chew (2024)

• Through the Canvas, Across the Sea — featuring five West Malaysian masters: Dato’ Chong Hon Fatt, Lee Choon Kooi, Loo Hooi Nam, Tham Siew Moi, and Voon Kim Cheong (2025)

• The Continuum: 3 Generasi — Sylvester Weilding Jussem and Dr. Faizuan Mat, with a tribute to the late RSA (2025)

Solo Exhibitions

Group Exhibitions

DIVERSE: A glimpse into the gallery’s varied exhibition lineups, highlighting the diversity of Malaysian

artistry.

Special guests include students from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, government officials, members of art societies, past buyers and residents of the La Promenade gated community, who have been among the gallery’s most regular supporters.

HSL has supported Hoan Gallery since its inception in December 2021.

“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,” said

mall leasing manager Angeline Ong.

“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 programme, HSL also sponsors media coverage for the gallery and features 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 HSL assistant property sales manager Angie Joan.

“Recently, at the Resort Duplex show house, a sales member sold three artworks to a homebuyer. When you see customers that are happy about their home and décor, it’s a fulfilling feeling — the satisfaction is the cherry on top.”

Looking ahead, Kee Huang said his goal is to continue organising more shows. Since 2021, the gallery has presented quarterly exhibitions.

“When solo shows can’t be planned in time, I go back to the archive and curate off-season displays,” Kee said. “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.”

Buyers have come from as far as the UK, Spain and Singapore. “Some buyers we’ve never met. For instance, mural artist Leonard Siaw did his first canvas paintings with us. A fan from Singapore snapped them up and

had them shipped over. Leonard was incredibly surprised and proud,” Kee recalled.

The anniversary bash will feature food by HSL’s establishments, Terrace and Iced Bar.

Hoan Gallery’s current exhibition showcases over 70 works by Singapore-based watercolourist Marvin Chew.

All pieces depict the heritage of Kuching, Chew’s hometown.

NOSTALGIC: Memories of Home by Marvin Chew (2025), a heartfelt reflection on belonging and the

places we hold dear.

Artworks from current and past exhibitions are available for viewing and purchase.

Hoan Gallery, located at La Promenade Mall, Kuching, is open daily.

For more information, contact +60 17 854 5651, visit hoangallery.com, or follow @hoanartgallery on social

media.