Foreword

One of Artemis Art’s key focus areas is in the promotion of young artists, something we have been doing since the gallery began back in 2011. The Millennials brings together fourteen artists belonging to what’s generally known as Generation Y, or simply Gen Y - those born between the early 80s to mid/late 90s. With National Day and Malaysia Day just around the corner, the timing to have this exhibition staged could not have been more opportune. The exhibition was conceptualized and curated by Harni Jonet, a familiar name in the Malaysian visual art scene, and someone whom has been closely following the development of visual arts in the country. Harni helped identify the artists for the exhibition. Artemis Art takes this opportunity to express our heartfelt and deepest thanks for all the work she has put in ensuring the exhibition got realized. Are the concerns among Malaysia’s millennial artists vastly different from their older peers? It might come as a surprise but at a glance, these young artists share many of the same concerns as any other Malaysian, artist or otherwise. Concerns about where the nation is headed, as well as observations about our day to day lives encompassing areas economic, political and societal, are commonalities that all Malaysians share. The difference, perhaps, is in how these concerns are articulated, and how they are approached. As we welcome the 62nd anniversary of Malaya’s independence, and 56 years of Malaysia, it’s time we open our eyes, and hearts, to what these young talents have to tell us. Their concerns, their hopes, and their fears, all point to one important commonality: that we as a nation need to work towards creating a better Malaysia for generations to come, a place that all of us inevitably call home. Selamat Hari Kebangsaan, and Selamat Hari Malaysia... from The Millennials, and from all of us here at Artemis Art.

UC Loh Director, Artemis Art