SGM Art Collection
Timeless Art Legacy - Exhibition of Artworks Donated by Sim Tiak Choo

Exhibition Introduction

SGM Curatorial Team

This year’s Soka Gakkai Malaysia Art Collection Exhibition, titled “Timeless Art Legacy – Exhibition of Artworks Donated by Sim Tiak Choo”, showcases the spirit of art collecting and the profound significance of cultural heritage. The exhibition brings together precious artworks generously donated by Datuk and Datin Sim Tiak Choo to Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) since 2002, sharing the beauty of art with the public. Presented in the format of “Opening the Art Storage”, this exhibition highlights SGM’s commitment to preserving artworks, and providing an opportunity for visitors to experience the essence of art preservation through the registrar’s perspective.

The term “薪传” (xinchuan), meaning “passing the torch”, originates from Zhuangzi’s “Essentials for Nourishing Life” chapter, which states: “Though the firewood may be exhausted, the flame still endures, without knowing its end”. This metaphor signifies that while the fuel may burn away, the essence of the “Way” persists eternally. Later generations expanded this to “passing the torch”, symbolising the perpetual succession of artistic and humanistic values across generations, highlighting the enduring spirit of creativity and cultural wisdom.

Datuk and Datin Sim Tiak Choo have long dedicated themselves to advancing local arts development, guided with the conviction that art should serve the community. Through generous donations, they have brought the beauty of art out of private collections and into the public sphere, upholding the belief that “art belongs to the people”. This conviction resonates with the core mission of Soka Gakkai Malaysia Art Collection, which embodies the spirit of art by the people, for the people— , transforming art into a bridge of friendship and peace, that connects individuals and nations, infusing society with a stabilising force of beauty.

This exhibition features a total of 155 artworks by artists from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Among them are notable works by Lee Kah Yeow, Chen Jen Hao, Chung Chen Sun, Liu Kang, Liu Haisu, Zhang Daqian, Wu Zhuoren, and Wu Guanzhong, all donated by Datuk and Datin Sim Tiak Choo.

As Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda once said, “to protect art is to protect the proof of humanity and to protect the light of peace.” The art storage facility is the core institution for preserving artworks, the most sacred sanctuary within an art organisation. This exhibition reveals to visitors the mission of registrars in preserving and maintaining artworks, showcasing the unseen daily operations within the storage facility. Interactive displays are also incorporated, allowing visitors to experience the dedication and effort behind the preservation of art.

The exhibition is organised according to the collection’s storage system and geographical classifications, comprising the following zones:
1. Preparation Area (Interactive Zone)
2. Malaysia–Singapore-Thailand Framed Paintings Zone
3. Malaysia–Singapore-Thailand Hanging Scrolls Zone
4. China–Hong Kong–Taiwan Framed Paintings Zone
5. China–Hong Kong–Taiwan Hanging Scrolls Zone

The framed paintings zones display artworks in the repository’s cataloging sequence and storage specifications, offering visitors an introduction tof the systematic collection management. The hanging scrolls zones replicate the routine practice of periodically airing and rotating artworks through a three-phase rotation system. This essential conservation procedure prevents mold growth and safeguards the integrity of the artworks. Within the hanging scroll zones, artworks are further categorised by traditional ink painting themes, highlighting the diverse styles and cultural richness of Eastern art.

The preservation and transmission of artistic and cultural heritage require the shared responsibility and collective effort among individuals, institutions, and society to ensure long-term sustainability. We hope this exhibition will inspire greater public awareness and participation in the significance of art preservation, research and donation. Moving forward, Soka Gakkai Malaysia will continue to deepen its collection research, professional conservation, and curatorial practices. Through a stable collection system, open and diverse exhibition approaches, we aim to demonstrate and underscore the significance of art collections as public cultural treasures, thereby advancing artistic development and social education.

Exhibition opening hours: 11 am – 5 pm (Closed on Mondays)
Prior appointment is required for groups of more than 20 people, Please get in touch with us at https://b.link/WhatsApp_SokaPCE