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School of Architecture, Building and Design

Foundation in Natural and Built Environments

English II: ENG 30605

ENGLISH FINAL PROJECT:

RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT

REPORT

FNBE April Intake 2014

Group members:

Arvindhan a/l Balasingam 0319753

Canisius Bong Wei Pheng 0318914

Chow Hong Da 0318571

Ong Eu Xuan 0319050

Ong Jia Min 0318003

Maximilian Lim Jake Yang 0319604

Tan Yit Fong 0319133

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SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN

FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT

PRESENTATION TITLE: English Final Project: Research Assignment Report

GROUP MEMBERS:

Names Presentation / Research Report Roles.

Arvindhan a/l Balasingam 0319753 Description of the history of trade/business

Canisius Bong Wei Pheng 0318914 Description of Wei-Ling gallery & Transcript

Chow Hong Da 0318571 Comparative Analysis (GM Choo art gallery),

Transcript

Maximilian Lim Jake Yang 0319604 Comparative Analysis (Wei-Ling gallery)

Ong Eu Xuan 0319050 Video & artistic cover

Ong Jia Min 0318003 Description of GM Choo art agallery

Tan Yit Fong 0319133 Compilation of report & slides for presentation

ENGLISH II / ENGLISH 2 (ELG 30605 / ENG 0205)

LECTURER: CASSANDRA WIJESURIA

SUBMISSION & PRESENTATION DATE: 15th January 2015

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

1. Artistic cover 1

2. Cover page 2

3. Table of Contents 3

4 Acknowledgement 4

5. Key Summary

2.1 The Brief

2.2 Methodology

5 - 6

6. Research report

3.1 Description of the history of the trade

3.2 Description of the business

3.3 Comparative Analysis

3.4 Summary of comparative analysis

3.5 Conclusion

7 - 17

7. Recommendation 18 - 19

8. Bibliography 20

9. Appendices

4.1 Photos

4.2 Price list

4.3 Minutes

4.4 Research Questions

4.5 Contact details of Interviewees

4.6 Schedule of Visit

4.7 Transcript

21 – 37

10. References 38 - 39

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all those who provided

us the possibility to carry out this report. A special appreciation and

gratitude we give to our course instructor Ms. Cassandra Rashika Wijesuria

for the coordination of this assignment. On top of that, we would also like to

thank her for her encouragement and guidance throughout the process of

writing this report.

Furthermore we would also like to acknowledge much appreciation of GM

Choo whom took the time out to explain about his business, GM Choo Art

Gallery Sdn. Bhd. and also Shaza Sofi, associate of Wei-Ling Gallery,

whom gave permission and access to the coveted gallery alongside shedding

some light on the business Wei-Ling Gallery Sdn. Bhd.

Last but not least, we would also like to extend our acknowledgement to the

School of Architecture, Building and Design of Taylor’s University for

providing this opportunity and our fellow friends and family members for

their support as well.

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KEY SUMMARY

The art galleries that we have chosen to interview is the regionally

acclaimed Wei-Ling gallery, with business throughout the country, and GM

Choo art gallery, a critically acclaimed gallery in its own right too.

We had chosen to interview the headquarters of Wei-Ling Gallery in the

heart of Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur (8 Jalan Scott, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala

Lumpur, Malaysia) due to their contribution to the local contemporary art

scene. On the other hand, GM Choo Art Gallery, located in the famous

tourist spot of Malacca, Jonker Street (53& 54 Jalan Tokong 74200 Melaka)

is instead known for upholding the traditional arts of Malaysia, especially

batik.

Hence, due to the differences in the type of art each gallery sells and their

location, this report investigates the different type of strategies and

competitive characteristics adopted in the already struggling Malaysian art

trade.

2.1 THE BRIEF

A comparative analysis of two businesses of a similar industry in different

geographical locations that would be achieved through comparative research

and use of rhetorical strategies presented in the form of a report and verbal

presentation.

This is done through the study of two of the same kind of trade/business that

are exemplars of their trade through researching a series of primary sources

on a site visit and reliable secondary ones.

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2.2 METHODOLOGY

Data Collection

Physical trips were made to both galleries after prior contact of both

galleries. We were lucky enough to land interviews with the owner and artist

himself, GM Choo, at GM Choo Art Gallery and with the associate, Shaza

Sofi at Wei-Ling Gallery. However, on both occasions we were not granted

permission to take videos of the interviewees, hence we recorded the

interview audio through our mobile devices and note taking. In addition we

were given privilege to snap photos, which is usually a violation at art

galleries. Both art galleries also provided us with brochures (which you can

refer in the appendices) and we prepared discussion questions to ensure a

constructive interview.

At GM Choo Art Gallery, the interview was conducted in Mandarin due to

the interviewee’s preference while at Wei-Ling it was conducted in English.

Data Presentation

After our initial research of the specific galleries and visitations, we

presented our data and data analysis in this report alongside a verbal

presentation that was aided by Prezi presentation slides. The data analysis

was done through not only following and researching according to the

framework provided to us but also analyzing the comparisons between both

galleries.

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RESEARCH REPORT

3.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE HISTORY OF TRADE (ART GALLERIES)

AND WHAT IT INVOLVES

According to the Oxford Dictionary, trade, by definition is the action of buying and

selling goods and services. The origin of trading started since the time humans learned to

communicate with each other. This dates back to the prehistoric times whereby people

bartered goods with each other even before the modernization of currency. From that, the

act of trading has been used and improved constantly throughout history. Based on the

events that had happened during history, man has emphasize on the importance of trade

and how it is vital to civilization as it keeps them prospered and connected.

Trading artworksis also a trendthat has been practiced by traders all around the

world. Paintings by different culture of people have been passed around from continent to

continent. Through the ranges of the innovation of trade, various styles of selling

artworks have been invented. During the latter part of the 17th century, the people of

England have sold art through art auctions. An auction, by definition, is a public sale in

which property or items of merchandise are sold to the higher bidder.

Moreover, art has also been displayed and showcased in art galleries, partly to act

as a function to promote art to collectors and those who are interested. Art galleries, in

general, are solely for the display or sale of artworks either by renowned or freshmen

artists. Art galleries consist of a diversity of artworks, either in 2D or even 3D. These

artworks range from contemporary art to the most classics of paintings dating back to the

early eighties. They usually promote the artist's work through exhibitions sponsored by

cultivating collectors, making press contacts, and trying to get critical reviews. Art

galleries are essential in the world of fine art as they provide a window for young artists

to survive the difficult trade. Such galleries also play an important role in showing off

works of masterpiece both locally and internationally.

Some art galleries are non-profitable organizations whereas almost sixty per cent

of the remaining commercial art galleries are money-based organizations looking to sell

out valuable works of arts. Most motives of reputable art galleries are to display artworks

of young-emerging artists, regardless both local and international ones to stand a chance

to make a name in the diverse-artistic world. The remaining sixty per cent however sell

art works that are from renowned artists that have created prolific histories in the world

of art. Though most famous artworks are not put up for sale, for instance the Mona Lisa,

these art works are up in galleries for future generations to reminisce about. Galleries in

museums, contemporary art shelves, vanity galleries as well as university art museums

are just the tip of the iceberg on the variety of art galleries existing in this world.

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The history of Malaysian art begun with the regional craftworks and arts in which

the trade secrets have been passed down for generations [1]. They were sold in makeshift

markets called “pasar” by the locals and had a wide price range, mostly at an affordable

rate. Until this day, numerous Malaysian art galleries retains this kind of traditional

laidback aesthetic that is unpretentious and inviting such as a gallery we have chosen to

study, G M Choo Art Gallery. On the other hand, the earliest record of proper

contemporary art exhibitions was during the 18th century when there had been a rise of art

associations established such as the Penang Impressionists and United Artists Malaysia

[2]. Only during the 1950s did a community of mostly Chinese and European art traders

allowed for the establishment of upscale art galleries and finally a National Art Gallery in

1958 [3]. Hence, although the lines of these two types of art galleries have yet to be

blurred, it has allowed for a rich budding art scene right here in Malaysia.

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3.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS

WEI-LING GALLERY

Wei-Ling Gallery is one of the most well-known contemporary art galleries in

Malaysia. Their objective is to nurture and showcase the contemporary art works by

local artists. The gallery focuses young contemporary artists to support and develop

their careers so to shape the next generation of Malaysia’s contemporary artists [4].

Wei-Ling gallery consists of 3 branches. One is located in Brickfields which is 0.6km

away from KL Sentral. Another is located on the 6th floor open-air rooftop garden of

The Garden mall. The 3rd gallery is located on the ground floor of the E&O Hotel in

Penang [5].

The founder and director of the gallery is Lim Wei Ling. Her associates consists

of a few of her colleagues: Lim Siew Boon and Shaza Sofi (who are in charge of the

Wei Ling Gallery in Brickfields), Neo Lee ( who is in charge of Wei Ling Gallery in

The Gardens) and Tatyana Aziz ( who is in charge of Wei Ling Gallery in Penang)

[5].

The Wei-Ling Gallery was previously known as The Townhouse Gallery and it

started in a townhouse in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. It was first set up by Lim Wei Ling

and YohanRajan in May 2002 [4]. The gallery that we visited was the Wei-Ling

Gallery in Brickfields. The building that houses the gallery was a pre-war building

that was devastated by a fire in 2004 [8]. It was then restored and used as an

architectural studio by Prof. Ar. Jimmy Lim (father of Lim Wei Ling). It won several

awards for cultural conservation and re-use of a building [7]. Soon after, the gallery

started to exhibit the works of foreign artists. During 2005, Wei-Ling Gallery moved

its current premises to this building. The Brickfields branch also plays host up to 12

exhibitions annually.

In December of 2006, they showcased the works of 18 Malaysian contemporary

artists in Karachi, Pakistan. In April 2008, they also became the first Malaysian

gallery to participate in the China International gallery exposition (CIGE), an

international art fair that focuses on contemporary art [4].

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The gallery also focuses on selling contemporary art pieces, sculptures and

photographs. Statistically, they have an inconsistent number of visitors and customers

annually. Over the past 3-5 years, Wei-Ling Gallery expanded their business by

opening another contemporary art gallery in The Garden Mall called Wei-Ling

Contemporary Art Gallery. This new space will showcase new exhibitions as there is

greater access of the works and greater awareness of the local art scene [9].

Wei-Ling gallery has many competitors that are located around Kuala Lumpur.

The gallery is not the only successful gallery in the city. According to

culturetrip.com, Kuala Lumpur’s must visit contemporary art galleries include not

only Wei-Ling gallery, but also Petronas Gallery, TAKSU gallery and Richard Koh

art gallery [6]. “We do not see each other as competitors but a team of exhibitors who

are determined to promote contemporary art to the people of Malaysia,” said Sofi, the

associate of Wei-Ling gallery. Even if they do not think of each other as competit ion,

[9] Wei-Ling gallery stands out from the other galleries by exhibiting the works of

foreign artists as their secondary focus.

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G M CHOO ART GALLERY

G M CHOO gallery has been opened for about 7 years ago and the founder of G M

CHOO gallery is none other than Choo Git Man, better known by G M Choo. His self-

managed gallery is located at 53 & 54 JalanTokong, 75200 Melaka and is unique only to

Melaka as GM CHOO gallery does not have any branches. With approximately only 5

employees working, which includes a clerk and three painters that are under

apprenticeship for the past few years, and G M Choo himself [10], the art gallery is a

quaint gem in Jonker Street that tourists and locals peer into.

As you step into the cemented floor of the shop, you will immediately notice a great deal

of shelves that have numerous paintings crammed unto it that eventually spill onto the

floor and the floor above, and the shop next door. Not to forget the extension space that

the makeshift tent creates. There is hardly aesthetic in displaying the artworks which

creates an atmosphere that is carefree and inviting, as everyone who walks into the store

gets to meet the artist himself unlike most uptight galleries.

The main products sold in the gallery are the famed and framed batik paintings. Beside

batik paintings there are also art commissions for paintings such as Chinese styled koi

paintings and scenic views of Malaysia, particularly Malacca [11]. Although the number

of costumers is small compared to those in the food and beverage or retail industry, he

still earns quite a sum especially in his acclaimed batik painting, due to the big range in

price of paintings that suit any passerby’s or budding art collector’s wallet. They range

from RM 3 for a 2.5cmx15cm batik bookmark to a RM 3,000 blue batik painting of a

scenic view of Terengganu. GM Choo did mention that he does receive about 2 sales per

month for the more expensive artworks which is what keeps his business going. This is

due to the fact that the price of each painting depends on the time and effort taken to

finish the drawing and the material [10]. Materials that GM Choo specializes in include

oil, acrylic, cloth water colours, cloth and mixed media, used in a variety of paintings.

This business started off in 1990. Although having a late start in the business, now at 67

years of age when he first started the business, he still seems to wield his brushes like a

magical wand. Choo is absolutely captivated in his own art work and art as put in his own

words as ‘his love, his hobby and his business’ rolled into one [10]. He micro-manages

everything in his own passive ways from the location of the art gallery, to promote the

traditional arts to the tourists and locals alike, to answering calls for request for an

interview for a university assignment.

His prime motivation for starting this business is his passion towards art, especially batik

paintings. Having lived in Terengganu for almost 30 years, Choo has been strongly

influenced by the richness of the traditional Malaysia art form [12]. The recent

developments of GM CHOO’s art works are listed as follows [13]:

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2007 Batik Art Exhibition Kluang Johor

08/01/2007 - 07/02/2007 JB 9 Evolution Artist Exhibition

09/09/2007 - 30/09/2007 Malaysian Art Competition 2007

28/02/2008 - 10/03/2008 National Handicraft Expo 2008

19/08/2009 Merdeka Fine Art

22/05/2010 - 23/05/2010 Tun Tan Cheng Lock Memorial Programme

25/07/2010 - 29/07/2010 Malaysian Handicraft Promotion 2010 Kompleks Bukit Jambul

26/08/2010 - 31/08/2010 Malaysian Handicraft Promotion 2010 Dataran Pahlawan

Megamall Bandar Hilir, Melaka

08/12/2010 - 30/12/2010 GM Choo's Art Review TMS Art Gallery

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3.3 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

WEI-LING GALLERY

1. Number of contemporary art galleries in KL: 9 2. Top 3 contemporary art galleries:

a) Galeri Petronas b)Valentine Willie Fine Art

c) TAKSU Gallery

a) Galeri Petronas

GALERI PETRONAS is formed by PETRONAS, Malaysia's national oil and gas company. GALERI PETRONAS manages and administers the PETRONAS sponsorship programme for visual arts. As such, the corporation provides and maintains the gallery as

a world-class venue for Malaysian artists to display their artworks. The gallery also hosts foreign exhibitions to encourage exchanges between local and foreign artists for their

mutual benefit.

b) Valentine Willie Fine Art

Valentine Willie Fine Art Founded as a pioneer consultancy for modern and

contemporary Southeast Asian art in 1996. We strive to represent the best of regional

work, from the historically important to the cutting edge and run a busy yearly program of exhibitions at our galleries while also working with regional institutions and independent initiatives on touring and offsite projects.

c) TAKSU Gallery

Established in 1989, TAKSU is a leading Southeast Asian contemporary art gallery

and specialist. Representing a wide selection of fine art with a distinctly urban edge,

TAKSU is at the forefront of the contemporary art industry in the region. From young

talents to critically acclaimed names in the industry, TAKSU’s stable of artists are

distinguished by talent, academia, as well as regional and international awards. [6]

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3. How do the businesses compete with their competitors? Strategies and how

successful:

They do not see other contemporary art galleries as competitors. In their

opinion, everyone are in the same phase and have their own strategies in

handling their business. As for Wei-Ling Gallery, they aim to promote new

local artists and exhibit their works in the gallery. Occasionally, local artists

come to them to promote their own works. Their main focus is to observe the

growth of contemporary art in Malaysia. Wei-Ling Gallery is one of

Malaysia’s top contemporary art galleries.

Besides that, the Wei Ling gallery in Brickfields has won a few architectural

awards for adaptive re-use of a building. This promotes the gallery through

the architecture of the building.

4. What are the obstacles faced by new business who wish to enter their

markets today? Are they easy or difficult to overcome? Why?

It can be tough to find artists to exhibit their works in new galleries because

certain artists would rather go to more popular galleries to promote their

works.

5. What is the nature of their markets, and justifications.

Wei ling Gallery is a perfectly competitive market. It exhibits various works

from local artists and sells these works to those who are interested in these

artworks. [9]

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G M CHOO ART GALLERY

1. Number of contemporary art galleries in Jonker Street, Melaka: 20

2. Top 3 contemporary art galleries: a) Li Chi Mao Art House

b) The Orang Utan House c) Tham Siew Inn Artist Gallery

a) Li Chi Mao Art House 11 Lorong Hang Jebat

Dedicate to the works of Taiwan powerhouse, Yang Di-Pertua Prof. Li Chi Mao, he is but scholar, calligrapher, brush

maestro and art educationist all in one. A “Living Legend Artist”, entitled in 2007, he has been honoured by numerous

presidents around the world. It is hard to miss the Chinese master junkboat that houses the art gallery that was modelled after the great China explorer Admiral Zheng-he, so do step steep into the oriental representations from none

other than Li Chi Mao. [15]

b) The Orang Utan House 59 Lorong Hang Jebat

In the words of Valentine Willie, Cham stays away from the “chocolate-box art-kittens and still life and swaying coconut

trees” and resorts to bold and downright weird that show the philosophy of his art which is the dualism of life and the attraction of opposites; Yin and Yang. Trained in France and a

member of the prestigious Association des Artistes Independants, he has chosen “staying here (Melaka) and fighting” despite the

fact that his works have made their way in more than 40 countries. [16] [17]

c) Tham Siew Inn Artist Gallery

49, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock

Home to the works of the president and/or vice president of the

Klang Artist Society, Malaysian Watercolour Society and the

Malaysian Watercolour Organization that has exploded on an

international scale. Sakura Bank, Samsung Electronics and Tourism

Malaysia are just some of the worldwide collectors of his work.

Not to mention, Tham Siew Inn’s watercolours have crossed 4 continents and been

exhibited in 40 countries making a name for himself that is unparalleled. [18]

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How do the business compete with their competitors? What strategies were employed

and how successful are they?

Each artist has their own style. As such, art galleries tend to not have much competition

within each other. Our products are very different from one another, hence I guess you can

say that is our “strategy”. We are also located in close proximity which proves to be an

advantage as tourists and locals can visit one place, particularly Jalan Tokong and Heeren

Street at Jonker Walk, inviting more customers in. I feel though that the traditional arts

here do better as tourists want to immerse themselves in our culture and locals want to

uphold their place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What are the obstacles faced by new businesses who wish to enter their markets today?

Are they easy or difficult to overcome? Why?

The obstacles that are faced by G M CHOO gallery include the government poor handling

of the taxes. As such, the people have less buying power and the art industries suffered

from it. GM CHOO said that it is not easy to overcome this problem because this problem

is under the government’s hands and the artist can only hope that the government would do

something about it.

What is the nature of their markets and your justifications?

The nature of the market in Melaka is perfect business and type of competition. This is

because every artist has their own style and each costumer has their own taste towards art.

For example, the Orang Utan House presents more modern pop art that are a hit with the

young adults while the Clay House down the street sells a traditional art that I don’t. As

such, no art gallery truly has the market power to influence the prices of artworks. [10]

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3.4 SUMMARY OF COMAPRATIVE ANALYSIS

WEI-LING GALLERY

G M CHOO ART GALLERY

Lim Wei Ling FOUNDER G M Choo

5 employees (excluding

22 artists that they fund) WORKERS

6 employees (3 trainees, a

clerk & himself)

Brickfields (HQ) The Gardens Mall

E&O Hotel Penang

LOCATION Malacca, a town recently declared as a world heritage

site by UNESCO in 2008

3 NO. OF BRANCHES 0

Inconsistent NO. OF CUSTOMERS 2 per month

Weekdays: 12p.m.-7p.m.

Sat: 10a.m.- 5p.m. BUSINESS HOURS

Weekdays: 8a.m.-7p.m.

Weekends: 8a.m.-4p.m.

Contemporary art MAIN PRODUCT Batik painting

Sculpture, Photography,

Books

OTHER TYPES OF

PRODUCTS

Oil Paintings, Abstract Art

Painting, Landscape Art Painting, Batik Stamping Art

Produce and fund new/good local artists

STRATEGY

Increase publicity through

showcasing more artwork at

exhibitions

Expansion of the current platform of our local arts

to an international scale

FUTURE PLANS

To travel more such as parts of China to hone his skills

until he retires

Everyone and anyone

who has an interest in art / Tourists (expose them to

the local art scene)

TARGET MARKET A wide range from children

to the old

[9][10]

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RECOMMENDATIONS

The Wei-Ling gallery in Brickfields is built in an interesting pre-war building that has

been beautifully refurnished which meets the requirements of an outstanding

contemporary art gallery while GM Choo art gallery has its rustic charm with its Chinese

Palladian shophouse. But even a top art gallery has its flaws and can be improved further.

Based on our research regarding both the galleries, we have proposed a few

recommendations on the future plans of this gallery.

WEI-LING GALLERY

a) Reorganizing use of space

What is important in a good art gallery is space. Walking into the gallery through the

entrance, one will see a large collection of antiques and old furniture that crowd the

space. Because of this, there is only a limited amount of space that a group of people can

pass through. A large group of visitors will feel cramped as they walking through this

area of the gallery. We suggest that the gallery make more space for people to walk by so

that visitors may enjoy the art pieces without having to give way for others to walk.

b) No. of staff

Furthermore, the staff members in the gallery seemed too busy to address to the visitors.

"Never forget the basics, no matter how busy: always acknowledge a visitor's presence;

never underestimate your clients," quoted writers and reviewers from Artinfo Canada, a

hub for Canadian news. So, we recommend the staffs to keep themselves in check and

always acknowledge their visitors.

In addition to that, there were only a small number of staffs working in the gallery. We

visited both the Wei-Ling Contemporary Art Gallery in The Gardens Mall and the Wei-

Ling Art Gallery in Brickfields. Based on our experiences, there was only one staff

member manning the gallery in The Gardens Mall and only a few people working in the

gallery in Brickfields. From this, we propose that they increase the number of workers.

Figure 1: Disorganized paintings on the floor

and artworks that are out of reach of

Canisius’ view

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GM CHOO ART GALLERY

(a) Renovate/ Expansion of space

The store is quite old and traditional. If the store is renovated with better

technologies such as having air conditioning the art gallery would attract more

customers due comfortable ambience. Costumers won’t stay long if the gallery is

hot and stuffy due to the tropical weather of Malacca. This lowers the probability

of potential customers and eventually, sales. Besides that, expansion of space

would better the coordination of the placing of paintings and would make room

for the many more to come as it would allow customers to better navigate the

gallery without worrying about tripping over the many paintings piled up around

the floor.

(b) Display of paintings

When we visited the gallery, we noticed that he had his artworks in disarray with

all kinds of paintings stacked up and competing against one another. Most of the

paintings couldn’t be viewed either. The different types of paintings such as the

Batik art paintings and oil paintings were simply placed,

uncategorized and untitled. Our recommendation is that G M Choo Art Gallery

would hire a professional to organize in a manner not only best displays his art

works but create a visually interesting space. There should also be categories

based on the type of art pieces.

Figure 2: Batik paintings stacked upon one

another, collecting dust

Figure 3: Different types of paintings of

different orientations hung on almost whatever

space the wall could hold

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Arts.com.my. (2014). History of Malaysian Art. Retrieved 10 January 2015, from

<http://www.arts.com.my/history-of-malaysian-art/>

Khuan, D. T. C. (1994). Pioneers of Malaysian Art. The Art Gallery, Penang.

(2015). Retrieved 10 January 2015, from

<http://www.artgallery.gov.my/balaiseni/html/index_in.php?lang_id=1>

Oxford Dictionary (n.d.) Retrieved 13 January 2015, from

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/trade

Social Studies for Kids (n.d) Retrieved 13 January 2015, from

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/economics/theimportanceoftrade1.htm

Davies, Glyn (2002) [1995]. Ideas: A History of Money from Ancient Times to the

Present Day

Sarah Thornton, Financial machinations at auctions, The Economist, economist.com,

November 18, 2011.

ArtFacts.Net Ltd., L. (2015). Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur - Overview. Artfacts.net.

Retrieved 12 January 2015, from <http://www.artfacts.net/en/institution/wei- ling-gallery-

16637/overview.html>

World Heritage Committee. (2009, 31st March). Decisions Adopted at the 32nd Session of

the World Heritage Committee. UNESCO. Quebec City, 2008 Retrieved from

<http://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/32COM>

Canada A. (October 17, 2012). Four Top Art Dealers Answer "What Makes Your Gallery

Successful?" Retrieved January 12, 2015, from

<http://ca.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/834422/four-top-art-dealers-answer-what-makes-

your-gallery-successful>

Sangeeta M., Chitra S. (March 2011) Creating a Difference- The Store Ambience in

Modern Day Retailing. Global Journal of Management and Business Research, 1 (3)

ISSN: 0975-5853

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APPENDICES

APPENDIX .1- PHOTOS

WEI-LING GALLERY

Figure 4: Exterior of Wei-Ling Gallery

Headquarters (Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur)

Figure 5: A local artwork featuring Indian

culture (a wedding)

Figure 6: Interior of the Wei-Ling Gallery

Figure 4 Figure 5

Figure 6

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Figure 7: Our group members Maximilian and

Canisius admiring the oil paintings

Figure 8: Some awards won by the gallery shown

such as The Aga Khan Award for Architecture

and PAM 2006 Awards In architecture

Figure 9: Interview with Shaza Sofi (Associate of

Wei-Ling gallery)

Figure 10 & 11: Wei-Ling Contemporary

(The Gardens Mall branch) interior & exterior

(Figure 12)

Figure 11

Fig

ure

12

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G M CHOO ART GALLERY

(Clockwise)

Figure 1: Framed batik paintings that start from

approximately RM 700

Figure 2: The artist and founder of the self-

titled gallery- G M Choo

Figure 3: Upstairs there is an armchair and

mattress placed next to his artworks showing

that he has made this gallery his home; literally

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Figure 1: Trying our hand at batik painting for RM 30/per piece.

Figure 2: We saw earlier that the art gallery is his home. Peering into another room

on the upper level, we discover it is also his workspace

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APPENDIX .2- PRICE LIST (for items below RM 50)

Both galleries also sell mini artworks or affordable souvenirs. The prices of the artworks

that cost above RM1000 from Wei-Ling gallery and RM 50 from GM Choo Art Gallery

have been undisclosed by both galleries.

WEI-LING GALLERY

*Varies according to exhibitions. This list was created according to the Ivan Lam 20

exhibition

No. Item Unit price (RM)

1. Perspex block art pieces 20.00

2. Ivan Lam: Twenty the Book 20.00

3. Coma 38/500 brochure 30.00

GM CHOO ART GALLERY

No. Item Unit price (RM) Other pricings

1. Batik Bookmarks 4.00 3 for RM10.00

2. Batik postcards 5.00 6 for RM 25.00

3. Batik handkerchiefs 6.00 3 for RM 15.00

4. Batik scarves (cotton) 35.00

5. Batik scarves (silk) 45.00

6. Small frame of batik 15.00

7. Batik horoscopes 6.00

8. Paint your own batik 30.00

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APPENDIX .3- MINUTES

DATE: 1st January 2015

TIME: 3:00p.m.-7:00p.m.

VENUE: Amphitheatre, Taylor’s University

NAMES OF GROUP MEMBERS TUTORIAL GROUP ROLE

Arvindhan a/l Balasingam Tuesday -

Canisius Bong Wei Pheng Thursday -

Chow Hong Da Monday -

Maximilian Lim Jake Yang Monday -

Ong Eu Xuan Thursday -

Ong Jia Min Thursday -

Tan Yit Fong Tuesday -

NO. ACTIVITY ACTION TAKEN BY

1. Discussion on requirements of the brief and the types of businesses that interests us All

2. Research on businesses which fulfilled the brief’s requirements All

3. Contacting the art galleries via e-mail and phone requesting for an interview with a representative

Canisius & Yit Fong

4. Generating suitable interview questions to be asked All

5. Allocation of photographer, note-taker, interviewer and translator during the site visit

All

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DATE: 9th January 2015

TIME: 9.15 a.m.-2:00p.m.

VENUE: Student life Centre, Taylor’s Lakeside Campus

NAMES OF GROUP MEMBERS TUTORIAL GROUP ROLE

Arvindhan a/l Balasingam Tuesday Description of the history of

trade/business

Canisius Bong Wei Pheng Thursday Description of Wei-Ling gallery

Chow Hong Da Monday Comparative Analysis (GM

Choo art gallery)

Maximilian Lim Jake Yang Monday Comparative Analysis

(Wei-Ling gallery)

Ong Eu Xuan Thursday Video & artistic cover

Ong Jia Min Thursday Description of GM Choo art

agallery

Tan Yit Fong Tuesday Compilation of report &

slides for presentation

NO. ACTIVITY ACTION TAKEN

BY

1. Allocation of roles for report and presentation All

2.

Research, transfer and analysis of data (interview notes,

audio recording, photos etc.) All

3. Writing of reports and points for presentation slides All

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APPENDIX .4-RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1) When was the business founded?

2) Who are the key founders?

3) What prompted the founders to start this business?

4) What are your main products?

5) Who are your customers?

6) What is the business’ annual revenue figure?

7) How many branch offices/stores do you have (if applicable)?

8) Can you provide us a brief history of your business and its most recent developments?

9) Do you have many competitors? Who are they? Who are your top 3 competitors?

10) Is the business constantly facing strong competition from other competitors? What strategies have they used to compete with you?

11) How much capital is required to start this business? What, if any, specialized field of knowledge do you need to run this business?

12) Generally, do you feel it is easy or hard to enter this market? Why?

13) How do you compete with your competitors i.e. what strategies do you employ to divert customers away from your competitors?

14) How often do you release a new product (this assumes the business sells differentiated products)?

15) Are your pricing decisions strongly affected by your competitors?

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APPENDIX .5- CONTACT DETAILS OF INTERVIEWEES

WEI-LING GALLERY

Name: Shaza Sofi

Job Position: Associate

Office phone number: 03-22601106

E-mail address: weiling@weiling-gallery.com, weilingcontemporary@gmail.com

G M CHOO ART GALLERY

Name: Choo Git Mun

Job Position: Founder, owner and artist

Office phone number: 06-2829892/ 016-7739098

E-mail address: gmchoobatik@gmail.com

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APPENDIX .6- SCHEDULE OF VISIT

WEI-LING GALLERY (Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur)

Wednesday, 7th January 2015

Time Agenda

2.00 p.m Departure from Taylor’s Lakeside Campus

4.30 p.m Arrived in KL Sentral

4.50 p.m Arrived in Wei-Ling's Art Gallery

5.10 p.m Met Shaza Sofi (Associate of Wei-Ling Gallery)

5.20 p.m Interview began

6.30 p.m End of interview

6.35 p.m A tour of the gallery

7.00 p.m Departure from Wei-Ling's Art Gallery

8.25 p.m Arrival at Taylor’s Lakeside Campus

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GM CHOO ART GALLERY (Jalan Tokong, Malacca)

Saturday, 3rd of January 2015

Time Agenda

8.00 a.m Departure from Taylor Lakeside Campus

10.30 a.m Arrived in Melaka Bandaraya

11.00 a.m Arrived in G M CHOO's Art Gallery

11.30 a.m Met G M CHOO himself, artist and founder of the gallery

11.35 a.m Interview began

12.30 p.m End of interview

1.00 p.m A tour of the gallery

1.30 p.m Batik painting (guided by GM CHOO)

2.30 p.m Depart from GM CHOO's Art Gallery

3.00 p.m Survey for other art galleries around GM CHOO

4.00 p.m Departure from Melaka Bandaraya

6.30 p.m Arrival at Taylor’s Lakeside Campus

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APPENDIX .7- TRANSCRIPT

WEI-LING GALLERY

Max: So, when was the business founded?

Sofi: The Gallery was started in 2002. It used to be Townhouse Gallery before it became

Wei Ling Gallery.

Max: Is Wei Ling the founder of the gallery? Is she the only founder?

Sofi: Yes, She's the only founder and the director of the gallery.

Max: So, what kind of art does Wei-Ling Gallery focus selling?

Sofi: Our main focus is contemporary art. Although we also host exhibitions, local

contemporary is our main focus.

Max: So how many branches do you guys have?

Sofi: We have 3. We have this one, in Brickfields. Wei Ling Contemporary at The Gardens Mall, which we just relocated to a larger space, and one in Penang at E&O Hotel.

Max: So do you guys have any competitors?

Sofia: I don't quite think we look it that way. If you are in this industry, it is because you

wanted to see the growth of local art. Hence it is more like a community rather than a competitive industry.

Max: So, I see that the gallery is housed in a pre-war building.

Sofi: Yes, it's a pretty old building. It used to be by Wei Ling's father. He is an architect, Professor Jimmy Lim.

Max: So generally, do you find it hard to manage this gallery?

Sofia: It's not difficult. I wouldn't say it's difficult. Obviously it's difficult in the beginning but we enjoy it.

Max: Currently, are the people at Wei-Ling looking to expand the business physically?

Sofi: I’m not so sure about that one.

Max: What is your position in this gallery?

Sofia: I'm just an associate of the gallery.

Canisius: What is the main product that the gallery sells?

Sofia: Well, we don't call it as product, it's actually art. So yeah, we sell photography, sculpture, we have installation. There isn't a particular type of art.

Canisius: How often you guys produce this product, sorry, art?

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Sofia: It’s not how often we produce. It's all by different artists. Some artists produce only produce two artworks a year. Some only produce one for years. It's not us at Wei-

Ling who produce. It's our artists who produced the artworks and we source for them. There isn't a timeline for it.

Max: Do they usually come to the people at Wei-ling or does the gallery approach them?

Sofia: It work both ways.

Max: Oh okay, I think that's all. Thank You.

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G M CHOO ART GALLERY

这个业务几时开始？

When did you start the business?

大概二十五年前我在这里开一间店，在这里经商到现在。

About twenty five years ago, I’ve opened this shop until today.

那么，您是这家店的创办人吗？

So, you are the founder of this shop, I presume?

是的。

Yes.

开店的时候当时您几岁？

How old were you when you opened this shop?

那时候我大概是六十九岁左右。

Around 69 years old.

为什么您会想要开一间画廊?

Why do you wish to open an art gallery?

我在工作室做画了整十年，把我的绘画批发给画廊。

I’ve worked in studios for a decade, I even had my art sent to other galleries for sale.

原来您之前有经验，那么过后为什么您决定想来这里开画廊？

So you had past experience as an artist, why did you chose to open a gallery here?

过后我发现这里（马六甲）有很多游客，在这里开店可以做门市，也可以做生产和批发。

I find that here in Melaka, many tourists come here for a holiday. By opening a shop here, I can both sell my art, and produce artworks for distribution to other galleries.

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这样，您的店的主要产品是什么呢？

So, what is your shops main products?

我的店主要是卖 batik（蜡染）画最多，在马来西亚画 batik 多数是马来人，华人

batik 画家数一数二。我也有画油画，也有买些特别的画拿来卖。

My shop mainly sells batik art, which is mostly done by local malays in Malaysia, and I am one of the few Chinese batik artists. Other than that, I sell oil paintings, some of which I bought from other artists to resell.

您的客户多数是什么人呢？

What are your main clients?

有外国人，本地人都有。本地马来人和华人都爱来买画。

It’s a mixed bag. We have foreigners and locals who equally like my art. Local malays

and Chinese love my batik art.

您的店一年大概能赚到多少钱呢?

What is the annual profit of your shop?

一年大概也只赚到几千令吉。

I earn around a few thousand in a year.

您有没有分行呢？

Do you have other branches?

没有，但是我有把画寄卖到吉隆玻，新加坡的画廊里做门市。

No, but I do sell my art to galleries at Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and other places.

可以大概说一说这家店的历史吗？

Could you tell us a little bit of your shop’s history?

这间店一开始生意很好，因为那时候世界经济还不错，但是七年前马来西亚的经济

风景大爆跌，生意就受影响。现在生意还在慢慢地跌，应为政府的行政处理不好。

At first the shop was great business, as the local economy was great, but ever since the

economic crisis in Malaysia occurred seven years ago, my business has been getting

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worse as time goes on. Today, due to poor management of the government, the business has been slowly decaying.

那么您有没有竞争对手吗？

Well, do you have any competitors?

每一个人都有自己的画法，所以竞争也没什么。

Every artist has their own style, so competition is minimal.

可以说出几间店吗？

Could you list out a few competitors?

在这里有二到三十几间画廊，你可以看地图有几间比较有名的。

In Melaka you can find twenty to thirty galleries, a dozen famous ones you can find on

the world map.

你觉得他们的店会不会与你发生竞争呢？

Do you think their shops will be competing with your business?

对我来说，我拿第二，没拿第一。我的店产品也多样化，所以比较吸引多游客。

To me， I always strive for second, never aiming for the best. My products are varied, so my shop will attract more customers.

一开始开店要用到多少钱呢？

How much money did you need to start this business?

开始的时候大概用到至少三万令吉，租金和装修用到两万了。

Around 3 million ringgit, with two thirds of it used for rent and renovations.

你刚刚开始经商的时候有什么要注意呢？

What do you need to take caution of when you started this business?

当然，我们做生意就要有一点预感。在马六甲做 batik 画的店只有我们做，所以没

有竞争。我们也有买卖油画，不过我们身为画家，会看出好画，不好的画可以改。然后要多看看其他人的画，多观察，可以学到大众的需求，吸收别人的优点。

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Starting a business like this requires a bit of foresight. In Melaka, my shop is the only batik art gallery, so competition is minimal. As an artist, we must know what good art is,

and change artworks that are not good enough. We also have to look at other’s art, observe more on the public’s demands and abosorb people’s good points.

一张画可以卖多少钱呢？

How much does an artwork cost?

价钱从大概几百块，可以到五千一万块。

The price can range from a few hundred to five hundred million.

您大概一年可以画出几幅画？

How many pieces of art could you produce in a year?

作一幅画比较有自由，想画就画，有时候想挑战自己就能花到几个月画一幅画，有

时候一幅画几个星期就完成了。

As an artist, creating artwork has more freedom in time. Sometimes I wish to challenge myself, I could take months to create a masterpiece. Sometimes I can make simple

artworks in a few weeks’ time.

那么您整样决定画的价钱呢？

How do you set the price of a piece of artwork?

我是看做画是用到多少时间，材料和创作复杂度来决定价钱。

I would see each individual artwork by the time taken, the materials used, and the complexity of the artwork.

这样您的画，如果别人卖得贵，您也卖贵呢？

If others sell their artworks at a high price, would you do the same?

不会的，我有我的价钱。

No, as I have my own price for my artwork.

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REFERENCES

[1] Arts.com.my. (2014). History of Malaysian Art. Retrieved 10 January 2015, from

<http://www.arts.com.my/history-of-malaysian-art/>

[2] Khuan, D. T. C. (1994). Pioneers of Malaysian Art. The Art Gallery, Penang.

[3] (2015). Retrieved 10 January 2015, from

<http://www.artgallery.gov.my/balaiseni/html/index_in.php?lang_id=1>

[4] The Space. (n.d.). Retrieved January 11, 2015, from <http://www.weiling-

gallery.com/space.php>

[5] Contact Wei-Ling Gallery. (n.d.). Retrieved January 11, 2015, from

<http://www.weiling-gallery.com/contact.php>

[6] Keyte, M. (n.d.). Kuala Lumpur’s 10 Must-Visit Contemporary Art Museums.

Retrieved January 11, 2015, from <http://theculturetrip.com/asia/malaysia/articles/kuala-

lumpur-s-10-must-visit-contemporary-art-galleries-/>

[7] Our Work. (n.d.). Retrived January 9, 2015, from

<http://choweiarchitects.com/ourwork_comm_wl.html>

[8] Wei-Ling Gallery [Brochure]. (n.d.) Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur: Wei-Ling Gallery

[9] Sofi, S. Gallery Associate, January 5, 2015.

[10] GM Choo, GM Choo Art Gallery Owner, January 3, 2015.

[11] GM Choo Art Gallery [Brochure]. (n.d.) Jalan Tokong, Melaka: GM Choo Art

Gallery

[12] Cecilia Tan, James & Danny. (2010). GM Choo- The Optimistic Kung Fu Artist.

myBatik December issue. Retrieved 10 January 2015 from http://mybatik.org.my/

[13] (2010). GM CHOO ART GALLERY. Malaccabatik.blogspot.com. Retrieved 10

January 2015, from <http://malaccabatik.blogspot.com/>

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[14] (n.d.). G M Choo. ArtMalaysia Retrieved 10 January 2015, from

<http://www.artmalaysiagroup.com/artist/detail/545/g-m-choo>

[15] (2015) The Li Chi Mao Art House. Retrieved 11 January 2015, from

<http://lichimaoarthouse.com/index.html>

[16] The Orang Utan House [Brochure]. (n.d.) Lorong Hang Jebat, Melaka: The Orang

Utan House

[17] Thomas Fuller (1999, August 14-15). Charles Cham’s Art Challenges Malaysia.

International Herald Tribune.

[18] Tham Siew Inn Artist Gallery [Brochure]. (n.d.) Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock,

Melaka: Tham Siew Inn Artist Gallery

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