Penang gallery brings rare Picasso works to Malaysia in groundbreaking peace exhibition
A small art gallery in Penang is making big waves in Southeast Asia's art scene by bringing over 60 authentic Pablo Picasso works to Malaysia
GELUGOR, Malaysia (MNTV) – A small art gallery in Penang is making big waves in Southeast Asia’s art scene by bringing over 60 authentic Pablo Picasso works to Malaysia – a feat that would typically cost millions and involve years of international negotiations, according to TRP.
The Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery’s inaugural special exhibition, “Picasso and Lin Xiang Xiong: A Dialogue Across Time”, runs until March 31.
The gallery has deliberately chosen Picasso works focused on peace and anti-war themes – lithographs, posters, and prints the Spanish master created not for wealthy collectors, but to circulate among ordinary people during times of conflict.
“Picasso’s selected works were never intended for private collectors. They were created to circulate in society and enter our lives,” said Professor Lin Xiang Xiong, the gallery’s namesake and a contemporary Malaysian artist whose 300 paintings are displayed alongside Picasso’s pieces.
The exhibition pairs Picasso’s 20th-century responses to two world wars and the Spanish Civil War with Lin’s modern works addressing today’s ethnic conflicts, refugee crises, and regional wars.
Instead of simply showcasing masterpieces, the gallery creates what Lin calls “an evolving visual archive of how peace has been imagined, communicated and shared across time.”
The exhibition’s peace theme feels particularly relevant as global conflicts continue to make headlines, with the gallery presenting Picasso’s anti-war art as an ongoing call to action rather than as historical artifacts.
“Visitors are not just viewing valuable artworks, they are engaging with an evolving visual archive,” Lin explained.
In moments of extreme conflict, Picasso chose to respond consistently and powerfully – that commitment forms the foundation of this exhibition.
It further solidifies the Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery – an eight-story art museum located above the sea at The Light Waterfront – as a serious cultural institution in the city’s growing arts scene.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
