Petronas Gallery

The gallery is located in the Suria KLCC

Petronas Gallery (Malay: Galeri Petronas) is a contemporary art gallery established in 1993 by the Malaysian multinational company Petronas to promote arts and culture. Nestled between the Petronas Twin Towers, in Kuala Lumpur's premier shopping destination Suria KLCC, the gallery makes art engaging and accessible to the public.

It provides an avenue for artists, both Malaysian and foreign, to display their works towards meeting and nurturing the growing interest of the Malaysian public in visual arts.

History

Galeri Petronas was established in 1993 at the Dayabumi Complex, the former headquarters of Petronas. Its establishment created a major new venue for the display of visual art in Kuala Lumpur. Through the gallery, Petronas sponsored many art exhibitions showing works of both local and foreign artists.

The gallery was relocated to its present prime location in the Petronas Twin Towers in 1998. The spacious new circular gallery of 2000 sq meters is almost three times the size of the gallery in the Dayabumi Complex. The larger space represents an extension and expansion of activities by Petronas in promoting and contributing to the development of art.

Objectives

Galeri Petronas manages and administers the Petronas sponsorship programme for the visual arts. As part of this programme, the corporation provides and maintains the gallery as a world-class venue for Malaysian artists to display their artwork and to undertake activities for their further development. The gallery also hosts foreign exhibitions to encourage exchanges between local and foreign artists for their mutual benefit.

To further promote and contribute to the development of art, the gallery offers a wide range of art appreciation and educational programmes, in addition to an active programme of exhibitions. Forums and seminars discussing various art issues are organised on a regular basis.

A continuing art acquisition programme by the gallery on behalf of Petronas enables the corporation to offer patronage and support to the artistic and creative works of the communities where it operates.

Design

The gallery has been designed and equipped in accordance with international art gallery standards. It is a multi-functional and flexible space which is easily adaptable for art displays and other activities. In this way, the Main Gallery and the Bustle Gallery are able to accommodate a number of exhibitions simultaneously, or to create interesting exhibition layouts.

Robert Gaukroger now Gaukroger and Partners designed the Gallery located at level 3 of the Petronas Twin Towers as part of a consortium with Pakatan Architects and Equus Design, when Robert was living in Malaysia. The design was a competition entry which was held by Petronas. Robert Gaukroger’s design philosophy for the gallery was a simple multifunctional space which was a safe container for the display of art, beautifully detailed, although not competing with the works on display. influences of Carlo Scarpa are present in some of the detailing including the reception desk (a single piece of black granite) and a sculptural wall of glass and concrete in the reception area. Robert went on to design Elleray Forest school and Dome house which featured on Grand Designs a television program in the UK.

In addition to a total art display space of 1135.92 sqm, the gallery is also equipped with two multimedia spaces each measuring 30.1 sqm, three dry workshops each measuring 46 sqm, and a lecture room measuring 40.97 sqm. These multi-purpose spaces are used for art demonstrations, forums, classes and lectures, performances and other art activities.

Woods Bagot provided detail design and site regulation services for the premiere art gallery facilities. The 2 207.38 sqm fitout incorporated mobile walling system and flexible lighting, retail shops, workshop studio and electronic library.

Literature

External links