Coffee truck in the morning (2024), Kongsak Kampakdee (All photos: CIMB)
CIMB Artober Art & Soul 2025 reflects how far the annual programme has come. Once designed primarily to give artists a platform for exposure, CIMB Group’s brainchild has evolved into a cornerstone of Malaysia’s cultural calendar, supporting micro-SMEs in the arts and reinforcing the nation’s ambition to be recognised as a leading regional hub for art and culture.
“For decades, CIMB has been living its purpose of Advancing Customers and Society, embedding the pillars of art and education into its operations to drive meaningful change across Asean. It was important to organise CIMB Artober Art & Soul to improve artists’ livelihoods, which were severely impacted during the pandemic,” says Ismail Ani Arope, CIMB’s regional head for group corporate events.
“Through discussions with young artists, galleries, collectors and the government, we agreed that there was an urgent need to support the creative industry. From then on, this annual art event has grown and expanded, becoming one of CIMB’s flagship events.”
First launched as a lifeline for artists during Covid-19, CIMB Artober has since grown into a marketplace and a movement. This year, it will feature over 30 galleries and merchants, and over 100 artists, offering them not only exposure but also meaningful commercial opportunities and connections.
“Essentially, all artists are art-preneurs,” Ismail says. “CIMB Artober Art & Soul is a marketplace that offers a commercial platform and opportunities for both artists and the wider ecosystem that supports them — from curators and collectors, to even art installers and event space operators.”
This dual focus on creativity and commerce underlines CIMB’s broader purpose of Advancing Customers and Society. The bank positions CIMB Artober not just as a cultural showcase, but as an economic engine, empowering micro-SMEs within the arts.
Recognising Malaysia’s potential
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The inclusion of CIMB Artober as an official programme in the Asean Economic Ministers’ Meeting is seen as a turning point. It signals recognition of Malaysia’s potential as a creative and cultural hub in Southeast Asia.
“It is an honour for CIMB Artober Art & Soul to welcome participants from the Asean Economic Ministers’ Meeting,” Ismail says. “The inclusion of CIMB Artober provides an ingenious way of showcasing Malaysia and its contemporary art to an emerging group of younger collectors in Southeast Asia.”
The timing dovetails with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, giving policymakers and cultural advocates another platform to showcase Malaysia’s creative industries as both a driver of economic growth and a reflection of the nation’s cultural identity.
A dialogue between generations
One of the highlights this year is the unveiling of never-before-seen works by the late Datuk Ibrahim Hussein, a pioneering figure in Malaysian art. The inclusion is symbolic of his journey as an artist; he who was born in a remote village in Kedah and had a career that eventually took him to the global stage, including a show with Andy Warhol in the late 1970s.
“We hope our young artists will rediscover the works of our legendary artists of Malaysia, including the late Datuk Ibrahim Hussein,” says Ismail. “It is hoped that this showcase would ignite more intellectual curiosity and inspire our young artists.”
That intergenerational dialogue is not lost on contemporary artists like Faizal Yunus, whose works will be part of the exhibition this year. For him, CIMB Artober provides a stage where memory and imagination collide.
“For CIMB Artober this year, I’m exploring the theme of transitioning between two contrasting worlds — the serenity of nature and the structured energy of industrial life,” Faizal says. “I use industrial materials like automotive paint, creating layers that feel raw and urban, yet the composition carries an organic rhythm inspired by nature.”
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Beyond exhibitions, CIMB Artober’s programmes include art talks with figures such as representatives from the Guggenheim Museum Abu Dhabi and Christie’s. CIMB Artober has formed many enduring relationships with private collections over the years, including the AFK Collection, whose recently exhibited pieces in Abu Dhabi added international excitement for Malaysian art.
Over the years, CIMB Artober has generated more than RM20 million in sales, drawing in not only seasoned collectors but also new and young collectors who see art as both a cultural asset and an investment class.
For artists like Faizal, the platform offers both validation and connection. “Events like this create an important platform for Malaysian artists to gain visibility and build meaningful connections. It’s not just about showing or selling art, but about opening up conversations and creating opportunities that can lead to growth locally and internationally,” he says.
From regional roots to global reach
As CIMB Artober Art & Soul marks its fifth year, its ambition is not simply to showcase art but to sustain a creative ecosystem. The initiative has widened the circle of participation to include designers, textile weavers, universities and even rehabilitation programmes under the Malaysian Prison Department, a unique initiative championed by Her Royal Highness The Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
“CIMB Artober Art & Soul has proven to be an important economic engine for the Malaysian creative ecosystem,” says Ismail. “This art fair has gained a greater following, stronger traction and wider audience, connecting and strengthening the creative network, empowering the next generation of artists and becoming a prestigious event in Malaysia’s calendar.”
For Faizal, the hope is more personal yet equally profound. “I hope first-time collectors and casual visitors will connect with the sense of familiarity and curiosity in my work. If they walk away feeling like the work sparked a thought or a memory, that’s a real connection for me.”
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Looking ahead, he sees Malaysian art growing bolder and more confident, with younger artists pushing boundaries and experimenting across disciplines. He believes digital platforms and stronger global links will take local stories to wider audiences while keeping them grounded in regional roots. “That balance between local roots and global conversations is what will shape the future of Malaysian art.”
It is within this evolving landscape that CIMB Artober Art & Soul seeks to play its part. By providing visibility, building networks and creating commercial B2C opportunities, the initiative helps to ensure that Malaysian artists can stand tall both at home and abroad.
By bridging tradition and innovation, it underscores how Malaysia’s art scene is not only surviving but steadily shaping its place in the world.
