Shalini Ganendra
Encyclopedia
Shalini Ganendra, fine arts consultant and gallerist, credits a childhood and upbringing filled with an active and natural appreciation of visual arts and collecting, for entry into and commitment to the aesthetic field. She established the eponymous art space, Shalini Ganendra Fine Art SGFA (formerly The Private Gallery), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1998.
In addition to organising curated exhibitions locally and internationally, the Organisation has focussed on developing innovative, cross cultural exchanges and public programs (including residencies for artists, researchers and related lecture programs). The organisational objectives and philosophy aim to support regional artists in the propagation and recognition of contemporary, "vernacular" artistic languages and practises, and promote cross-cultural dialogue and education.
SGFA is located in a purpose built, unique green space, Gallery Residence, designed by architectural luminary, Ken Yeang
. The space was awarded the Architectural PAM, Showroom Commendation in 2011. This innovative residence accommodates all gallery programs including the Vision Culture Lectures and Artist Residency, Exploring East Residency and CSR Programs.
The Vision Culture Series, Ganendra's brainchild, which is supported by UNESCO Observatory Multi-Disciplinary Research in the Arts and HSBC , was launched in 2010 to bring international experts to Malaysia to share expertise and gain knowledge on the region. The VC Lecture program has hosted award winning artists working in different media including photography, painting and textile, and renowned curators.
In 2011, SGFA launched the Exploring East Residency which promotes cultural exchange between Cambridge University students and SE Asia.
Under the Gallery's ART FOR YOU program, SGFA has collaborated with public spaces to present art and artists to larger audiences in a variety of settings, extending the concept of 'living with art'. The Gallery created and presents at Gallery Residence, ART HUG, an art program for underprivileged children.
boarding, from where she graduated in 1982 with High Honours and as a National Cum Laude Scholar. She was awarded a Harkness Fellowship by the Academy in 2007.
Ganendra studied briefly at Stanford University
before reading law at Trinity Hall
, Cambridge University, (1984–1987) where she was awarded a Dr. Cooper's Law Fellowship. She completed postgraduate legal study at Columbia Law School
in 1989.
She is a qualified New York
attorney (1989) and Barrister at Law (Lincoln's Inn, 1988).
and has lived there, in the United States, United Kingdom and Malaysia.
She practised with a Wall Street firm, in its New York
and London offices, for a number of years, specialising in international corporate finance, before exclusively pursuing a vocation in fine arts.
Datin Shalini is married to fellow Cantabrigian and Trinity Hall graduate, Dato' Dr. Dennis Ganendra
. Her husband received a Datukship in 2003, from the Sultan, which carries the honorifics 'Dato' and 'Datin'.
She founded Shalini Ganendra Fine Art in 1998 with the opening of The Private Gallery in Kuala Lumpur
, Malaysia. In 2007, she established an advisory presence in London
. Her focus is contemporary art and design from emerging regions in Asia, such as Malaysia and Sri Lanka and she has published a number of articles on these specialisations and art movements.
Ganendra has curated exhibitions, internationally and regionally, which have regularly gained news coverage. She is also dedicated to establishing credible and innovative public programs in the arts that encourage cross-cultural exchanges, dialogues and scholarship and The Vision Culture Series, (supported by UNESCO Observatory Multi-Disciplinary Research in the Arts), is one such effort.
In 2005, she co-curated Colours of Karma at the Nehru Centre, Mayfair, London, which featured top South Asian artists, including Stanley Kirinde from Sri Lanka. The Gallery was the first to showcase contemporary art by Sri Lankan artists during New York's Asia Week in 2006, 2007, 2008, in a series of exhibitions titled Serendipity ; and the first to exhibit contemporary art by Malaysian talents during Asia Week (New York) in 2008 and 2009. Her gallery showed contemporary art and documentary photography, Glimpses of the East, during Contemporary Art Week, New York 2010. SGFA works with outstanding talents such as award winners Sir Roy Calne
, Zac Lee, Leela Peries and Nirmala Karuppiah, who embrace multidisciplinary art practises, engaging in challenging constructs that address social and political themes.
She has served on the judging and review panels for international art awards including the Commonwealth International Artists Residencies, and the inaugural Caochangdi PhotoSpring Festival, a collaboration with Les Rencontres d’Arles Photography Festival, in Beijing, China. She is a nominator for the Smithsonian Institute's SARF program (Smithsonian Artist Residency Fellowship).
She is a past President of the Oxford & Cambridge Society,Malaysia, continuing on its Advisory Board, and a founding Board Member of the English Speaking Union, Malaysia.
In addition to organising curated exhibitions locally and internationally, the Organisation has focussed on developing innovative, cross cultural exchanges and public programs (including residencies for artists, researchers and related lecture programs). The organisational objectives and philosophy aim to support regional artists in the propagation and recognition of contemporary, "vernacular" artistic languages and practises, and promote cross-cultural dialogue and education.
SGFA is located in a purpose built, unique green space, Gallery Residence, designed by architectural luminary, Ken Yeang
Ken Yeang
Dr. Ken Yeang [Chinese]: 杨经文/楊經文; [pinyin]: Yáng Jīngwén; born 1948) is a prolific Malaysian architect and writer best known for advancing green design and planning, differentiated from other green architects by his comprehensive ecological approach....
. The space was awarded the Architectural PAM, Showroom Commendation in 2011. This innovative residence accommodates all gallery programs including the Vision Culture Lectures and Artist Residency, Exploring East Residency and CSR Programs.
The Vision Culture Series, Ganendra's brainchild, which is supported by UNESCO Observatory Multi-Disciplinary Research in the Arts and HSBC , was launched in 2010 to bring international experts to Malaysia to share expertise and gain knowledge on the region. The VC Lecture program has hosted award winning artists working in different media including photography, painting and textile, and renowned curators.
In 2011, SGFA launched the Exploring East Residency which promotes cultural exchange between Cambridge University students and SE Asia.
Under the Gallery's ART FOR YOU program, SGFA has collaborated with public spaces to present art and artists to larger audiences in a variety of settings, extending the concept of 'living with art'. The Gallery created and presents at Gallery Residence, ART HUG, an art program for underprivileged children.
Education
Shalini Ganendra attended National Cathedral School, Washington D.C. and then Phillips Exeter AcademyPhillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
boarding, from where she graduated in 1982 with High Honours and as a National Cum Laude Scholar. She was awarded a Harkness Fellowship by the Academy in 2007.
Ganendra studied briefly at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
before reading law at Trinity Hall
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
, Cambridge University, (1984–1987) where she was awarded a Dr. Cooper's Law Fellowship. She completed postgraduate legal study at Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1989.
She is a qualified New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
attorney (1989) and Barrister at Law (Lincoln's Inn, 1988).
Life and work
Shalini Ganendra was born in Sri LankaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and has lived there, in the United States, United Kingdom and Malaysia.
She practised with a Wall Street firm, in its New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and London offices, for a number of years, specialising in international corporate finance, before exclusively pursuing a vocation in fine arts.
Datin Shalini is married to fellow Cantabrigian and Trinity Hall graduate, Dato' Dr. Dennis Ganendra
Dennis Ganendra
-General and education:Dennis Ganendra was born in Malaysia. He studied at Edgerly Hall, Millfield School and Westminster College, England, where he was Head of House....
. Her husband received a Datukship in 2003, from the Sultan, which carries the honorifics 'Dato' and 'Datin'.
She founded Shalini Ganendra Fine Art in 1998 with the opening of The Private Gallery in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Malaysia. In 2007, she established an advisory presence in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Her focus is contemporary art and design from emerging regions in Asia, such as Malaysia and Sri Lanka and she has published a number of articles on these specialisations and art movements.
Ganendra has curated exhibitions, internationally and regionally, which have regularly gained news coverage. She is also dedicated to establishing credible and innovative public programs in the arts that encourage cross-cultural exchanges, dialogues and scholarship and The Vision Culture Series, (supported by UNESCO Observatory Multi-Disciplinary Research in the Arts), is one such effort.
In 2005, she co-curated Colours of Karma at the Nehru Centre, Mayfair, London, which featured top South Asian artists, including Stanley Kirinde from Sri Lanka. The Gallery was the first to showcase contemporary art by Sri Lankan artists during New York's Asia Week in 2006, 2007, 2008, in a series of exhibitions titled Serendipity ; and the first to exhibit contemporary art by Malaysian talents during Asia Week (New York) in 2008 and 2009. Her gallery showed contemporary art and documentary photography, Glimpses of the East, during Contemporary Art Week, New York 2010. SGFA works with outstanding talents such as award winners Sir Roy Calne
Roy Calne
Sir Roy Yorke Calne, FRS, is a British surgeon and pioneer in organ transplantation; he performed the first liver transplantation operation in Europe in 1968. His surgical procedures also laid claim to many other pioneering successes in his career: the world's first liver, heart, and lung...
, Zac Lee, Leela Peries and Nirmala Karuppiah, who embrace multidisciplinary art practises, engaging in challenging constructs that address social and political themes.
She has served on the judging and review panels for international art awards including the Commonwealth International Artists Residencies, and the inaugural Caochangdi PhotoSpring Festival, a collaboration with Les Rencontres d’Arles Photography Festival, in Beijing, China. She is a nominator for the Smithsonian Institute's SARF program (Smithsonian Artist Residency Fellowship).
She is a past President of the Oxford & Cambridge Society,Malaysia, continuing on its Advisory Board, and a founding Board Member of the English Speaking Union, Malaysia.