Tatler speaks to Leila Khan, whose parents began a private art collection 25 years ago, and discover why art is a family obsession
The AFK Collection is the physical embodiment of Aliya and Farouk Khan’s passion and involvement in the Malaysian art scene, comprising seminal works that make up the local contemporary art history. The prominent art patrons have been growing this collection since the '90s, and their expertise had also led them to speak at round tables such as the Terrace Talks of Art Dubai. Their passion is a family affair, shared by their daughters, Zena and Leila, who are fully involved in growing and overseeing the vast collection.
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Leila was born in Singapore but moved to Malaysia as a teenager. While she was always aware of her parents’ collecting activities growing up, the magnitude of what they were doing only truly struck her when she moved permanently back to Kuala Lumpur after a stint in Dubai working in PR and marketing. Since then she has been managing the collection and working towards creating a revolutionary awareness and repository for contemporary art that has yet to be seen in this country.
Beyond the act of buying artworks, it is also important to produce documentation, both visual—through shows—and literal—through publications. Leila manages and oversees all aspects of the collection, from inventory to organising shows and publication documentation. Her sister, Zena, an international curator in her own right, is involved in a lot of the curatorial aspects of the collection. Together they cover all bases. Last year, they launched their website which has created a prominent global platform for Malaysian contemporary art in the digital sphere.
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