CIMB Artober Art & Soul 2025, an annual art event organized by CIMB Group in Malaysia, has evolved from a pandemic-era lifeline for artists into a major cultural and commercial platform. This year’s edition features over 30 galleries, more than 100 artists, and includes never-before-seen works by the late Malaysian artist Datuk Ibrahim Hussein. The event has been recognized as an official programme of the Asean Economic Ministers’ Meeting, underscoring its growing significance in the region.
The event matters because it positions Malaysia as a rising hub for contemporary art in Southeast Asia, while directly supporting micro-SMEs and artists through commercial opportunities. Its inclusion in high-level ASEAN meetings and alignment with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 signals a strategic push to integrate the arts into economic and cultural policy. The intergenerational dialogue between legendary figures like Ibrahim Hussein and emerging artists like Faizal Yunus highlights the event’s role in fostering cultural continuity and inspiring new talent.