Lookiss Art Gallery is a gallery with a mission.

The proprietors Kerk Boon Leng and Roy Seow want to provide any local artists regardless of their popularity a platform to showcase their artwork and promote Malaysian art.

They assure art collectors that the gallery will buy back their collections as a way to prove that Malaysian artworks are comparable with foreign ones and with resale value.

"We are proud to show that Malaysian artists can produce good things," said Kerk during a recent interview.

"Sometimes we like to buy foreign goods because we think foreign goods are better. But we are as good for certain types of things such as frames and artwork; our frames are exported overseas anyway."

He said the gallery wanted to help local artists to create a Malaysian identity that is unique to the country and reflected the lifestyle of its people in their artworks.

"We are doing this not only for patriotism alone. What we are missing in Malaysia is art. We can't have a society that respects the environment and a society that is sensitive unless we learn to respect our own art and local artists because they understand us Malaysians better," he said.

Citing an example, he said there is no point in filling one's home with paintings by artists from China, as the messages conveyed through their images would not quite represent the Malaysian culture and lifestyle.

He said the galley would do their best to support local artist so that they can earn a living and promote their work to a larger audience.

"Art is photo image of our society. Our artists are looking for an identity and so is Malaysia. We should support them and that's why we only sell Malaysian artwork."

Kerk, who is a solicitor by profession, has turned his office in Jalan Ampang into the gallery where he would organise activities and exhibitions to promote local art.

With years of experience in framing business, Kerk makes sure that the paintings are decorated with the best frames to help make the artwork stand out and increase their value.

"We can only preserve valuable art pieces by framing them properly. Only nice and good frames can bring up the value of the artwork," said Kerk.

The gallery was opened on Nov 26 with an auction that featured 47 pieces by 26 artists like A. Kasim Abas, Lim Ah Cheng, Low Seok Loo, Lui Cheng Thak, Teh Yew Kiang, Marvin Chan, Chan Ka Wa, Chia Hoy Sai, Chow Chin Chuan, Ong Choon Hoo and Johan Marjonid.

The gallery will work with foreign embassies, charitable bodies and fashion designers to organise various events to promote Malaysian art.

It is at 6, Lorong Enau, off Jalan Ampang, 55000 Kuala Lumpur.

For more details, call 03-4257 7366