The late Datuk N. Parameswaran stood among Malaysia’s longest-serving diplomats, an esteemed figure whose diplomacy extended beyond the corridors of government into the expressive world of art. A devoted collector, he quietly assembled one of the nation’s most remarkable private art collections, a testament to both cultural preservation and personal passion.
Datuk Parameswaran’s connections ran deep within the local art scene. He often spent his days visiting galleries and artists’ studios, cultivating friendships and nurturing Malaysia’s creative community with a diplomat’s curiosity and a collector’s discerning eye.
Photo: Kenny Loh
But for his daughter, Sharmin Parameswaran, growing up within such a world was both a privilege and a quiet challenge. “Although I was exposed to art and artists from a young age, I started refusing to follow my father on trips during my teenage years,” she recalled.
Driven by Her Own Compass
For Sharmin, adolescence marked a pivotal time — a period of exploration, questioning, and quiet rebellion. Rather than being an act of defiance, it was a way of understanding her place within an artistic lineage that could easily have defined her.
Photo: Kenny Loh
Over time, that instinct to diverge became the foundation for her own creative journey. Guided by curiosity rather than convention, Sharmin began gravitating toward emerging artists — those whose work spoke of transition, identity, and the evolving Malaysian narrative. Her instinctive approach culminated in At First Glance, her first exhibition that invited fresh perspectives and challenged established norms.
Shaping Malaysia’s Artistry
Today, she continues to expand beyond her father’s legacy, shaping a new conversation in Malaysian art — one that values discovery as much as it does heritage.
After 17 years in media and broadcasting, Sharmin made the deliberate choice to return to the art world, bringing with her the nuance of storytelling and an understanding of contemporary expression.
FFFMM by Nadirah Zakariya // Temu House, Petaling Jaya
“It’s still an ongoing journey,” she shares in an interview with The Peak. “But I intend to continue his work—ensuring that the art he collected finds a new home where it can resonate deeply and be truly appreciated.” Sharmin’s story is one of evolution rather than departure. While her father’s influence remains a powerful undercurrent, it is her own compass — steady, searching, and deeply intuitive, that now leads the way in shaping Malaysia’s artistry for a new generation.
