MUKAH: Artists from Sarawak made their presence felt at the ongoing Alam & Guru Exhibition at Seni Aswara Gallery, Kuala Lumpur when they showcase their exclusive collections.
The ongoing exhibition (Oct 24-Nov 24) themed Ilham Alam, is jointly organised by Jabatan Pendidikan Seni Visual, Institut Perguruan Ilmu Khas and Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (Aswara).
This year, five artists and educationists are showcasing their masterpieces, compared to three only in 2017.
They are Leonard Darimi from SMK Oya, Dalat, Wong Neng Lee (SMK Tinggi Sarikei), Hairy Azmeer Razali, Muhd Ruhaizat Rusli (both from Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) Mukah), and Dr. Ling Pik Kuong (Malaysian Teaching Institute, Rajang Campus, Meradong).
Three of them, Leonard, Hairy and Muhd Ruhaizat, are members of the Rejang Fine Artists Group (RFAG), comprising mostly teachers from the Central Region of Sarawak.
Driven by passion, the teachers cum artists manage to juggle their time between teaching and producing quality fine art despite their busy work schedules.
Leonard said they are considering taking up fine art as a compulsory part-time job as they, by training, are actually visual art teachers.
Recalling the history of fine art development in Malaysia in the 1930s, he said it was pioneered by art teachers such as Abdullah Ariff and Tay Hooi Keat.
Leonard, a fine arts graduate from UiTM, Shah Alam suggested that it is time now to rebrand teachers involved in art as pelukis guru to be on par with other full-time artists in Malaysia, thereby enhancing the reputation of art teachers and the artist profession, too.
He also suggested that it could be realised by forming an association of artists who are also teachers.
“There have been talks about the formation of such an association among teachers who are participating the ongoing exhibition,” he revealed to New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
Leonard hoped that more visual art teachers from Sarawak would come forward to emulate the spirit of the five teachers cum artists.
He said although the monetary return might not be high, nevertheless, it could worthwhile in other sense.
He added such effort might help in enhancing the profession of visual art teachers in the eyes of society.
In the ongoing exhibition, Leonard showcases a mixed media art entitled ‘Vanishing Point at Mukah Jetty’.
He said it shows the importance of the role of ‘Rule of Third’ in producing an attractive composition in the end result besides the use of a lined perspective system in creating a deep and clear space.
Another participating artist, Hairy exhibits his masterpiece entitled ‘Pusaka Pekaka’. According to Leonard, Hairy’s artwork was inspired by the latter’s interest in a Malay dagger ‘keris’ and martial art ‘silat’ which is synonym with his love for fine arts.
Leonard revealed that Muhd Ruhaizat’s artwork entitled ‘Bubbles of Memories’ is an inspiration from the latter’s childhood experiences.
For Wong’s masterpiece entitled ‘Harmony in daily life’, Leonard explained the artist makes use of wood skin as a surface material and work on it with acrylic paint. He added Wong’s artwork was created from his experience as the son of a fisherman.
Leonard said Dr Ling’s art work entitled ‘Dance’ also uses acrylic medium. According to him, it is a recorded gesture drawing of a dancer in action, and expression of a high-spirited dancer who is passionate in dancing.
The Alam & Guru Exhibition is a special exhibition for visual art teachers and lecturers from schools and Teacher Training Institutes in Malaysia.
It is the second exhibition, after the first one in 2017 held at the National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur
The biennial fine art exhibition is being held in the gallery of Fakulti Rekaan Komunikasi Visual, Aswara, Kuala Lumpur.
Yayasan Budi pioneer and chairman Tan Sri Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim officiated at the opening of the exhibition recently.
According to Leonard, the exhibition is a platform for amateur artists, especially among teachers, who intend to be active through more prestigious exhibitions.
He said the much-awaited exhibition usually receives a good response from participants because it provides an avenue for teachers to be active in fine art, and is also an opportunity for them to showcase their art works for public viewing.
Leonard added 97 pieces of impressive artworks comprising various genres of fine art are being displayed throughout the month-long exhibition.
The exhibition, he said, include drawings, paintings and printings using various media and techniques.
He added the 97 participants comprise visual art lecturers from local teacher training institutes, secondary and primary school teachers nationwide as well retired educationists.
He revealed the total number of participations exceed the previous exhibition, because they include invited participants (teachers) from Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Kampus Tasikmalaya, West Java, thus making this year’s edition a regional affair.
