MERGING OF TWO CULTURES THROUGH VISUAL ARTS: AN ART PREVIEW AND SHARING SESSION BY GUEST ARTISTS FROM UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA & INTERNATIONAL BALKAN UNIVERSITY

By: Aliah Farhana & Alice Sabreena

SHAH ALAM - In partnership with International Balkan University (IBU), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) presented an art preview and sharing session titled "Merging of Two Cultures Through Visual Arts”. Coordinated together by Galeri Seni Tuanku Nur Zahirah (UiTM GESTURZ) Shah Alam, and the UiTM Kedah Branch, the session was held on 19th October 2022. The event features a collection of artworks from IBU and UiTM Kedah artists who have been brought together for the first time.

The international collaboration between Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kedah Branch, and the International Balkan University, North Macedonia, began in November 2021 after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that culminated in June 2022, with the joint event the “5th International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities ICSSH2022”. The exhibition Merging of Two Cultures through Visual Art is part of both universities' ongoing collaborative activities to promote scholarly conversations among academicians from many fields.

As the IBU delegation arrived a day before the main event on 17th October, they were taken on a tour to several art spots in the capital, namely the National Art Gallery Kuala Lumpur, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, and also a walkabout to view the public art sculptures and murals in the Kuala Lumpur city centre. The guests also visited Bendang Studio, an art studio founded by UiTM alumna, Rozana Musa. It was an exciting experience for the guests as they got to know more about Malaysian arts and culture. 

On 18th October, the delegation from IBU made a courtesy call on the UiTM Vice-Chancellor, YBhg Professor Datuk Ts Dr Hajah Roziah Mohd Janor. The Balkan delegation was accompanied by Dr Emir Hadzikadunic, Distinguished Fellow from the Faculty of Administrative Science & Policy Studies UiTM, who acted as an interpreter during the visit. Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr Azhari Md Hashim, the Deputy Rector (Research & Network), UiTM Kedah Branch, Prof. Dr Shahriman Zainal Abidin (Assistant Vice-Chancellor, UiTM Global) and Dr Hajah Zainab Mohd Noor, Director of International Engagement, Department of International Affairs (DIA), were also in attendance.

The main event, the art preview and sharing session on 19th October, started with the arrival of distinguished guests, guest artists and speakers, and also students from the College of Creative Arts. The first guest artist to begin the sharing session was Professor Dr. Fehim Husković. An artist who has been actively participating in the Macedonian, Balkan and European art scene for more than three decades, Fehim has created a great quantity of artworks in the field of graphics and painting. His work is valued in many sectors, given that he is also an author who constantly experiments, creates and discovers new media. The second session continued with Professor Džemil Bektović, the Dean of Faculty of Art & Design, International Balkan University. The professor of History, Philosophy and Theory of Art shared the background information on International Balkan University (IBU), and life as an art practitioner-academician in North Macedonia. 

Then, the sharing session continued with the guest artists from UiTM Kedah Branch. Syafiq Abdul Samat, a noise impressionist, talked about how noises influenced his art using the “Hingarmera” generative technique. The next guest artist, Nazri Abu Bakar, shared his experience on using heavy machinery for his artwork. Nazri is seriously looking into new approaches to express himself, using machineries such as the wheel loader excavator and crawler excavator. The session ended with Professor Jalaini Abu Hassan, better known as Jai, a modern Malaysian artist who presented his works through his lens of nostalgia and history. Another UiTM alumnus, Jai was the recipient of the Arts and Creativity Award (Visual Arts) at the 13th National Academic Award in 2019.

The afternoon session featured an art demonstration by Prof. Fehim Husković. Demonstrating his passion and skills while painting a magnificent piece of art, Prof. Fehim stated that he was inspired by his emotions and wanted to describe the beauty of Paradise (Jannah). His audience was captivated by his artwork and was amazed at how he managed to complete the artwork within a short period.

The event ended on a hopeful note for more collaborations in the future. The knowledge and experience gained from the sharing session and conversations between the representatives will surely help drive both institutions to excellence and global prominence.

"WARNA MERDEKA" COLOURING COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS THE TALENTS OF THE NEXT GENERATION 

By: Nur Alice Sabreena Azli

SHAH ALAM - The prize-giving ceremony for the “Warna Merdeka" colouring contest took place on the morning of September 22, 2022 to give appreciation to each winner who had been selected among all the participants. The prize-giving ceremony was officiated by Puan Intan Rafiza Abu Bakar, Curator from Balai Seni Negara. On the other hand, certificates of appreciation and participation were given away by Puan Wan Zaiyana Mohd Yusof, Director of Galeri Seni Tuanku Nur Zahirah (GESTURZ) to all the schools that have participated in the “Warna Merdeka” colouring contest. The sweet and memorable moments were captured with a photograph session together with Puan Intan Rafiza Abu Bakar, Puan Wan Zaiyana Mohd Yusof, all the winners, teachers and parents.

The Warna Merdeka colouring contest was held as part of UiTM GESTURZ celebration of the 65th National day and Malaysia day 2022. Eight Pre-School Institutions/Child Development Centres and Primary Schools and 153 participants took part in the contest. This colouring contest may sound like any other colouring contest but, through this "Warna Merdeka" colouring contest, many lessons and virtues can be developed in the children who participated.  Among the lessons and virtues gained is patience while colouring and being able to cultivate their sense of identity and patriotism. Through colouring, children can also express their creativity and utilise it as a means of communicating their emotions. All of the children’s colouring was excellent despite their young age.

         As there were constraints with bringing the children to GESTURZ for the contest due to the health concerns with the spread of the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease at the start of August when the Merdeka celebrations started in the country, we brought GESTURZ to the children. The Warna Merdeka team from GESTURZ went on location to the selected schools which include Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Kapar Indah, Nimblebee International School Section 7, Pasti Smart One Section 7, Dzul Iman Smart Khalifah Section 2 & 4, Mutiara Bistari Kindergarten UiTM Shah Alam, Anakku Intelek Kindergarten and Rumah Si Kecil Pintar Kindergarten. Throughout the colouring contest, there are lots of sweet moments with the children that have been captured. The excitement of colouring, the joy they had with their friends even though it was a competition, they still helped and cared for each other. The way the children stayed focused during the contest also caught our attention. Most of the children know the colour of Jalur Gemilang and it is not a problem for them to finish colouring it. Children indeed have a positive aura that makes the people around them feel amused and happy. For that reason, the contest has been more enjoyable and memorable.

“Warna Merdeka'' colouring contest was divided into two categories. Category A consists of children from age 4-6, category B consists of children ages 7-9. For category A (4-6 years old), there were 13 winners selected which were first until the third place and 10 consolation prizes. These are the lists of winners for category A starting from the first place until consolation prize, Syaurah Binti Mohd Syazwan (Mutiara Bistari Kindergarten UiTM Shah Alam), Khaleeda Nur Taqwa Binti Kenny Aidil (Anakku Intelek Kindergarten), Iman Faliqs Bin Mohd Nurul Fikri (Pasti Smart One Section 7), Zuyyin Binti Rusydin (Pasti Smart One Section 7), Ameera Husna Binti Dato’ Abdul Radzeen (Rumah Si Kecil Pintar Kindergarten), Nur Amira Saleeha Binti Mohd Subhan (Dzul Iman Smart Khalifah Section 2), Siti Nur Atiqah Binti Mohd Ahiar (Pasti Smart One Section 7), Nur Raudhatul Nailah Binti Muhammad Yazid (Pasti Smart One Section 7), Noor Sofiyyah Insyirah Binti Mohd Saufi (Pasti Smart One Section 7), Nor Syafrina Binti Mohd Zaniamry (Anakku Intelek Kindergarten), Muhammad Aufa Bin Muhammd Salehuddin (Dzul Iman Smart Khalifah Section 2), Afeef Qayyum Bin Hazleen (Mutiara Bistari Kindergarten UiTM Shah Alam) and lastly, Nur Faiha Aina Binti Ismail (Pasti Smart One Section 7).

For category B (7-9 years old), these are the lists of the winners from first place until the consolation prize. For this category, 5 from 6 winners were from Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Kapar Indah, starting with Nurul ‘Ilmi Binti Abd Nasir, Amsyar Fahim Bin Ahmad Fakruzzaman., Liz Yana Binti Mohd Fazli, Muhammad Adam Raiqal Bin Mohd Asri and Al Izz Bin Mohamed Al Faizal, lastly is Irdina Azmir from Anakku Intelek Kindergarten.

Therefore, it can be seen that the colouring competition organised by the gallery is one of the efforts to dignify art in conjunction with the month of independence. This colouring contest can develop the children’s potential towards art. Art is flexible and all ages can express themselves through art. Celebrating their talents was an effort to tie the knots among the society and arts, also to make arts as a medium of expressing emotions and there is no right or wrong by expressing it. Congratulations to the winners and big thanks for the participation of the participants, schools and everyone who was involved in this colouring contest because it was a big success . We really hope to see them again in another program or contest in the future.