CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow has praised the Penang Art Society for encouraging all races and foreign artists to take part in its Traditional to Modern Calligraphy Art Exhibition at the Penang State Art Gallery in Dewan Sri Pinang today.
A total of 123 artworks by 116 local and foreign participants, are being displayed at the exhibition, which ends on Sept 9, to celebrate the society’s 66th anniversary.
“The Penang Art Society officially came into being in 1953, even before the independence of Malaysia, and the society has since then, proven itself to be a great platform for local and foreign artists to showcase their creations,” Chow said in his speech.
“I must commend the current president Ch’ng Huck Theng and his committee members for their efforts in taking this society a step further to be one that is inclusive of all races that also welcomes foreign international participants.
“As a result, today, the Penang Art Society is not only the oldest but is also the largest art society in Malaysia with more than 600 members and still growing.”
Chow added that the state government supported such an effort because it was a step in the right direction to contribute towards the identity of Penang as a melting pot of diverse cultures.
He said he looked forward to more art exhibitions and events with common themes or interests to be held as a way to bring individuals of different backgrounds together and help bridge our differences and respect for each other’s choices.
“Penang is a renowned tourist destination, but we must keep on striving to improve and create new products for visitors to see and to explore.
“Besides being conferred the UNESCO World Heritage status, we can all work together to place Penang on the world map as a hub for the arts that displays the creativity and unity of a multicultural community.
“With this identity, Penang will attract more tourists and we can further promote our state as a model to inspire our very own nation,” Chow said.
Also present at the exhibition opening ceremony were Penang State Art Gallery committee members Dr Tan Chong Guan and Rokiah Ismail, the society’s president Ch’ng Huck Theng, Calligraphers’ Association of Penang president Lok Peng San, organising chairman Gooi Chye Soon and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Alumni Association (Malaysia) adviser Cheah Tien Soong.
Ch’ng thanked the Calligraphers’ Association of Penang for their supporting role in the first collaboration between the two bodies.
“Art is not about dividing but art is about being inclusive.
“Furthermore, artists and calligraphers should have a big heart to welcome and share their experience,” Ch’ng said.
Gooi said the exhibition also featured 10 pieces of past masters.
“We have not only artworks by Chinese calligraphers but also by Malay and Indian calligraphers.
“The participants are also from Malacca, Selangor, Johor and Negri Sembilan,” said Gooi.
Chow later went around to admire the artworks of the calligraphers, who took the opportunity to pose for photographs with the chief minister.
Interestingly, the calligraphy by Noorzawani Imran, titled ‘Hua Wu Yuan’, loosely translated as ‘Friendship between Chinese and Malay”, caught many people’s attention.
“I chose this piece because I want to portray myself as a Malay writing Chinese calligraphy and prove to all that the bond between Chinese and Malay in Malaysia is inseparable,” said Noorzawani, a 24-year-old public relations officer at the service centre of state executive councillor Chong Eng in Bukit Mertajam.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad