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21 young Malaysian art students were recognized for their outstanding talents at the Usaha Tegas Heritage Art Competition 2024. The ceremony awarded 25 winning works in five categories: charcoal/pencil/oil pastel/ink, mixed media, oil/acrylic, printmaking and watercolour.
The champions of each category are as follows:
Ivy Thor (Equator School of Art and Design, Penang) won the Charcoal/Ink/Pencil category with her work “Fish Crafts from Betong Island”
Ivy Thor, "Fish Craftsmanship in Betong Island". (Photo source: relevant units)
Goh Jia Yu (UTAR)’s watercolour champion, “Nyonya Memories”
Goh Jia Yu "Nyonya Memories". (Photo source: relevant units)
Wong Sze Yoong (UM) won the championship in the oil/acrylic category, “Neighborhood Life”
Wong Sze Yoong, "Neighborhood Life". (Photo source: relevant units)
Wan Nor Shafikah (Universiti Malaysia Sabah) won the mixed media painting titled “Interracial Marriage”
Wan Nor Shafikah, "Interracial Marriage". (Photo source: relevant units)
Ching Min Ly (Darshan Academy of Arts) for her printmaking winner, “Divine Illumination”
Ching Min Ly, "Sacred Illumination". (Photo source: relevant units)
The theme of the UTH Art Competition is “Malaysian Cultural Heritage” and this year’s competition focuses on the country’s intangible cultural heritage.
Tan Poh Hock, chairman of the UTH Art Competition Organising Committee, said: "This year's theme is 'Malaysia's Intangible Cultural Heritage', which encourages young artists to explore our culture in depth. We hope to inspire people's passion for traditions, customs and history through their creations, so that young people can become the guardians of Malaysia's cultural heritage. Understanding personal cultural characteristics and deep connections with oneself and history, cultivates pride and respect for diverse cultures. This cognition enhances culture, promotes understanding of other cultures and eliminates prejudice."
This year’s competition received a total of 353 physical entries from 33 public and private institutions in Malaysia (including Sabah and Sarawak). The growth in the number of entries reflects the growing passion for art among our younger generation, as well as the support and recognition from lecturers that the Usaha Tegas Heritage Art Competition is a valuable platform for students’ future artistic creation.
A photo of a performance at the event. (Photo source: relevant units)
Chen Baofu continued: “This year, we have seen a significant improvement in the overall quality of the artworks, both technically and conceptually. We are encouraging young artists to explore their emotions and experiences more deeply, creating works that are truly impactful and thought-provoking.”
Ar Parama Nathan, Chief Judge of the Competition, said: “We sincerely thank Usaha Tegas for providing this invaluable platform to our students. This opportunity fostered collaboration and collective decision-making, skills that are essential for future success. We hope that this experience will inspire them to push their creative boundaries and make a difference.”
Ar Parama Nathan, together with renowned judges from the national fine arts community, Bibi Chew, Suridah Jalaludin and Syahrul Niza Ahmad Zaini, selected this year's 25 winning works.
The UT Heritage Art Competition is an annual art competition sponsored by UTSB Management Sdn Bhd for emerging young talents in Malaysian schools, especially universities and colleges. Entries are divided into five categories, namely charcoal/pencil/ink; oil/acrylic; mixed media; printmaking and watercolour. Winners will receive cash prizes, TGV cinema vouchers, trophies and certificates of recognition.