Potential for female artists to reach greater heights
Published on: Wednesday, September 18, 2019
By: Anthea Peter
Assafal (seventh left), Jennifer (fifth left) and the women exhibitors at “Kupi Kupi Seni”.
Kota Kinabalu: Female artists and creators in Sabah have the potential to reach greater heights especially within the local art scene that is positively developing said State Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Assafal P Alian.“This is made evident with the 12th Women’s Art Exhibition 2019 which featured 50 exhibitors showcasing 165 artistic creations, ranging from acrylic paintings and pencil sketches to embroidery and sculptures,” he said.
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He said such efforts supported by the Sabah Art Gallery under the State Cultural Board, through its exhibition and programmes, will contribute greatly to the local arts development.
“The mission of elevating the quality and value of visual arts in the local artist community especially female creators in Sabah, will be achieved,” he said in his speech at the “Kupi Kupi Seni” high-tea event in conjunction with the exhibition, here, Tuesday.
He commended the efforts considering a majority of local creators are comprised of men.
“This exhibition will indirectly help local female creators to compete commercially,” Assafal said.
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Sabah Art Gallery Curator Jennifer P Linggi said the women’s exhibition this year has the highest number of participants to date, compared to about 30 exhibitors in previous years.
She said the growth could be attributed to an increased awareness (of the arts scene) in the rise of social media such as Instagram which plays an instrumental role.
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“Sabah is the only State to hold the women’s exhibition on an annual basis,” she added.
She said the exhibition is an incentive for women to engage in their artistic pursuits despite having to carry out their day-to-day duties as working mothers.
“The women, usually 90pc of the time, will take care of the family. They cook, send their kids to tuition and they have to forego other things because they get too tired.
“By this exhibition, we are in a way telling them (women) they have an excuse to submit the painting otherwise they won’t do anything,” she said.
She added that the exhibition is open to Sabahan women or international women living in Sabah.
“We have a Japanese artist, and we also have a Dutch artist who have already submitted twice.
“I’d like to encourage international artists who live here (to submit their work), because they have a different eye (for art),” she said.
Jennifer also said the exhibitors’ submissions are monitored in order to maintain a certain level of standard.
“Whenever they submit we will have a look. Of course we are not too strict, because this is only once a year, but at the same time we have to monitor the work.
“We are the State gallery. If we simply accept anyone then people would think just about anyone could submit their work (hence lowering the standard).
She said if people are aware that there is a certain standard, it would give artists the pride of being able to exclusively exhibit at the State gallery.
“I hope this women’s exhibition will give them the excitement and the courage to follow whatever it is they are good at,” she said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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