KOTA KINABALU – From the ashes of a colonial building, rises a fantastical underwater scene here, featuring a “whale shark”, “dugong” and “turtles”.
The 3D installation, which took lead artists Japson Wong Vun Hueng and Rosmaini Sunarjo nine months to complete, will be showcased for a year.
Wonders of Wilderness (WOW 1.0) is a result of a collaboration between local artists and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, Sabah Art Gallery, Cendana, National Art Gallery, Sabah Tourism Board, and Nippon Paint (Sabah) Sdn Bhd.
WOW 1.0 was launched by state Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Yakub Khan yesterday, who commended the artists for their efforts and wished for the space to be utilised to showcase art pieces in the future.
“I hope that a project such as this will spread to other districts in Sabah. For instance, Tawau could produce art on agriculture, and Sandakan could showcase the orangutan and elephants. The ministry will support such initiatives as best as we could.
“There are still many talents in Sabah, and I hope they will come forward to work together with artists’ associations to gain inspiration together, and assist the tourism industry and art development in the state,” he said at a press conference.
Yakub added that the project has not only introduced and advocated the significance of visual art in the state, but will also raise awareness on the importance of marine life and aquatic species in Sabah.
“It is an educational platform to the younger generation on art, be it traditional or contemporary, which could heighten their interest in exploring the world of art through modern technology.”
Meanwhile, Wong said the art installation is one of the biggest ones not only in Sabah, but in the entire country.
“The project was inspired by the beauty of marine biodiversity and coral reefs in Sabah. Sabah is within the coral triangle zone, which is dubbed the Amazon of the sea, and recognised as a main marine biodiversity centre globally.”
Wong said he hopes the project meets its main objective, which is to support local artists in drawing, sculptures and 3D arts, as well as encourage public involvement in appreciating such art installations. – The Vibes, January 17, 2022
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