Sabah Annual Art Selection- expression of passion

By Rebecca Chong
Pictures by Oliver Majaham

207 participants from all over Sabah submitted 219 artworks for the 27th Sabah Annual Art Selection this year. The event is held every year since 1985 in conjunction with the Head of State's birthday. This year, 31 selected artworks with the theme of either "Sabah As I See It" or "Life In My District" were exhibited in Pacific Ballroom, Sutera Harbour Resort on the 10th of October 2012.

Sabah Annual Art Festival is an annual visual art development activity organised by Balai Seni Lukis Sabah chaired by Lembaga Kebudayaan Negeri Sabah under the state's TYT.

This annual activity receives high quality artworks from painters, sculptors, designers and more to be gathered and exhibited as part of a very valuable collection for Balai Seni Lukis Sabah.

It aims to encourage the involvement of local artists to increase the quality and quantity of local visual artworks and at the same time to arouse the artistic talents of Sabahans

When the activity was first introduced, it was in the form of a simple drawing competition, and it has since evolved to encompass the sense of concept and scope that is discernible today.

58-year-old Maduni Majidin from Kampung Gayang, Tuaran told Insight Sabah that this is the 15th time that his artwork was chosen for the Sabah Annual Art Selection since he first participated in 1985. "I find interest in art since I was very young. Although I did not take it as a career, art is still part of my life. I am glad that my son shows passion in art as well." said the Government pensioner.

Maduni's son, Asnedi Maduni, a 28-year-old welder worked on his iron sculpture in his free time. His sculpture was selected for 5 years straight since 2008 for this event. "This is my passion. Unlike my father who is concentrating on portrait, I find interest in making sculptures. My father has been very supportive that he even let me have my own workshop at home." he said.

The Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin took a tour at the exhibition with his wife Norlidah R.M. Jasni and showed great interest in an iron sculpture by Mohd Shaari Salleh, entitled "The Protector". Mohd Shaari said that his artwork portrays Sabah's customs in the early days when a 'Pawang' or a shaman would perform rituals to protect the paddy field. He did a long and careful research on the materials used and the human anatomy to get the final result.

He believed that an artist, regardless of age, can produce a masterpiece if he lets go his imaginations . He was very happy that his artwork was acknowledged and selected for the exhibition at the Sabah Annual Art
Exhibition. - Insight Sabah