A 1MALAYSIA Lunar New Year Calligraphy Fest will be organised by the MCA Community Development Bureau (Lifelong Learning) from Jan 8 to 10 in conjunction with the Chinese New Year festivities.
Promoting an art: (From left) Lifelong Learning Chinese Calligraphy committee members Lim Seng Mui and Datin Alice Chai, Kerk, Quek, Dr Foo, and Lifelong Learning Chinese Calligraphy committee members Leong Chon Toh and Ang Sim Wah with the ‘Chun Lian’ that will be distributed at the event and at selected locations in Malaysia.
The festival, which will be held at Wisma MCA’s 13th floor and San Choon Hall, will feature a series of interesting activities.
MCA Lifelong Learning director Quek Ngee Meng said the festival, themed Yi Bi Xin Lian Ying Xin Chun, signified the linking of the Chinese culture as an integral part of the 1Malaysia culture.
“Yi also symbolises the beginning of a new year and a fresh start to new challenges; Yi Bi represents Chinese calligraphy or the Chinese culture; Xin denotes the Chinese heart, and hence the theme,” he told reporters when announcing the event.
A three-day Chinese Calligraphy and Paint Brush Exhibition will feature nearly 300 artworks by 63 students from six classes under the Lifelong Learning programme.
“The students include foreigners and those with a non-Chinese education background, whose ages range from 20 to 70. They will be displaying their ‘graduation work’,” Quek said.
“Meanwhile, the other activities will be held on Jan 9, which kicks off with a performance by three ethnic groups, aimed at promoting the multicultural characteristics of 1Malaysia.”
They include the distribution of Chun Lian (Chinese calligraphy artworks with New Year wishes), live demonstrations by 20 Chinese calligraphers and artists, a Chinese Calligraphy and Paint Brush Competition, and a DIY Chinese Calligraphy Artworks Workshop.
The festival organisers have printed three sets of Chun Lian that feature auspicious words for the family, business and education, which will be distributed for free at the event.
The calligraphy artworks will also be distributed at public venues in Ipoh, Bentong, and Sikamat and Mantin New Villages in Seremban from Jan 31 to Feb 7.
“The artisans for the live demonstrations will be showcasing either their calligraphy or their Chinese paint brush skills. Those who want a personalised calligraphy artwork can make their requests during the demonstration,” Quek said.
“We expect some 500 participants to sign up for the Chinese Calligraphy and Paint Brush Competition.”
The contest’s Chinese calligraphy section is divided into five categories — lower primary, upper primary, lower secondary, upper secondary and group (open), while the paint brush (Chinese ink painting) segment is split into age two groups — below 18 years and above 18 years.
According to Quek, the competition offers about RM10,000 worth of prizes in cash and trophy.
Participants will also be presented with certificates.
The DIY Chinese Calligraphy Artworks Workshop offers an opportunity for the public to learn how to create Chinese calligraphy artworks and make greeting cards for the Chinese New Year festivities.
Present at the press conference were Lifelong Learning Chinese Calligraphy chairman Kerk Won Hoo, Malaysian Contemporary Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Association president Dr Foo Yong Kong, and Lifelong Learning Chinese Calligraphy committee members.
Kerk described calligraphy artworks as trendy yet classic.
“Distributing Chun Lian before the Lunar New Year was a common practice in ancient China, and it should be encouraged in modern times in Malaysia.
“These pieces convey messages of motivation and blessings. They help make the home and office look more trendy, yet not lose one’s traditional values,” Kerk said.
Meanwhile, Dr Foo encouraged the MCA Lifelong Learning to combine culture and charity work by selling the calligraphy artworks at affordable prices and channelling the proceeds to charity.
“My association has, over the past six years, organised such a project whereby we sell artworks to raise funds for charity. We’ve raised RM450,000 to buy dialysis machines for the poor in Malacca.
“The MCA Lifelong Learning has the resources and can organise such an initiative all over Malaysia. They can get every one, like students from Chinese schools, to write calligraphy and sell them to the public for RM1 or RM2 per piece.
The exhibition will be held from 11am-5pm.
The activities on Jan 9 will be held at Wisma MCA’s 13th Floor and San Choon Hall from 9am-5pm.
Those who wish to take part in the competition and workshop must register by Jan 5.
For registration and details, call the MCA Lifelong Learning Secretariat at 03-2161 8044 ext 418-421 or email info@lll.net.my.
Source: The Star