USM, PENANG, April 2016 – The '2 Series Artwork' from Thailand, "Space and Time of Serenity" by Manee Meemak and "Colour of Faith and Serenity” by Pongsiri Kiddee held at the Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah (MGTF), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) would help to foster closer relationship between USM and the Thailand universities concerned.

USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Dr. Omar Osman hoped that a closer working relationship can be nurtured between the universities involved to promote cooperation in organising and managing more world class art exhibitions.

“I am well-pleased that MGTF and the School of the Arts have been working together to bring artists from other parts of the world to hold solo thematic exhibitions in USM for the benefit of the campus community and also the people of Penang,” said Omar.

He added that in terms of collaboration, he believed that it will also enhance the cultural presentations as well as academic and research efforts since there are many similarities in terms of the cultural context between the Northern States like Kelantan and Southern Thailand.

The exhibition opening was attended by some 80 guests and officiated by the Royal Thai Consul-General in Penang, Ekajit Kraivichien in MGTF, USM here recently.

In her speech, Ekajit said the exhibition was a collaboration between several institutions in Thailand, namely the Faculty of Fine Art Thaksin University, Faculty of Fine Art Chiengmai University, School of the Arts USM and MGTF USM, with MGTF providing strong support to this art exhibition and the artists as well.

“I hope that this exhibition will create an aesthetic value to all the visitors towards the artwork produced by the artists and I also would like to thank those who were responsible in the launching of this exhibition and wish this exhibition would end with a great success,” said Ekajit.

 

She added that the two artworks being exhibited were part of the Doctorate research work of both the artists and it provided a great opportunity to share the knowledge of Thai art in Malaysia.

Also present at the opening ceremony were the lecturer of Faculty of Fine Art, Silpakorn University Bangkok, Professor Emeritus Pishnu Supanimit; Associate Professor Fauzan Omar representing the Dean of USM School of the Arts; Director of MGTF, Zolkurnian Hassan and lecturer of USM School of the Arts, Associate Professor Abdul Rahman Mohamad.

Text: Nandhini Thiagaraja (USM Internship student)