These M'sian University Students Got Their Artwork Featured At The UN Headquarters In US
The artworks were displayed from 8 to 15 February.
Published for HONOR, 22 Feb 2024, 03:11 PM
Two artworks painted by Malaysian students were recently featured at the United Nations (UN) headquarters' art exhibition in New York, United States
The Malaysian students included undergraduates Zyed Hamidi Zainal Abidin, who is studying graphic design art at Universiti Teknologi MARA, as well as Hoh Sheng Yue and Sheanne Chin Seng Wei, both of whom are studying graphic design and multimedia at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. All three of them are part of HONOR Talents, which is HONOR's youth platform.
Themed 'Dragons Soaring Across Four Seas, Welcoming the Lunar New Year Together', the art exhibition showcased dragon artworks that delve into the rich cultural tapestry, heritage, landmarks, and myths of each participating country.
Held from 8 to 15 February, Zyed, Sheng Yue, and Sheanne's artworks were among 28 artworks that were showcased at the exhibition
Artworks from other participating countries included China, Hong Kong, Macau, Peru, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, Singapore, and Mexico.
Jointly organised by HONOR, the UN Chinese Book Club, Global Times, and the Central Academy of Fine Arts, supported by the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the UN, the art exhibition aimed to foster a global understanding of China through the diverse perspectives of talented artists.
Sheng Yue and Sheanne's featured artwork — Year of Dragon: Prosperity at Its Peak — was inspired by the traditional Chinese Malaysian dish yee sang
Recounting the concept behind their artwork, Sheng Yue said, "We thought that this could be a really good chance to introduce the Yee Sang tradition which originated from Seremban to people around the world!
"The higher the Yee Sang is tossed, the more fortune and wealth will come. In our artwork, the dragon tosses the ingredients as high as the KL Tower, a popular landmark in Malaysia.
"We were given very limited time to complete the artwork, which was probably the hardest part. Thankfully, it also pushed us to have better teamwork and efficiency under pressure. Gosh, it was unbelievable to have our artwork exhibited at the UN headquarters in New York! We had no idea that this would come to us too when we decided to grab this opportunity! It just feels surreal. Even though we are not able to visit the exhibition physically, we are still very happy about it!"
Sheng Yue also shared that it was thanks to her lecturer who introduced her and her coursemates to the HONOR Talents competition. In 2022, Sheng Yue, Sheanne, and their fellow coursemate Yeoh Hui Qi won first place in the Open Designs category of the 2022 HONOR Talents Global Design Awards.
Meanwhile, Zyed's artwork is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between Malaysia and China
Titled Soaring in The Sky Together: A Memorial of Understanding and Friendship, the Malaysian student's glowing artwork consists of traditional Malaysian and Chinese art elements. Incorporating batik painting, it depicts a dragon intertwining with two wau kites, surrounded by hibiscus, vines, and Chinese cloud motifs.
"This artwork is a vibrant tribute to unity, luck, and shared tapestry of cultural diversity," he said.
Established in 2020, HONOR Talents serves as HONOR's brand platform for youths all over the world
The annual event champions youth empowerment, seeking to unearth young talents across diverse fields through various contests and provide a stage for young individuals to showcase their virtuosity.
In fact, the recent 2023 HONOR Global Design Competition, which is part of HONOR Talents, achieved a remarkable milestone of a record-breaking 12,000 artwork submissions. Since its establishment, the competition has received more than 25,000 artworks submitted from over 40 countries and regions, as well as from more than 240 universities.
