Visitors walk past 'Boxxie-Head', an installation that pays tribute to the now-extinct Sumatran Rhino. This artwork, created by Verly Veto Vermol, Zuraidy Abd Rahim and Khairul Nizan Mohd Aris, is made entirely from cardboard and highlights the ingenuity of recycling and repurposing waste. It is part of the ArtScience Prize 2022 exhibition at Balai Seni Maybank, Menara Maybank in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Bernama
The Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) hopes to broaden the awareness - and enormous potential - of art science with the ArtScience Prize 2022 exhibition at Balai Seni Maybank at Menara Maybank in Kuala Lumpur.
According to the ASM ArtScience Initiative chairperson, Emerita Professor Tan Sri Dr Mazlan Othman, art science is a subject that motivates people to look at the human experience of nature and society in two different worlds, the artistic and the scientific.
"For example, we look at our galaxy. If you are a scientist, you not only see it as beautiful but you also know that there are massive black holes at the centre of this galaxy that you cannot see with the naked eye," said Mazlan, who is Malaysia's first astrophysicist.
Nai (right) showing a visitor his coral reef sculptures that are produced using shell and stone containing calcium carbonate to resemble real coral reefs in the ocean at the exhibition. Photo: Bernama
"So if you can express the presence of these black holes through an artistic interpretation, then it's called art science but we (people) do not have enough exposure to that or even a platform for the talents to showcase their artwork,” she added.
Through the exhibition, themed "ArtScience Lens On Planetary Health’’, ASM hopes the public will be able to experience and celebrate the meeting of art and science.
The exhibition, which runs until July 7, is showcasing the artworks of the 23 finalists of the ArtScience Prize 2022.
Faridah posing with her artwork 'Aquascape', which warns the masses about the dangers of invasive plant species. Photo: Bernama
Mazlan said the exhibition is a continuation of the first edition launched in 2020, and for the 2022 edition, ASM received 58 artworks submitted by individuals and groups from various backgrounds and disciplines, with submissions categorised as visual art, time-based art and new media.
The ArtScience Prize winner will receive RM20,000, a certificate or plaque and a residency attachment while the Rising Star Award winner will get RM10,000, a certificate or plaque and a residency attachment.
The People’s Choice Award carries a RM5,000 prize together with a certificate or plaque. The winners are scheduled to be announced on July 4 at an event to be attended by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang.
Maybank Foundation is the main sponsor of the initiative while Balai Seni Negara, Multimedia University, Monash University Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Yayasan TM and Toccata Studio are supporting partners.
Mazlan says that art science is a subject that motivates people to look at the human experience of nature and society in two different worlds, the artistic and the scientific. Photo: Bernama
Faridah Qamaruz Zaman, an academic and artist, said her entry Aquascape, produced by using the herbarium specimens method, is aimed at creating public awareness on the dangers of invasive plant species.
"In Malaysia, an example of invasive plants is weeds mostly found on water surface. They can disturb the habitat of other organisms and need to be controlled, but on the other hand scientists can use these plants to produce biofertiliser and the like,” she said.
Nai Vongsuthep Wong Sowat, a creative industry lecturer, has attracted attention with his coral reef sculpture garden which was built using cockle shells and stones containing calcium carbonate.
"Construction of the sculpture garden began in the middle of last year as part of my research on the importance of marine life conservation through the sustainable development agenda,” he said. - Bernama
The ArtScience Prize 2022 exhibition at Balai Seni Maybank in KL runs until July 7. Open daily, 10am to 5pm (except public holidays). Free admission.
