PUTERA PERENNIAL boosts confidence, sharpens students’ artistic skills
By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH: Beyond creating artworks in studios and classrooms, 51 students from Kolej Tingkatan Enam Prauniversiti Seri Putera were given the opportunity to manage and execute an art exhibition in a real-world setting.
The experience was realised through the PUTERA PERENNIAL: Curating Creativity, Inspiring Perspectives exhibition held at AEON Mall Kinta City, offering a more practical learning platform in the field of visual arts.
The three-day exhibition, held from June 5 to 7, featured 19 visual artworks, allowing students to apply their artistic knowledge, curatorial practice and exhibition management skills in a real environment.
The displayed works reflected a wide range of ideas, aesthetic approaches and conceptual explorations derived from students’ observations and daily experiences.
Through the use of various media, materials and techniques, the students translated their ideas, emotions and perspectives into distinct visual language.
Beyond producing artworks, the students were also directly involved in curatorial aspects, including narrative building, spatial arrangement and artwork placement to create a more meaningful aesthetic experience for visitors.
Visual Arts teacher at Kolej Tingkatan Enam Prauniversiti Seri Putera, Nornikman Yahya said the exhibition was established as a pedagogical and curatorial platform to celebrate creativity, strengthen art appreciation culture and connect educational institutions with the community.
“The name PUTERA is derived from the college identity, while PERENNIAL, meaning continuous and ever-evolving, symbolises the enduring relevance of art across time,” he said.
He added that the approach not only provides authentic learning experiences for students, but also strengthens the role of art as a medium of cultural communication and knowledge sharing.
Form Six Upper Six Semester 2 student, 19-year-old Soong Bao Heng, said the programme helped him better understand his art projects while boosting his confidence in engaging with the public.
“I also had the opportunity to share the ideas behind my artworks and improve my communication skills,” he said.
Another student, 19-year-old Nabilaa Abu Bakar, said the experience boosted her confidence in dealing with the public.
She said the programme also exposed her to how to manage an event in a more structured and systematic manner.
She encouraged Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) leavers interested in visual arts to pursue their studies at Form Six.
The choice of AEON Mall Kinta City as the exhibition venue also allowed the public to engage with visual art in a more open and inclusive environment.
PUTERA PERENNIAL demonstrates that visual arts are not merely about producing attractive works, but also play a role in developing creativity, self-confidence and soft skills among the younger generation.
