By Aida Aziz
IPOH: Stepping into an art exhibition featuring works by Kolej Tingkatan Enam Seri Ipoh students offers a glimpse of how talented these young artists are.
When asked, they all shared one thing in common – their passion for art began at a young age.
Among them is 19-year-old Mohana Manggai Iswaran, a Semester Three Visual Arts student, who presented an artwork titled The Weight of One Last Step.
Her work attracted considerable attention from visitors.
Through the piece, she portrayed respected former national marathon athlete Dr Alvine Nathan, in keeping with the exhibition’s theme, Behind the Praise.
“The idea behind this artwork came from my desire to pay tribute to the resilience, sacrifices and fighting spirit of an athlete who has faced numerous challenges.
“Behind every achievement lies a long journey filled with pain, exhaustion and determination that many people never get to see,” she said.
Asked about her future in the arts, Mohana said she was determined to become an art teacher.
“I admit that producing artwork involves many challenges and can be difficult, but I have been interested in art since childhood. My parents enrolled me in art classes from a young age.
“Two art teachers, Hashim and Sarah, have given us tremendous encouragement and assistance from the beginning of the project until our artworks were completed for the exhibition.
“I am truly grateful to all the teachers who have never tired of guiding and sharing their knowledge with us.
“Some people believe that art offers no future and is merely a last-resort career choice. However, with talent and passion, we can succeed and prove otherwise,” she said.
Meanwhile, the exhibition’s curator, 19-year-old Nurul Aiereen Mohd Fadzli, presented an artwork titled Setia Dalam Perjalanan.
Her work featured two jackets, helmets, keys and a wooden table.
“The two helmets and jackets, motorcycle keys and table symbolise my parents’ sacrifices and perseverance in raising my siblings and me.
“The items displayed belonged to my parents. They used to rely solely on a motorcycle to send us to school, and only bought a car when their children had grown older.
“Among the challenges I faced in completing this artwork were transporting the canvas home on a motorcycle and preparing my portfolio, which eventually led to this exhibition,” she said.
Nurul Aiereen also hopes to pursue a career as an art teacher.
Another student, 19-year-old Lum Sim Chee, showcased an artwork titled The Hands Behind The Beauty, depicting a cleaner carrying out street-cleaning duties.
“I wanted to highlight the sacrifices made by cleaners who carry out their duties every day without expecting praise or recognition from the public.
“They play an important role in creating a clean, comfortable and harmonious urban environment.
“I have always enjoyed drawing and hope to further my studies in graphic design.
“I also want to express my appreciation to the college and teachers who have provided us with invaluable guidance and support throughout our journey,” she said.
