Ocean7 Art Gal/ery exhibits paintings by VMS students

Ocean 7 Art Gal/ery exhibits paintings by VMS students
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By THERENES VOO
Therenes@newsabahtimes.com.my
KOTA KINABALU: Paintings by the art
students of Universiti Malaysia Sabah
(VMS) will be enjoyed by a wider au­
dience when the collection is displayed at
the Ocean7 Art Gallery.
Located on the second floor of the
Oceanus Waterfront Mall here, nine stu­
dents have been selected to showcase their
work to mark the debut at the gallery's
latest exhibition, "Art Inspiration Exhi­
bition".
The exhibition showcases a total of 32
paintings by 21 professional local artists
and UMS students.
It was launched by the university's
deputy vice chancellor, Prof. Dr. Shahril
Yusof yester~ay.
In an interview with the media yes­
terday. he thanked the owner of the gallery,
Datin Sharifah Habsah Habib Alawi for
her generosity in providing a platform for
the university's students to exhibit their
work.
The students not only have a place to
display their paintings but also a venue
where they can gain greater exposure from
having their work exhibited next to those
of veteran artists' .
.Meanwhile, Sharifah who was also pre­
sent at the occasion yesterday said the
students must learn to be independent.
"Students need to learn to be inde­
pendent and learn how to do business
re lated to the arts.
''They need more exposure and be dar-
Sharifah (second left), Shahril (second right) and Shim (right) looking at the work on
display at th e Art Inspiration Exhibition hdd at the Ocean7 Art Gallery.
ing enough to move up to the next level and
not hope for government support all the
time," she said.
•
Sharifah hopes to raise the local art
industry to the international level and col­
laborating with UMS and other priV3le
bodies will be the first step to achieving her
goal.
Although the local t.ilents are still raw, she
is confident that with some polishing, they
have what it takes . to moVe to a higher
level.
She admitted very little exposure is
given on the art industry in Sabah but she
believes organising more activities or ex­
hibitions will eventually encourage more
locals to start appreciating the beauty of
art.
"We have to educate the locals more
about this industry. We are just at an
early stage now with most people still
viewing art as the last thing they want to
have.
"Soon, people will come to understand
that life is an art itself," she added.
Also present at the event yesterday we:r;;
the gallery's managing director, Shim Yen
lin and creative director, Dewina Saidin.