Workshop On France-Brunei Music Exchange
By Dewi Mohd Sofri

Bandar Seri Begawan - A three-day workshop organised by the Alliance Francaise on France and Brunei music exchange came to a close last Tuesday with the visiting French artists from X -Makeena spending the whole day learning traditional Brunei music conducted by the Gulingtangan orchestra under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

"To me what makes a country acknowledged abroad is not how rich you are but how rich your culture is, so if you do not promote your culture then it is dying," said Cyrielle Bazin, director of Alliance Francaise, a non-profit agency, in an interview with The Brunei Times.

"It is not only the question of having one's own culture inside the country, it is to promote it abroad and outside and we are trying to promote the Bruneian culture abroad," she said on the rationale of organising such a project.

`All the events we do, we are doing for Bruneians to bring a new art and cultural expression," she said adding that the agency ensures that all projects are educational and bring in new artistic elements that "has never been done before".

According to her, the agencies are really committed in promoting creativity amongst Bruneians, especially the youth and at the same time provide a platform for cultural exchanges between the two countries.

"Next week, we have three spray-painters coming to conduct a one-week workshop," she announced.

The three French artists have their own specialties "they are all into graffiti but one of them is a graphic designer as well." Besides conducting workshops, the artists will also exhibit their masterpieces at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and give a live performance at The Mall.

"They will exhibit big pieces (some measuring) 3x150 metres," said Bazin.

The exhibition is special because the pieces were created especially for the Bruneian audience. Also, the creations of the participants in the workshop will also be showcased at the same time.

During the live show, the designer in the group will produce his work by using the computer and the other two sprays and brush painting on top of the graffiti exhibition.

The workshops will be divided into five and two are open to the public with a maximum of 25 participants per session.

All the art supplies will be provided by the agency, she said. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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