Art exhibition starts tomorrow
By Harina Hj Ramlee

Local artist, Siti Zaleha Hj Kiprawi

Heather Angelien James

A masterpiece by Heather

A painting by Siti Zaleha

The stamps designed by Siti Zaleha

A painting by Muroi-san from Japan to be exhibited 

The Brunei-Japan Friendship Art Exhibition will open on Wednesday with a selection of interesting works by artists from Japan and Brunei Darussalam to be showcased to the public.

There are 47 pieces of art from Japan and over 50 from 30 local talents, including one British artist, currently a resident in Brunei Darussalam, as well as a selection of paintings from Bruneian students, will be presented. The art works were already being mounted for display at the Ground Floor of the Empire Hotel and Country Club.

The centrepiece of the exhibition is by Toshio Muroi from Japan.

Born on February 25, 1935 in Fukushima Prefecture, Muroi-san had been interested in painting, particularly portraits, since his childhood.

He learnt his art from Meiji Hashimoto, a recipient of the Order of Cultural Merits, and is presently member of the Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition (Nitten) and Japanese Style Exhibition (Nissshunten).

Among his masterpieces are "Midorikage" (Green Shade), "Ikoi" (resting in Peace) and "Yumeyui" (Dream Coiffe). In his career, Muroi-san had organised 7 personal exhibitions of his paintings.

Tini Miura, another artist from Japan, was born in Kiel, Germany, and studied in Switzerland, Paris (at the famed Ecole Estienne) and Sweden. She has exhibited her work more than forty times on three continents.

Tini is also an advisor to the National Qingdao Art Museum, Qingdao,China and a jury member at the Biannual International Print Exhibition.

Heather Angelien James, a member of BJFA's executive committee, will also be exhibiting one of her works, entitled the Blue Sofa.

Heather, a British national who is currently residing in Brunei Darussalam, was born in Jordan, brought up in Africa and the Middle East, and went to University in Wales.

Her works have been shown in exhibitions around the world, including Australia, Beijing, Bangkok and London.

For Heather, she is, like all artists, constantly learning and looking for new challenges, and being a guest in Brunei has allowed her the opportunity to meet and paint with some of Brunei's best artists.

Siti Zaleha Hj Kiprawi, an employee at the Language and Literature Bureau (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka) Brunei Darussalam, is one of the local talents who will be showcasing her works.

Siti Zaleha studied Graphic Design at Croydon, England, and Communication Media at Kent, England.

Commisssioned by the Postal Services Department, she designed the 20th SEA Games 1999 Commemorative Stamps, Miniature Sheet and the first Day Cover.

A member of the Official Opening and Closing Ceremony Committee of the 20th Sea Games 1999, she heads the Design and Creative team.

For Siti Zaleha, the BJF Art Exhibition provides an opportunity for close collaboration between Brunei and Japan artists, a golden opportunity for local artists to exchange ideas and styles, especially from meeting one of Japan's most prominent artists in person. She hoped the event would broaden the perspective and encourage local young talents, and she called upon them to take the chance to not just view the art but look into their deeper meaning.

Dato Hamdillah Hj Wahab, President of the Brunei-Japan Friendship Association (BJFA), pointed out that the event is the third in a series of activities planned in support of the Asean Japan Exchange Year (AJEY) 2003.

He stressed that BJFA, with its core mission of strengthening bilateral relationship between Japan and Brunei Darussalam in cultural, educational and technical co-operation, is committed to contribute to the success of AJEY 2003.

The BJF Art Exhibition will be open to the public from May 7 at 12 noon till May 18 at 4 pm. Daily opening hours from May 8 - 17 is from 10 am to 10 pm. The exhibition will end on May 14. Admission is free.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin