STORY: Art exhibition on Malaysia's cultural heritage tightens ties with China
DATELINE: July 12, 2023
LENGTH: 0:02:04
LOCATION: Kuala Lumpur
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the art exhibition
2. various of Malaysian artist Teh Chin Boon's artwork titled "Happiness"
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TEH CHIN BOON, Malaysian artist
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHANG JIEXIN, Director of China Cultural Center
5. various of the public visiting the art exhibition
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): AMERRUDIN BIN AHMAD, Director General of the National Art Gallery of Malaysia

STORYLINE:

The art exhibition titled "Integration and Diversity, Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary Malaysian Figure Paintings of Eminent Artists" showcasing Malaysia's unique cultural heritage launched on Tuesday at the China Cultural Center in Kuala Lumpur.

Promoting cultural exchanges and fostering better people-to-people ties motivated Malaysian artist Teh Chin Boon to create "Happiness", a close up of a woman holding a Baba-Nyonya porcelain storage jar, or "kamcheng."

The painting is one of over 70 pieces of artworks prepared by local renowned artists for the exhibition.

Teh explained that he seeks to bring to life the cultural exchanges that he has observed in Malaysia to a wide audience.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TEH CHIN BOON, Malaysian artist
"For Chinese culture and Malay culture, actually there are a lot of things that you can feel and you can see, we are actually living in harmony. So, these paintings are actually a blessing or a reminder of the diverse culture in Malaysia."

The Baba-Nyonya are the descendants of early immigrants from China with local people. They openly adopted local beliefs and practices, resulting in a unique culture. The jar full of sweets symbolizing happiness and good things in life holds special significance for its role as part of marriage ceremonies.

In his remarks, the director of China Cultural Center in Kuala Lumpur Zhang Jiexin said Malaysia and China have a long history of cultural exchanges, with friendly interactions between the people of both countries.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHANG JIEXIN, Director of China Cultural Center
"China and Malaysia have a long history of friendly exchanges, dating back over 2,000 years to the Qin and Han dynasties. Local Malaysian communities, such as the Baba-Nyonya, are said to be descendants of Zheng He's fleet from the Ming dynasty who intermarried with the local Malay community. In modern times, as Chinese art spread and developed in Southeast Asia, Malaysian Chinese artists have inherited the artistic legacies of their ancestors. They have skillfully transformed various art forms such as calligraphy, painting, relief sculpture, and temple architecture from Chinese traditions to incorporate Nanyang (Southeast Asian) styles."

For his part, Malaysian National Art Gallery director-general Amerrudin Ahmad said Malaysia-China relations are important, not only for economic reasons but also for cultural and arts initiatives, mutual creativity and cross-cultural exchange through art.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): AMERRUDIN BIN AHMAD, Director General of the National Art Gallery of Malaysia
"Through these exhibitions, performances, and cultural exchanges, Malaysia and China have forged an enriching partnership, showcasing the diversity of their artistic expressions. This mutual appreciation has fostered understanding, promoted cultural diplomacy, and strengthened the bond between the two countries, creating a platform for continuous exploration and celebration of their artistic legacies."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kuala Lumpur.
(XHTV)