The annual MR DIY Art Competition organised by home improvement retailer MR DIY Group announced its 2024 winning artists at a prize-giving ceremony which took place at MR DIY Plus superstore @ IPC Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya on June 21.
22 young Malaysian artists were awarded over RM100,000 in cash prizes.
Now in its third year, this year’s competition received over 1,000 entries nationwide, including 322 entries from primary and secondary schools.
A creatively embroidered ‘Malaysian Flag’ and a 3D painting about yearning to study art emerged as the grand prize winners of the MR DIY Art Competition 2024.
In his speech, MR D.I.Y. Group’s chief executive officer Adrian Ong said, “At MR DIY, we believe in the power of creativity and innovation. This art competition aims to recognise and reward the same spirit of creativity and dedication that drives our success.”
This year’s theme, “Reality of Abstraction” aimed to challenge perceptions, encourage people to see beyond the surface and to consider deeper, more complex interpretations.
Ong added that some of the winning pieces have integrated with Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban and Kadazan cultural elements, demonstrating that within the artistic and creative world, cultural differences transcend boundaries.
“It is through efforts like this that we can inspire Malaysians to look beyond the obvious and appreciate the deeper nuances in our relationship with society and each other,” he said.
“Creativity is a cornerstone of progress and by fostering artistic expression, we can contribute to a more vibrant and dynamic society. This competition is just one of the many ways we hope to encourage and empower artists to share their vision and voices with the world,” he added.
For the first time, the competition featured two separate categories of public and educational institutions.
Mohd Farizal Puadi, 43, a lecturer at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris in Tanjung Malim, Perak, and Iklil Ali Ahmad Shukri, 19, a student from Universiti Teknologi Mara were awarded the Grand Prize under the public and education institution categories respectively.
Farizal took home RM15,000 while Iklil was awarded RM4,000.
Farizal’s piece, titled‘Malaysia Madani’, was inspired by the aftermath of Malaysia’s 15th General Election and captured a pivotal moment in the nation’s history.
He describes it as reflecting Malaysia’s diverse and unique character through the symbolic use of the national flag.
Farizal employed a stitching technique reminiscent of upholstered furniture to serve as a metaphor for the comfort derived from Malaysia’s societal diversity, saying the intricate approach signifies how different threads of culture and heritage are woven together to create a unified and harmonious nation.
Iklil’s piece, ‘Surat untuk Dunia: Bertemu Cinta di Garis Horizontal,’ demonstrated his journey to becoming an artist. As a student and influenced by his artistic parents, he aspired to study the Fine Arts.
His artwork depicts the lessons he learned from his parents, teachers, friends and life. It conveys that the purity of love can combat hate and transform the world into a place of harmony and peace.
The winning artworks were selected by a panel which included Universiti Sains Malaysia’s associate professor in Fine Arts Fauzan Omar and associate professor in Fine Arts and Art History Safrizal Sharir; University Tunku Abdul Rahman lecturer Leong Mei Yin; CIMB Investment Bank private client solutions division managing director and investment banker Bingley Sim; and Adrian Ong.
The winning artwork along with the finalist entries, can be viewed at MR DIY Plus IPC Shopping Centre, from June 22-30, 2024 and Segaris Art Centre, Publika Shopping Gallery, Kuala Lumpur from July 1-7, 2024.
For more information and a full list of prize winners of MR DIY Annual Art Competition, visit the website at mrdiy.com, and social media pages, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
