Students showcase Merdeka-themed paintings on Siti Rahmah
EIGHT sixth formers showcased their Merdeka-themed paintings of freedom and harmony at a recent art exhibition organised by their school, the Methodist Boys’ Secondary School, Kuala Lumpur.
The third edition of the art exhibition, officiated by A. Zaki Hadri, president of Malaysia Visual Art Association (PeRUPA), saw the unveiling of eight paintings.
These paintings were part of the students’ final semester course work for the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations.
“I really appreciate the students’ effort in the paintings.
“It shows that they are passionate about the work,” A. Zaki said after viewing each piece.
He also agreed with the government’s move to bring back visual art in schools with the introduction of the Artists in Schools Programme (AISP).
He added that teachers need to identify potential artists in schools and – with the effort of the government – organise exhibitions to herald the students’ passion for art.
“Their ideas and creativity should not go to waste,” he said.
Student-artist Aina Akmal’s creative piece titled “Golden Bangle Lady” was a favourite with the crowd. The painting was a tribute to Datuk Siti Rahmah Kassim, who was the first Malay woman to donate her gold bangle so that the nation’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, could make the trip to London to negotiate for Malaya’s independence from the British.
It was reported that she was a veteran Umno member and the first woman to contest in the 1959 general election. She entered politics at the age of 19. In 1959, she won the Terentang state seat in Negri Sembilan, which she held for two terms before retiring in 1964.
“Out of my three drafts, my teacher, Puan Janatul Shalida, and I agreed that this (Golden Bangle Lady) stood out.
“So I decided to work on that. It took me two days to complete the initial painting and a few more days to add the final touch-up,” she said.
“She should not be forgotten,” Aina added.
The art exhibition organised by the school was the first of its kind when it was first launched three years ago by teacher Janatul Shalida Abdul Aziz.
It began as a pet project when Janatul Shalida was the only Form Six art teacher at the school.
The school is only one of three schools in Kuala Lumpur to offer visual art as an STPM subject for its students.
“I have collections of all of my students’ paintings over the past four years.
“I was told that the school is going to build a gallery to showcase these amazing pieces,” Janatul Shalida said.