GALERI PRIMA’s ‘THE MONARCH’ WOWS TOUR VISITORS
Rare exhibition features 81 photos and articles with insight into country’s royal institution
“UNIQUE and rare”. That was how staff of the Selangor Land and Mines Department described “The Monarch” exhibition at Galeri Prima, Balai Berita, in Bangsar here.
The department’s 40 staff, headed by senior officer Mohd Nazrul Ngaimin, spent an hour at the gallery to learn about the journey of Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Sultan Ahmad Shah AlMusta’in Billah, who was sworn in as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 31.
Nazrul said the tour was part of the department’s annual programme to visit places of interest, especially those with historical elements, adding that it was the duty of civil servants to know about the country’s ruler.
“We learnt about this exhibition through the media, and decided to come here first, before visiting the Bank Negara Museum,” he said at the gallery yesterday.
Nazrul said the visit was beneficial for his staff as as they learnt many things about the king.
“We had the opportunity to see rare pictures of the nation’s first king, as well as the current one when they were young.”
Galeri Prima manager Azlin Aziz said 81 photographs, including the portrait of the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong who was installed on Sept 4, 1957, as well as copies of articles on the country’s monarchy were on display during the exhibition held in conjunction with the school holidays.
The photographs, said Azlin, were curated from the New Straits Times Press’ (NSTP) archives.
“All photos featured in the exhibition were taken by NSTP’s photographers and displayed in various sizes of canvas.
“Each of these photographs, which are displayed at our double-storey gallery, has its own story about the uniqueness and history of the country’s royal institution.
“There are also photographs that were never published before, making the exhibition one of its kind. Art and photo enthusiasts can purchase the photographs by contacting our staff.”
Azlin added there would also be a photo archive kiosk set-up at the gallery to enable visitors to enjoy NSTP’s vast collection of photographs. Visitors could browse through the photographs based on their preference, she added.
Jointly organised by Galeri Prima and the New Straits Times, the exhibition will be held until Feb 20.
Admission is free.
The event’s main sponsor is Tenaga Nasional Bhd.
Galeri Prima is open daily, except during public holidays, from 10am until 6pm on weekdays and from 10am until 5pm on weekends.