‘With Gratitude’ exhibition commemorates Good Shepherd Services in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: A father’s desire for a better future for his daughter has inspired him to create one of the most important pieces in his artistic career.
In his painting titled ‘Darkened Finger/Brightened Future?’, Harold Reagan Eswar, 38, documents his experience voting in the 14th General Election, which led to him witnessing for the first time a change in government.
Eswar said he was assisted by his three-year-old daughter Hana Tatiza, in creating the colourful under layer of the artwork.
“We spent time bonding and arguing, and some of the time singing, while painting this piece,” he said.
Through his art, Eswar communicates the responsibility that he and his wife, Anne Baltazar, have to provide a good future for Hana, including participating in the voting process.
Eswar is among 16 artists, mostly Sabahans, whose works are displayed in an exhibition entitled “With Gratitude”, co-organised by Good Shepherd Services (GSS) and Sabah Art Gallery (SAG) to celebrate its 30 years of service in Sabah.
The line-up of artists is as follows: Abdul Multhalib Musa (from Peninsular Malaysia), Adrian Ho, Anddy Romeo Dulait, Awang Damit Ahmad, Awang Fadilah Bin Ali Hussein, Azlan Dulikab, Bayu Utomo Radjikin, Charles Mawan, Crig R. Francis @ Cracko, Harold Reagan Eswar, Jerome Kugan, Pangrok Sulap, Shia Yih Yiing (from Sarawak), Tina Rimmer, Teo Zye Keun and Yee I-Lann.
The artworks will be sold and displayed until August 7. More than half of the proceeds will go to GSS to help fund their social services programmes in Sabah.
Good Shepherd’s Province Leader Sister Joan Lopez extended her gratitude to GSS board member and organising chairperson Faridah Stephens for initiating the idea, and working towards its successful completion.
“We are grateful for the privilege of working and serving in Sabah with a variety of communities, both rural and urban, providing services to women and children, the vulnerable and those struggling with poverty,” she said.
GSS’ programmes in Sabah include Asrama Komuniti Tulid, Pusat Jagaan Good Shepherd, Youth-Prep Centre, “Everything Pineapple” project, Sexual GenderBased Violence Empowerment and Protection projects, as well as Komuniti Van Sekolah.