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Embassy of Malaysia
Paris

20/06                                                                                                15 November 2006

 ART EXHIBITION ON MALAYSIA
  AT THE ‘ECOLE DES BEAUX ARTS’ IN PARIS

The Ambassador of Malaysia to France, His Excellency Dato’ S. Thanarajasingam declared open this evening an art exhibition by six young artists entitled “Kuala Lumpur, Tour et Retour (Kuala Lumpur, there and back)”.  The exhibition jointly organised by the prestigious Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts (School of Fine Arts), Tourism Malaysia Paris and Malaysia Airlines reveals the insightful observations of the capital city and other places in Malaysia by the artists. The 10-day exhibition will be held at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts in Paris from 15 to 25 November 2006.  

In his opening address at the launching of the exhibition, His Excellency  Dato’ S.  Thanarajasingam said that the exhibition would continue to contribute towards building bridges of cooperation between Malaysia and France especially in the area of artistic exchange.

In this conjunction, His Excellency Ambassador called for more creative initiative to be held on a regular basis. “The initiative is important in our efforts to enhance our presence in France, a great country which had produced and continues to produce some of the world’s greatest artists and works of art,” he explained.

As Malaysia will celebrate its 50th Year of Independence and the Visit Malaysia Year in 2007,His Excellency Ambassador called on the French guests to visit Malaysia. In this connection, His Excellency pointed out that Malaysia Airlines launched daily direct flights as effect of 1st November 2006 to enable a better connectivity between Paris and Kuala Lumpur. (The text of H.E. Ambassador’s speech is attached). Click here

Present at the official launch of the exhibition were Mr. Henry-Claude Cousseau, Director of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts; Mrs. Adlina Borhan, Director of Tourism Malaysia Paris, Heads of the Malaysian agencies in Paris as well as officials from the Malaysian Embassy. The event was attended by about 200 guests comprising of members of the local travel industry, corporate guests, officials from the French Ministry of Culture and Foreign Affairs as well as media representatives.  

The Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts, the most famous and influential art school in France is also heir to the French Royal Academy of Paintings and Sculpture, founded in the 17th century by Louis XIV. The school which is under the French Ministry of Culture and Communication has trained many of the great artists in Europe and educated students intending to pursue high-level artistic creation.

The art exhibition of the six young artists showcases photos, video images and other artistic works was inspired by their visits to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Malacca and Sarawak during their field trip to Malaysia in May 2006. Their observations of Malaysia were transformed into various forms of artistic expression and creative art works. The field trip project was part of the promoting event for tourism in Malaysia within the scope of the opening of “Visit Malaysia Year 2007”.

The young artists of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts’ research program La Seine who have their works of art exhibited are Veaceslav Druta from Moldavia; Daniela Franco from Mexico; Kapwani Kiwanga from Canada; Alexandre Ovize from France, Takako Yabuki and Shingo Yoshida from Japan. Before the Paris exhibition, their works of art were also displayed for the first time at the Kuala Lumpur Starhill Gallery in June 2006.

Embassy of Malaysia, Paris
15 November 2006