Miri Arts Festival showcases artwork from 18 world-renowned local, int’l artists

MIRI (Aug 3): The Gallery, an international mixed reality arts exhibition, has gathered 18 world-renowned artists to showcase a myriad of artistic expression in various art forms.

The exhibition, taking place at Pullman Miri Waterfront, is held in conjunction with the Miri Arts Festival (MAF) 2024 which started on Aug 1 and ends Aug 4.

Apart from the works by the renowned artists, also being displayed are the artworks of 27-year-old Mohd Haziq Nor Hisham, an individual with high-functioning autism who crafts intricate miniatures and dioramas.

A gamer who plays ‘Warhammer 40k’, ‘Age of Sigma’ as well as ‘Dungeons and Dragons’, Mohd Haziq is a member of the sustainability department at YTL Corporation Berhad where he serves as an executive.

Beyond his professional endeavours, where he helps the team with communication tasks and Corporate Social Responsibility activities such as teaching children about sustainability, he finds joy in reading, video games and arts, particularly in creating miniatures and dioramas for his beloved hobby.

His work is being displayed alongside the masterpieces of local and international artists comprised of MahsuriShark from Sarawak, Nadia Alsagoff (Norway), Anaz K (Kuala Lumpur), Megan Lee (Amsterdam), Tiz Zaqyah (Kuala Lumpur), Tulika Prakash (India), Habsah Abang Saufi (Sarawak), Elias Mohd (Amsterdam), Dhiya Roslan (Sarawak), Venie Tee (Kuala Lumpur), Ashly Nandong (Sarawak), M. Sahzy (Sarawak), Datin Norehan Tunku Kamil (Kuala Lumpur), Dato Tom Abang Saufi (Sarawak), Wan Bynun (Sarawak)

A. Nurhasim Hamada (lndonesia), Ali Nurazmal Yusof (Penang) and Julia Volchkova (Russia).

According to MAF director Azeez Salleh, the exhibition merges traditional visual arts with state-of-the-art virtual paintings, offering attendees a unique and immersive experience.

“Visitors can witness the fusion of cutting-edge technology and creative imagination, underscoring Malaysia’s dedication to advancing contemporary art,” he said.

Azeez added that during the festival, the original paintings are also being showcased for sale at the ‘Art Market’, offering affordable reprints of paintings and merchandise with the artists’ original artworks.

MAF 2024 is organised by AX International Event and Communications Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak (DUBS) and is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism Malaysia; Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak; Sarawak Tourism Board; Miri City Council; Pullman Miri Waterfront and Miri Times Square.