‘Dengan Kasih dan Harapan’ which means ‘With Love and Hope”, is this year’s theme for Maybank’s tribute to Merdeka and Malaysia in conjunction with the 64th Merdeka and 58th Malaysia Day anniversary, presented through its Balai Seni Art series.
The virtual art exhibition showcases 33 artworks of 26 artists and comprises 12 new pieces produced for the event as well as 21 unique art works selected from previous MyTiger Values art and design competitions organised by Maybank since 2018.
The artworks not only pay tribute to all front liners past and present, but also express the artists’ rendition of love and hope for the country and its future. The pieces are unique as they showcase the individual artist’s interpretation and expression of ‘Kasih dan Harapan’ and what Malaysia symbolizes to each of them, particularly with its rich cultural and social fabric and its people.
Chief Sustainability Officer of Maybank, Shahril Azuar Jimin said, “What is interesting to note is that these values, wonderfully envisioned by our young illustrators and designers, take on a broader relevance when viewed in the context of our current situation.
They somewhat help us to realise why we adhere to our own Maybank TIGER values which stand for Teamwork, Integrity, Growth, Excellence and Efficiency and Relationship Building - and which define the Group’s beliefs and what it stands for. They also complement the Rukun Negara, and are useful guiding principles that could help us, especially as a nation in facing the challenges of rebuilding a new Malaysia.”
Shahril added that although the easing of the lockdown can be seen throughout the country, the usual display of patriotic sentiments has been somewhat drowned out by the current resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Hence, as part of efforts to inject the spirit of love for the nation, whilst adhering to the safety and security regulations, Maybank decided to use the Maybank Virtual Art Gallery to showcase ‘Dengan Kasih dan Harapan’.
He added that besides making art available to the public, the Maybank Virtual Art Gallery @ Balai Seni provides local artists an ideal platform to showcase and sell their artworks, thereby enabling them to generate income during these challenging times. “This is very much aligned to our mission of humanising financial services, where we endeavour to support the communities around us to build sustainable livelihoods,” explained Shahril.
Specially for this occasion, Maybank has reproduced four poems by Malaysia’s National Laureate, Dato’ Usman Awang - namely ‘Jiwa Hamba’, ‘Tanah Air (Menjelang Kemerdekaan)’, ‘Mahkota Cinta’ and ‘Merpati Putih, Jelajahilah Dunia Ini’ - as part of the displays at the exhibition for visitors to appreciate.
Coincidently, the title of the exhibition is also taken from the second line of the fifth paragraph of Usman Awang’s ‘Tanah Air (menjelang Kemerdekaan)’ which reads-
Bukankah dengan
kasih dan harapan
kau tenggelamkan mereka dalam dakapan
di mana bunga ganti nisan bertaburan
The “Kasih dan Harapan’ art exhibition is now available for viewing online via https://maybankfoundation.com/mbfvr/merdekashow/
Balai Seni Maybank has been actively hosting Malaysian and international artists since its establishment in the 1980s. Some of the biggest names in the local art scene today have, in the past, exhibited their artworks at Balai Seni Maybank, which continues to support the new generation of visual arts practitioners.
Maybank Foundation, which was established in 2010, actively supports community programmes under six key pillars namely Arts & Culture, Education, Community Empowerment, Environmental Diversity, Healthy Living and Disaster Relief.