SIBU: Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS) and Sibu Photography Association (SPA) will be holding a Melanau Cultural Photography Exhibition themed “Melanau Hidden Treasure” at Hotel Kingwood, here from June 10 to 16.
Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government II Michael Tiang Ming Tee said that the exhibition is related to the culture and traditions of the Melanau people.
He said that documenting the culture and traditions of the Melanau by taking pictures of them is a very good way to introduce them to the people of Sarawak and outsiders.
“Thank you to the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts for supporting local associations in promoting the beauty of Sarawak through various activities.
“This actually contributes to the capacity building in Sarawak’s heritage, arts and culture sector,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.
Also present were UTS Student Development and Services Department Head Lu Yew King, SPA president Edwin Ong Wee Kee, and UTS Photography and Videography Club advisor Muhammad Oliver Ensor.
According to him, he was informed that for this exhibition project, SPA had organised an educational visit and brought UTS lecturers and students to Mukah.
He said that SPA had set a very good example in managing their association’s functions by being directly involved in educating and sharing their knowledge and skills of photography.
“I believe this has an absolute advantage for local university students, enabling them to learn knowledge that is inside or outside of university textbooks during their studies at the university.
“They not only enhance their professional level, but also improve their communication skills on cultural diversity and innovative thinking skills,” said the Pelawan assemblyman.
Tiang also expressed his delight in seeing the cooperation between SPA and UTS which has contributed to the development of Sarawak.
He stressed that UTS students should appreciate this opportunity so that they can not only learn photography skills, but also learn from international professional photographers on how to do editing to present photos in a richer and more perfect way.
Meanwhile, Tiang hoped that this exhibition would help attract tourists to visit Sibu and Sarawak.
“I believe it will be successful and eventually promote the beauty of Sarawak’s culture,” he said, congratulating SPA for continuing their efforts to document Sarawak’s ethnic groups using the art of photography.
The exhibition, sponsored by the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts, will be officiated by its minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah at 9 am on June 10.
