Finals of the IFAS (Ipoh Fine Arts Society) Emerging Young Artist Award was held recently at the YMCA Main Hall. Eight budding creative performers from age 13-15 strutted their stuff amid cheers of about 50 attendees. Aiming at encouraging originality and inspiring the young to tap their own innate potential as well as ability, each participant was required to portray an original piece of work entitled ‘The Earth’ by way of dance, song, poetry, mime or dramatisation.
The distinguished panel of judges consisted of Miss Shanthini Venugopal, a versatile actress who starred in Hollywood blockbuster Anna and the King in 1999, Guru Shankar Kandasamy, an accomplished dancer from the Temple of Fine Arts who has performed all over the world, Miss Pravina Manoharan, a lecturer at University of Science Malaysia with a PhD in ethno music and Miss Kamini Kumar, also a skilful dancer. The occasion was also graced by the presence of the patrons of the society, Dato’ Thambypillai and Dato’ Dr M. Majumder.
In the artistic morning, President of Ipoh Fine Arts Society, Mrs Shanthi Kumar highlighted how creativity infuses soul into an otherwise bland education. She emphasised that creativity, not talent, was used as the benchmark in the inaugural contest. “These kids have actually taken the effort to come and I commend them. Creativity is a very vital part of education. I feel it is being left out so I commend them that they have come. They have a long way to go but they have potential. Everyone has potential. It just needs to be trained,” she said to Ipoh Echo at the end of the competition.
Tryphena David, Form 3, from SMK Buntong emerged as the winner, taking home a grand prize of RM1500 while her schoolmate, Sai Geetha Narwin, also Form 3, was named first runner-up and presented with the second prize of RM1000. Second runner-up Choo Dick Son, Form 3, from SMK Seri Kledang won the third prize of RM500. In addition, a special prize was awarded to Shanon Charles Grenier, Form 1, from SMK Sg. Pari.
Clad in white and turquoise, the jubilant Tryphena explained to Ipoh Echo the concept of her award-winning dance, “When I think about the earth, I think about the sky, the jungle and the ocean.” Her smooth transition in using the props, excellent choice of music, originality and confidence wowed the judges.
Mei Kuan
