Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah (right) and celebrated cartoonist Lat seen at the opening ceremony of the Rumah Lat Gallery in Batu Gajah, Perak. Photo: Bernama
After several years of delay, the Rumah Lat Gallery was finally launched by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah in a meaningful ceremony in Batu Gajah, Perak today.
Also present to grace the opening of the gallery, which showcases the works and archives of Malaysia’s famous cartoonist Lat (real name Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid), was the Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim.
At the ceremony, Sultan Nazrin also bestowed the title of ‘Seniman Diraja’ (Royal Artist) on Lat, stating the honour was in recognition of the artist’s significant role and contributions to the country.
His Royal Highness hopes that the exhibits on display at Rumah Lat Gallery will serve as a source of inspiration for the people, especially among young Malaysians.
Sultan Nazrin said through simple sketches Lat managed to highlight sharp observations about the life of a plural society living in harmony.
He added Lat's caricatures reveal the truths of living in a society made up of different races, religions, cultures and languages.
"Lat sees these differences as a national asset and treasure of immense value and chooses to emphasise the shared experiences of these multi-ethnic members of society such as the joy of wedding ceremonies, festive celebrations, schooling years or getting caught in traffic crawls, to enjoying food at a restaurant, among others.
"His work carries a clear message that people of diverse backgrounds instinctively live in peace and harmony in a spirit of mutual respect; diverse people do not harbour prejudice towards one another due to their differences in race, religious beliefs, cultural practices, and language proficiency.
"Rumah Lat Gallery displays the history of life, the twists and turns of an artist’s journey, recording the various achievements of a ‘kampung’ (village) boy who became a ‘town boy’, and who now stands proud among internationally renowned artists," he said.
It was earlier reported that the gallery was initially scheduled for opening in July 2021.
The gallery was funded by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture at a cost of RM3.81mil.
The artwork installation in the gallery was completed on June 30 at a cost of RM700,000, which was also borne by the ministry.
The Perak state government will bear all the gallery's operating expenses in terms of maintenance and staffing. - Bernama
