An installation work Unharvested Futures: Voices Of The Field, by Johor-born artist Norfatihah Yusof, has won the main award at the 29th Bakat Muda Sezaman competition (Young Contemporaries, BMS29) held at the National Art Gallery in Langkawi, Kedah, last night.
Her outdoor series draws attention to the declining tradition of rice farming on Pulau Tuba, foregrounding environmental concerns while amplifying the lived experiences of the local community.
The jury’s recognition earned Norfatihah a RM40,000 prize and a certificate of appreciation. She received the award in a wheelchair, following injuries sustained in a road accident while travelling to complete final preparations for the exhibition.
With nearly a decade of practice in fine arts and a Bachelor’s degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia, she developed the work after repeated research visits to Pulau Tuba, where she documented the realities and challenges of its rice-farming community.
"This is a major milestone in my artistic journey. I am grateful to God, and I thank the villagers of Pulau Tuba as well as my fellow artists, who brought their own works to life despite many challenges," she told reporters after the BMS29 opening ceremony last night.
In addition to the main award, four jury prizes were also presented to Aiman Yusri Mohamad Yusoff, Khairul Ehsani Sapari, Muhammad Ismail Rahim, and the artist duo Lim Xiao Mun and Helmi Azam Tajul Urus. Each received RM15,000 and a certificate of appreciation.
Nine recipients of the Encouragement Award took home RM1,000 each and a certificate.
The BMS29 opening ceremony was officiated by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture deputy secretary-general (Culture), Datuk Mohd Yusri Mohd Yusoff.
Also in attendance were National Visual Arts Development Board chairman Assoc Prof Dr Jalaini Abu Hassan and National Art Gallery director-general Amerrudin Ahmad.
The BMS29 judging panel consisted of Fram Kitagawa, curator and director-general of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, Japan, Dr Agung Hujatnikajennong, a lecturer from the Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia and Dr. Mohamad Faizuan Mat, deputy director of the Institute of Creative Arts and Technology (iCreaTe) at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.
BMS29 adopted a "site-specific" approach, with Langkawi chosen as the main artistic setting, allowing participants to create works rooted in the history, culture, ecology and narratives of the local community.
The exhibition also received support from the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), as well as several agencies, strategic partners, the private sector, and local community, including the residents of Pulau Tuba.
A total of 21 final entries were submitted, with 16 works exhibited across various locations in Langkawi, including Taman Lagenda, Old Kuah Hospital, and the padi fields of Pulau Tuba.
The works involved a range of media, such as installations, mixed media, digital art, performances and interactive pieces.
The BMS29 exhibition is open to the public until July 26.- Bernama
