Two artworks created by Malaysian university students for Honor Talents were exhibited at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York early this month.
Universiti Teknologi MARA student, Zyed Hamidi Zainal Abidin and a team from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Hoh Sheng Yue and Sheanne Chin Seng Wei, proudly represented Malaysia among the 28 selected Honor Talents designers worldwide.
The exhibition, themed "Dragons Soaring Across Four Seas, Welcoming the Lunar New Year Together," featured Chinese dragon artworks that explore the cultural richness, heritage, landmarks, and myths of each participating country.
Co-organised by Honor, UN Chinese Book Club, Global Times, and the Central Academy of Fine Arts, with the support of the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the UN, this collaborative initiative was aimed to enhance global understanding of China by showcasing diverse perspectives from talented artists.
Sheng Yue and Sheanne’s featured artwork, titled Year of Dragon: Prosperity at Its Peak, draws inspiration from Malaysia's unique Chinese traditional salad Yee Sang served during the lunar New Year celebration.
The Graphic Design and Multimedia students wanted to introduce this ‘prosperity toss’ dish which originated from Seremban to the world, and this exhibition provided the perfect platform.
"The higher the Yee Sang is tossed, the better fortune and wealth will come.
"In our artwork, the dragon tosses the ingredients as high as the KL Tower, a popular landmark in Malaysia,” Sheng Yue said in explaining the artwork's significance.
Previously Sheng Yue, Sheanne and their fellow course mate Yeoh Hui Qi won first place in 2022 in the Open Designs category of the 2022 Honor Talents Global Design Awards.
"It was a surprise and excitement upon receiving the invitation by Honor Talents to participate in the exhibition. Even though time was our biggest challenge, we did not want to miss this opportunity”, she added.
Sheng Yue said that it was unbelievable, despite being unable to be there in person, they were thrilled about the recognition and honor of having their work showcased at the UN headquarters.
In the meantime, Zyed Hamidi’s artwork, titled "Soaring in The Sky Together: A Memorial of Understanding and Friendship", is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between Malaysia and China.
"This artwork is a vibrant tribute to unity, luck and shared tapestry of cultural diversity,” he said.
Established in 2020, Honor Talents serves as Honor's brand platform for youth groups. The event champions youth empowerment by unearthing young talents across diverse fields through various contests, providing a stage for them to showcase their virtuosity.
The 2023 Honor Global Design Competition, part of Honor Talents, reached a remarkable milestone with a record-breaking 12,000 submissions.
Since its establishment, the competition has received over 25,000 artworks submitted from more than 40 countries and regions, involving participants from over 240 universities.