14/08/2026

FRIDAY | AUG 14, 2026

6

Independent art movement marks golden anniversary

Competition for students at higher education institutions KUALA LUMPUR: Students at higher education institutions will have the opportunity to showcase their digital creativity through the Aimaginasi Malaysia competition, which is being held for the first time in conjunction with the 2026 National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations. The competition, organised by the Malaysian Information Department, aims to encourage the integration of illustration art and artificial intelligence (AI) technology to produce graphic visuals in the form of posters, while nurturing digital creative talent and critical thinking among the younger generation. The department’s Visual Communications and Design Division deputy director Nor Azli Mohd Nor Azian said the use of AI in the competition is to expand the ideas and creativity of participants rather than replace their own thinking. “We encourage students to use AI as a supporting tool to broaden their creativity. It is not meant to replace their creativity as they are the ones producing the work,” he said on Bernama Radio’s Fokus 30 programme. He said the competition is open to students from public and private higher education institutions nationwide, with participation open from Aug 10 to Sept 20. “Participants may submit more than one entry based on three themes, namely Generasi Kini, Aspirasi Malaysia (Today’s Generation, Malaysia’s Aspirations), Merdeka Digital: Inovasi Anak Bangsa (Digital Freedom: Innovations by the Nation’s Youth) and Kreatif: Membina Malaysia Masa Depan (Creative: Building Malaysia’s Future).” Nor Azli said each work must have a high resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch), comprise 40% AI-generated content and 60% original images and be edited using graphic design software, Bernama reported. He added that participants must also submit the working or original files to enable the judges to assess the creative process and provide a brief description of the poster in no more than 300 words. He said the competition aims to enhance understanding of the ethical use of AI to ensure that the works produced are original.

Mustapha Ibrahim, Ali Mabuha Rahamad, Zulkifli Dahlan, Maryam Abdullah, Siti Zainon Ismail, Ismail Abdullah, Abdul Ghafar Ibrahim, Yusof Gajah, Mad Anuar Ismail, Abdul Mansoor Ibrahim and Mazlan Noor Along. Faizal, who has been active in the arts scene for almost 30 years, said the exhibition has two sections – the gallery and archival documentation spaces. He said the gallery section is organised into four periods to showcase the evolution of works by Anak Alam artists across the decades. He added that the archival section brings together various materials related to Anak Alam, including correspondence, exhibition catalogues, posters, photographs, newspaper clippings, Bernama reported. “Bringing these works together was no easy task as some of the artists have passed away while others live in different places. “The main challenges were time and distance, in addition to me personally coordinating the delivery and collection of the artworks and contacting the artists.” Johan, who was part of the Anak Alam community in the 1970s, described the exhibition as a historic occasion as it provides an opportunity to reassess the contributions of the movement after five decades. “If literature has Asas 50, then the arts, painting and artistic activities have Anak Alam. To me, Anak Alam is an extraordinary institution, an unparalleled art movement in history,” he said while opening the exhibition. Johan said Anak Alam, initially driven largely by artists and poets, evolved as subsequent generations introduced new elements through theatre and open-air performances. He said his experience with Anak Alam also shaped his life journey as the movement not only taught him about art but also creativity and human values. “Anak Alam is unique. It is not registered, there are no AGMs and there is no president or deputy president. “It was established as a bureaucracy-free independent collective while remaining respectful of the country’s administration. “That is what enabled Anak Alam to survive to this day,” said veteran artist Mazlan Noor Along, 70.

o Exhibition featuring more than 60 visual artworks, archival materials from 12 artists being held to celebrate occasion

KUALA LUMPUR: Anak Alam, an influential independent art movement in Malaysia, is marking its 50th anniversary with the Anak Alam 50 Tahun (1974-2024) exhibition at Harta Space in Ampang Point, Ampang. Exhibition curator Faizal Sidik said the exhibition features more than 60 visual artworks and archival materials from 12 Anak Alam artists, spanning various art forms including painting, poetry, sculpture and theatre. The exhibition, from Aug 6 to 31, traces the

development of the movement from the 1960s. “It aims to examine the contributions of each Anak Alam artist as every one of them has a distinct identity. “We want to look at what they have contributed over these 50 years and what today’s young generation can learn from them,” he said after the launch of the exhibition by National Journalism Laureate Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar recently. The artists featured are Latiff Mohidin,

Johan being given a briefing by Faizal (left) after the opening ceremony. – BERNAMAPIC

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