jessica2012-10-30T09:28:00+08:00KOTA KINABALU: SABAH has the potential to become a destination for art lovers as tourists here showed great appreciation for its art.
Tourism Malaysia director Tengku Dr Zainal Adlin Tengku Mahmod said many tourists visited the state because of its unique cultures, indirectly exposing them to local contemporary art.
"They come here to dive and to experience our nature.
"Generally, those who love nature will love art because it goes hand in hand.
"That's the symbiotic relationship between art, nature and culture," he said at the launch of 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism (1MCAT) Festival Sabah 2012 at Jesselton Point Waterfront here, yesterday.
Held for the third consecutive year, 1MCAT is in line with the Tourism Ministry and Tourism Malaysia's efforts to diversify the country's tourism attractions while targeting more high-yield tourists.
Sabah made its debut in 1MCAT last year with Art Hunt as its premier theme, where 11 satellite art venues in and around the city featured contemporary art works of local artists.
Art Hunt acts as a platform for art enthusiasts, gallery owners, artists and the new generation of collectors to forge business alliances, acquire new contemporary art works, share ideas and exchange information about Sabah's contemporary art.
Tengku Zainal Adlin, who is also Sabah Tourism Board chairman, said the one-week exhibition was an effective way to bring attention to local artists' work and further encourage their growth as well as maturity of their talents.
"We are delighted to be able to contribute to the success of this event. This art exhibition will have a huge impact on the art scene and help to discover new talents from Sabah.
"The event is a commendable effort to build on this opportunity by encouraging a vibrant interchange of ideas and experiences between artists in Sabah and other states," he said, adding that Malaysia's contemporary art scene sought to attract tourists to a different aspect of the country's unique tourism attractions.
As a tourism product, Tengku Zainal Adlin said the art scene in Sabah showed positive signs of progress as there were many tourists who actively sought out art items that portrayed the rich cultural, natural and historical heritage of the nation.
Source : New Straits Times
