VISIONS OF MALAYSIA AT ESU NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

Starting on March 20, 2008, The English-Speaking Union of the United States national headquarters is hosting a photographic exhibition entitled Borneo, A Bowl of Wind and Water, a collection of black and white first edition prints by eminent photographers SC Shekar and Bob Teoh. The works portray indigenous communities of Sarawak, Malaysia. The ESU presents Borneo – A Bowl of Wind and Water in cooperation with Shalini Ganendra Fine Art (Kuala Lumpur and London), whose owner, Datin Shalini Amerasinghe Ganendra, is a founding member of The English-Speaking Union of Malaysia. The exhibit of these works of art is an outgrowth of the twinning of The ESU of the United States, Central Florida Branch and ESU Malaysia through the Books As Envoys program, which in turn led to the inauguration of an EPAL cultural exchange program for schoolchildren.

Borneo – A Bowl of Wind and Water is a pictoral essay of community life in Sarawak by Bob Teoh and SC Shekar. Mr. Teoh’s photographs showcase the SMK Bario School in Sarawak , which is engaged in the dynamic “EPAL Gift of Knowledge” on-line cultural exchange with the East Lake Elementary School in Florida, facilitated through ESU Malaysia and ESU US, Central Florida Branch. Both artists have produced images that speak to the viewer in many ways, not least of which is to introduce communities that are less familiar because of their physical and cultural distances from urban centers. The ethnographic nature of these photographs serves to document the journeys, both physical and spiritual, of two avid photographers in this region of many rivers.

Among the photos on display: Iban Mother and Daughter by SC Shekar

THE EXHIBIT’S OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION
The exhibit’s opening night reception on March 20, during New York City’s Asian Contemporary Art Week, was itself an embodiment of the ESU’s work to create global understanding through English. Guests of Honor were Mr. Mohamad Sadik Gany, Consul General of Malaysia, and Shalini Ganendra herself. Mr. Gany spoke eloquently about his delight with the portrayal of his country in the photographs, his appreciation of the ESU’s global mission and the essential role that English plays as the common element of communication in diplomatic, commercial and artistic life. Mr. Gany also noted that as he was born in Sarawak , he felt an additional affinity with the images on display.

Mohamad Sadik Gany, Consul General of Malaysia, speaks on the role of English in international understanding.

Shalini Gandendra spoke warmly and enthusiastically about the ESUs’ pilot EPAL program that led to the art exhibit, acknowledging ESU Malaysia President Raja Arshad and Vice President Tunku Dara Naquiah. The EPAL program between the only school in Bario and the East Lake Elementary School in Florida for students aged 10 to 13 has overcome a number of challenges requiring dedication, patience and perseverance. The Bario school has only one telephone line and one computer and the exchange required substantive organization including scheduling to accommodate different school years and holidays, limited computer access and telephone break downs which, in Bario, can often last for weeks. But the program is operational after six months of tinkering, and one of the East Lake School children has reported, “When I look at pictures of Malaysia, I get excited because it is so beautiful. I like learning about other cultures and making new friends around the world.” “It is hard to imagine two cities more geographically distant,” Ms. Ganendra said, “and we marvel at the fact that they are now linked through the enthusiasm and curiosity of children, using the English language as a common tool…Global understanding and cooperation begins with the individual, and this program involves young persons who will lead tomorrow with more enlightenment.”

Datin Shalini Amerasinghe Ganendra, founding member of
The English-Speaking Union of Malaysia and owner of Shalini Ganendra Fine Art
(Kuala Lumpur and London), spoke on the ESUs’ cultural exchange programs.

William R. Miller OBE, Chairman of The English-Speaking Union of the United States, in his welcoming remarks, read from a letter from Benjamin Aycrigg, President of the ESU Central Florida Branch, “Greetings, Shalini, from the English-Speaking Union in Central Florida!...Thanks to you, ten children in Sarawak are in weekly touch with five 5th grade children in Orlando. Communicating by computers and using the English language, they are discovering similar hopes and interests despite their different cultures and distance apart…We hope this exhibit of photographs from your country may also inspire greater cultural understanding among many people!”

William R. Miller OBE, Chairman of The English-Speaking Union of the United States, quotes Benjamin Aycrigg, President of the Central Florida Branch, “We hope this exhibit of photographs from your country may also inspire greater cultural understanding among many people!”

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Bob Teoh
Roused by his desire to track through photographic images the furthest reaches of both rivers in Northeastern Sarawak, Teoh’s collections conjure what he calls “the essence of the communities’ daily lifestyle without any fanfare.” His documents of the daily lifestyle of various communities, whether it involves men and women engaging with their farming activities, children playing together in the river, a man and his dog sharing a boat, women praying and cooking together by the hearth in the longhouses, Teoh’s images bring to life the diversity of cultures and places along Trusan and Baram Rivers. Like in other parts of Borneo, the two rivers defined and shaped the way of life along their banks.

Conversely, the diverse communities depend on the two rivers for daily living and activities. This dependency on the two great rivers and their head waters by a number of interrelated groups is succinctly conveyed through Teoh’s photographs. His superb documents reveal the exotic along the rivers, and at the same time provide a window into what is meaningful to those who live and make a living along and in between the two rivers.

Poline Bala
Department of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge, UK

S.C. Shekar
S.C. Shekar studied in Malaysia and Australia, and began his career as a photojournalist with a local publication. He has exhibited since 1985 and was the photographer for numerous publications, including Visions - A Multicultural Exploration of Malaysia and Australia; A Vision Realized - The Petronas Twin Towers, The Architecture of Malaysia, Food from The Heart, T he Zecha Heritage Cookbook and Straits Chinese Porcelain.

Mr. Shekar is well known in the Asia-Pacific hotel circuit. His trend-setting work for the Shangri-la and Four Seasons hotels has won significant acclaim. Additionally, he has been commissioned to do documentaries in India , Sri Lanka , Korea and Papua , New Guinea .

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PHOTOGRAPHS:
Please call ESU Headquarters at 212-818-1200 or visit the website of Shalini Ganendra Fine Art: www.shaliniganendra.com.

THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF BOB TEOH: Edition 1/10 8” x 10”, Lamda Prints

Harvesting Bario Rice, Long Semando, 2008 (BT-1)

Morning Prayer, Mount Murud, 2008 (BT-2)

Kenyah Woman with Grandchild, Long Tungan, 2008 (BT-3)

Saban Villagers, Long Banga, 2008 (BT-4)

Kelabit Schoolgirls, Bario, 2008 (BT-5)

Native – Chinese Farm, Long Banga, 2008 (BT-6)

Kelabit Ladies, 2008 (BT-7)

Lun Bawang Trader, Ba’ Kelalan, 2008 (BT-8)

THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF SC SHEKAR: Edition 1/10 8” x 10”, Digital Archival Matt Prints

Berawan Woman (SC-1)

Berawan Women (SC-2)

Ivan Farmer (SC-3)

Berawan Children (SC-4)

Iban Children, Lower Baram (SC-5)

Ivan Mother & Daughter (SC-6)

Berawan Longhouse, Lower Baram (SC-7)

Penan Native Craftswomen (SC-8)

Iban Children 1 (SC-9)