CJMY
The Embassy of France in Malaysia has inaugurated the SensARTS Festival, an initiative aimed at nurturing awareness and understanding of biodiversity preservation among upper secondary students in Malaysia.
SensARTS, short for ‘sensibilisation of youth through art, science and technology,’ converges artists and researchers to craft digital artworks creatively advocating the significance and fragility of biodiversity.
The festival, held at Multimedia University (MMU), showcases digital pieces developed through a collaborative effort with Alliance Française Kuala Lumpur and five higher institutions.
SensARTS addressing environmental concerns
Dr Valerie Barbosa, Attachee for Science and Higher Education at the Embassy of France in Malaysia, emphasises the SensARTS Festival’s commitment to addressing environmental concerns by targeting a younger demographic.
The initiative, initiated in September 2023, involved four teams from Kuala Lumpur (KL), Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak. Over a two-month period, these teams underwent an intensive experiment, receiving coaching and mentoring from professionals.
Collaborating with Alliance Française Kuala Lumpur and higher institutions such as MMU, Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, the festival presented four digital pieces, incorporating interactive art and augmented reality.
Barbosa anticipates that this festival, spanning four cities – KL, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak – will offer upper secondary students a unique, emotional approach to understanding biodiversity.
Innovative digital artworks
The SensARTS Festival showcases innovative digital artworks aimed at captivating Malaysian students with the beauty and urgency of biodiversity conservation.
The event, featuring pieces like ‘Guardians of the Sea’ (Penang), ‘MyARTS: My Action to Rescue Tropical Species’ (KL), ‘SUO-SUO: Sabah Underwater Odyssey-Underwater Wonders Comes Alive’ (Sabah), and ‘Soundscape of the Rainforest, Rhythm of the Biodiversity’ (Sarawak), engages viewers in an interactive and emotionally resonant experience.
Barbosa notes that these pieces trigger emotions, conveying an urgent need to act for environmental preservation. The festival serves as a platform for students to grasp biodiversity’s significance in a distinctive and memorable manner.
The winning team, set to be announced next month, underscores the festival’s competitive element, further motivating participants to contribute meaningfully to biodiversity awareness.
As the SensARTS Festival unfolds, Malaysian students are immersed in a realm where art, science, and technology converge to convey the critical message of biodiversity conservation.
With the winning team set to be unveiled next month, the festival stands as a testament to the power of creativity in inspiring action.
The collaborative efforts of artists and researchers have successfully initiated a dialogue on environmental concerns, underscoring the festival’s role in fostering a deeper connection between students and the imperative need for biodiversity preservation.
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