United by a love for calligraphy

The Star

Young Malaysians from diverse backgrounds are coming together through their shared passion for calligraphy at the Kuala Lumpur World Calligraphy Carnival 2024, running from Saturday (Nov 2) to Nov 10.  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

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00:00Young Malaysians from diverse backgrounds are uniting through a shared passion for calligraphy,

00:06gaining national and international recognition.

00:09The Kuala Lumpur World Calligraphy Carnival 2024 celebrates this cultural connection,

00:15emphasizing Malaysia's diversity and cross-cultural exchange.

00:23Among the participants is Dewi Eva Natasha Ag China,

00:27a university student from Sarawak who discovered her love for calligraphy at age 9.

00:32Dewi's calligraphic prowess has earned her prestigious accolades,

00:57including top prizes in international competitions in Hong Kong and Beijing.

01:02I feel like writing calligraphy gives me the calmness and in my opinion I don't actually

01:09need to know the actual language to feel what it gives me.

01:15Noah Tovi Neopleon, a Form 4 student from Sabah who began practicing calligraphy

01:20seven years ago, also finds calligraphy helps him stay focused and calm.

01:31His dedication has earned him a state-level win in Sabah and a top-five finish at the

01:47national level. Sik Huiang, another young enthusiast from Sabah, started learning at six.

02:02The 10-year-old national champion practices calligraphy for two hours daily, committed

02:08to honing her skill. Kanesh Shankar, a university technology Malaysia UTM student,

02:15also found a connection to calligraphy since young. I'm from Chinese primary school so

02:21I learned about calligraphy a little but I didn't go through a lot. Then after entering

02:27secondary school, my Chinese teacher sent me to a competition. She just told me like

02:33go through and see what you can learn. So from that, that's where the starting point is.

02:38After two years of developing the basics, Kanesh continues to refine his skills. Tourism, arts and

02:45culture. Minister Datuk Seri Thiong Khing Singh praised the rise in interest across different

02:50ethnic groups, noting calligraphy as a bridge fostering cultural ties. His speech, delivered

02:56by the Ministry's Deputy Secretary-General, Culture, highlighted calligraphy's role in

03:01uniting diverse communities. With open and inclusive heart, they embrace this ancient art,

03:09allowing it to flourish through cross-cultural exchange. This blending of culture,

03:17perceiving tradition while breathing in fresh vitality is a true reflection

03:25in Malaysian harmony and diversity. As Malaysia and China celebrate 50 years of diplomatic

03:30relations, Thiong highlighted calligraphy as a shared cultural expression. China's ambassador

03:36to Malaysia, Ouyang Yu Jing, noted that initiatives like the Belt and Road and the

03:41vision of a global community have sparked greater interest in Chinese culture worldwide.

03:54The carnival features 500 works from 48 countries and includes exhibitions, seminars,

04:22educational forums and craft workshops. It will also honour the Golden Jubilee

04:27Exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia.

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