Brunei nurtures next generation painters

IS THE next generation the hope for building up the arts again? Mohd Nuriskandar Mohd Hasnan certainly thinks so.

"I hope today's students will become the next generation of artists."

Mohd Nuriskandar is a first year student at Universiti Brunei darussalam (UBD) studying Art and Creative Technology, and aspires to become a lecturer in the future.

"I wish to be able to share my thoughts and insights to help foster the arts scene in Brunei to grow."

His recommendation to those who aspire make towards the arts, "Practice and lots of practice, even if you feel you don't have the artistic talent; with time, you will develop it eventually."

"Research your favourite artists, and learn more about the different genres, study different techniques and develop your own ideas. Art is something you must be brave about as it constantly provide challenges to you in many ways."

His lecturers encourage him to try different mediums, and also to pursue the ones he enjoys.

"What we learn, we should practice, not only in the classroom, but at home as well. We try to continue artworks that we have not completed previously, and continue to research about different techniques, and take ideas from there," he says.

Among the various mediums he has studied so far, he prefers watercolours and acrylic as "the colours are bright and fun to apply onto the canvas.

"There are different effects that you can apply when painting."

Inspiration can be a fickle thing, so when the muse strikes, one must act on it.

"I have worked through the night until three or four in the morning, and had to go to class the next day," he laments.

Mohd Nuriskandar was one of the participants in the First UBD Student Art Show, where he had two acrylic pieces on display depicting scenes of maritime war.

"We had many objectives in regards to the Art Show. We wanted to educate the public at large about the different kinds of art and to exhibit the creative works of the students."

"It was also an opportunity to promote the undergraduate art courses available at the university to prospective students."

The Brunei Times