Clement (first left), Rasidah (fourth left), Brendan (fifth left), Wenfu Xu (third right), and Thaddeus (fourth right) after the award presentation.
KUCHING: Two brothers from Serian had a memorable moment when they received the Maries Art Scholarship from The Shanghai SIIC Marie Painting Materials Co Ltd for winning an art competition.
The simple presentation ceremony took place at Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Kota Samarahan yesterday.
Brendan and Thaddeus Johnny had won first and second place respectively in an art competition using Marie painting materials recently.
Brendan received RM3,000 while Thaddeus, RM1,500.
The company’s deputy general manager and engineer Wenfu Xu handed over the awards and scholarships in the presence of senior lecturer of the Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics, associate professor Dr Rasidah Mahdi, lecturer of Faculty of Arts and Design, Clement Jimel, students from the Art and Design Faculty and several lecturers.
“I was pleasantly surprised to be told that I was a recipient of this scholarship. I love arts since childhood, developing a passion for it while in secondary school.
“I feel that I am talented in art which is why I want to go into it seriously. I have almost completed a Diploma in Fine Arts and I wish to pursue it to Degree level,” said Brendan.
The 24-year-old said the scholarship would help him financially, and thanked Shanghai SIIC Marie Painting Materials company for the opportunity to take part in the competition and his family, lecturers and friends for their encouragement.
“I’m very happy to receive this scholarship as it can help lighten my parents’ burden,” he said.
Marie’s Art Factory was established in 1919 and came to be known as Shanghai Artist Colour Factory in 1958.
This company formed a joint venture with an existing reputable Hong Kong establishment to form Shanghai SIIC Marie Painting Materials Co Ltd.
Together they were the oldest and largest manufacturer of all kinds of colours and related materials for the use of artists.
Marie’s products have reached more than 60 countries around the world including cities in China.
With more than 90 years of product development, the company has come up with a range of paints and products to meet customers’ levels of requirements.