change a child's life - give him an education...

I'm so relieved the press conference for Mont Blanc/Unicef charity which put up 5 paintings by 4 other ladies and myself went well. I shall so miss the piece that has been occupying a prime spot in my living room overlooking Sentul Park for the last week or so. I wonder if all first-time artists feel as emotionally attached to their first pieces?

When Mont Blanc approached me to participate in this project, it seemed a perfect fit for everything I support and believe in which includes child welfare and the right to quality education for all.

I cannot imagine that in spite of all our economic progress and being surrounded by every form of modernization, there are still maybe 10 percent of the children of our own country who may never know the beauty and the inspiration of the words of Shakespeare, Hafiz, Pablo Neruda, A.Samad Said or Maya Angelou.

Every child deserves the basic right to knowledge, the one thing that can change a person’s life, empower him or her to make the most informed choices, be more aware of basic human rights, be exposed to the teachings of the greatest minds, the most inspiring scriptures and holy books.

I am very proud to be a small part of Mont Blanc and Unicef’s efforts to continue the fight against illiteracy. As Confucius once said, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. For those of us who are able to read the words on this page, know that with every bit of help no matter how little, you can change a child’s life forever.

Tiara's collaboration with Mont Blanc and UNICEF for their "Signature For Good" campaign

Long time no see...

I've been stressing over a painting I promised Mont Blanc in aid of their UNICEF "Signature For Good" campaign, in between planning Enfiniti's next 2 years' campaign. Finally finished my piece, what do you guys think?

1. Rationale behind the artwork:

Looking for some form of inspiration to get started on my piece, I turned to Google and typed in "the need for education for children" and these words jumped out at me:

"If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime."

What a wonderful concept, I thought! I asked my 12-year old daughter what she thought of it, and she said, "Yeah mum, it's like if you tell the kid the answer to a question, he will only know the answer to that question, but if you educate him and he can think for himself, he will have the answers for everything all his life!" That floored me, and when I finally recovered, I took out that huge piece of canvas I'd been staring blankly at for more than a month and started work.

2. A quote on my participation on this project to include in the press release.

I have always believed that Art, Creativity and the Performing Arts should be given much more prominence in and out of the school syllabus. Studies have proven that exposure to the arts help students build self-confidence, express their creativity, and perform much better in math and reading. Fine arts training can help children develop emotional and moral sensibilities and the discipline that goes with mastering a craft.
In fact, I myself am living proof that art improves math, going by my own SPM results!

When Mont Blanc approached me to participate in this project, it seemed a perfect fit for everything I support and believe in. Children and the right to quality education have always been a favorite cause of mine, and I've always loved painting but never got round to ever really finishing a piece! This will be my fourth collaboration with Mont Blanc, a brand that strongly supports art and culture, two causes very close to my heart. This will also be my second collaboration in support of Montblanc’s and UNICEF’s fight against illiteracy, the first being the "Power To Write" campaign when Mont Blanc put my signature on a limited edition pen. I hope that my participation in this "Signature For Good" campaign will add to Mont Blanc and UNICEF's efforts, towards empowering future generations to break out of the poverty trap.
Every bit helps bring us all a step closer towards realizing the dream of better education for the children,as I continue to sing a song of hope for a more promising world of tomorrow.