ABOUT ME
“ Life is an adventure “
Mary Anne Vaz is an innovative artist . She constantly upgrades her skills and finds ways to make art more accessible to all. In 2019 she taught herself digital fabric art and created her own line f exclusive personalised fabric designs for
clients. On 22 February 2019 she created her first two fabrics called “ Scent of the Jungle “. With this pioneering breakthrough, she started to wear her own fabric in versatile designs . Digital brushes are now her favourite tools as she progresses steadily in the field of fabric creation and fashion innovation.
In September, 2019 two of her artworks , “Scent of the Jungle“ and “Hidden Stars” were exhibited in “Rimba”, in Saradise Gallery, where fabric art was introduced to the public. Fashion designer Hafiz Zulkifli created an elegant evening gown from her fabric called “ Scent of the Jungle” . This was the second version of this design . Her pioneering first fabric art had been made into her own garment which she wore when the designer evening gown “ Sacred Lady” was launched in “Rimba”.
Designer Sonia Chong designed a stunning avant-garde garment with Mary Anne’s fabric “ Hidden Stars”. Following this , Mary Anne created her first fabric for a mans’ formal shirt with a second version of “ Hidden Stars” . The pioneering man’s shirt fabric is called “ A Star Reborn”. Since then, Mary Anne has designed more exclusive fabrics for clients.
She has also written and directed musicals dramas carrying messages of courage which have been performed in Miri and Kuching. In 2002, the musical drama she wrote and directed, “Rainbow Birds”, won the Chief Ministers Cup in Kuching. It carried the message of protecting the environment.
A self-taught artist, she started her journey in art at 6 years old when she won the Queens Gold and Silver awards in a National Art Exhibition. At 16, she won the Nehru Award in an international art competition for youth. As a student she won “On the spot painting” contests for 12 years consecutively. She believes in grooming young artists and in Miri she conducts art classes to train young artists. She has organised two exhibitions for her team of Young Artists in Miri. Sales from their art helps to fund their Story Book Project for children in isolated villages.
Her paintings carry deeper symbolic meanings. For example, her painting “ Warrior of Peace “ depicts a Sarawakian Tribal warrior without his traditional weapons to indicate that a brave leader should lay down arms to be a catalyst for Peace.
In 2019 she was featured in the “ Alta Moda Sarawak 2019” . .
Exhibiitons in Kuching in include the following:
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2019 :
“ Our Stories “ Sarawak Artists’ Society
“ Alta Moda Sarawak 2019” Kuching.
“ Visual Perceptions “ Galleria, Kuching.
“ The Joy of Painting “ Pustaka Miri, Miri.
“ Rimba “ Art Fashion Innovation , Saradise Gallery, Kuching.
“ Moving Strokes” Saradise Gallery, Kuching.
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2018:
“Symphony of Nature” international exhibition
Guangzhau international exhibition in China
“ The Trip “ exhibition
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2017:
“Colours of Kuching”
“Art for Conservation”
“Borneo Fashion Week”
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In May 2019 she was a resident artist in a luxury resort hotel, Datai Langkawi. As the artist in The Atelier in Datai. she did live painting daily . She painted fast and guided the international guests in painting sessions as well.
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She has participated in numerous art exhibitions in Miri, including the opening exhibition launching Pustaka Miri in 2002 and exhibitions held in conjunction with the Miri Fest. She collaborated with Pustaka Sarawak as the researcher and writer of the E Book , “ Discover Sarawak”, documenting the development of a Great Sarawakian Artist, Tan Wei Kheng.
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She contributes to society through art. She donated the proceeds of her painting “ River of Love”, bought by The Sarawak State Library, to the victims of a tragic flood in Penang in 2017. She also donated her painting “ Night Bloomer” to the Autistic Association of Kuching to raise funds in 2018.
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She conducts painting lessons for young artists, adults and the elderly. Through her lessons many have experienced “ The Joy of Painting” . She initiated a project to use art to create social awareness by encouraging her art students to donate proceeds from sales of their paintings to buy story books for children of a nomadic tribal group , the Penan. She also initiated painting on baskets woven by Penan weavers and weavers from different ethnic groups to create awareness on their talents and needs.
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Through the messages in her symbolic paintings, she has had an impact on society: creating awareness that children in isolated schools need story books. She infused values education by empowering Young Artists to help these isolated children.