Sun Bear Clay Art
Courtesy of Tan Tzy Ean’s Faceboook page.
Six sun bear clay art sculptures have been crafted and generously donated by Miss Tan Tzy Ean, a well-known sculptor from Penang, West Malaysia. With almost two months of careful research to study the real-life habits of sun bears, she managed to recreate their behaviours vividly in her sculptures.
There was a lovely unveiling ceremony performed by Dr. (Hon) Wong Siew Te for the sun bear clay art, in conjunction with this year’s Sun Bear Day opening ceremony on 16th May 2018. Being the only clay art sculptures of sun bears in the world, they are surely rare in the eyes of the art world! It is hoped that the sculptures can remind the public about the importance of sun bear conservation, and encourage us to take action in helping this vulnerable species from going extinct in the wild.
The clay art pieces are currently exhibited in the middle of our Visitor Centre and are easily spotted from the main entrance; they are arranged on a special 3-tier Belian wood structure, providing the perfect complement to these fine sculptures.
About the artist:
Tan Tzy Ean graduated from Commercial Art Department, Malaysia Institute of Art in 1991, with extensive experience in advertising, colour separation, and plate making. She first encountered clay crafts in 2005 and ever since, clay has been one of her favourite artistic elements in her work and leisure time. She creates flowers and figure sculptures, and now animals too. All of this artwork requires much detailed observation and focused concentration. The creation of her masterpieces is often time-consuming and labour intensive, but her fine craftsmanship produces amazing and unique clay art pieces that are one of their kind in the world.
Tzy Ean has been inspired by the efforts and contributions of Dr. Wong Siew Te in conserving sun bears in Malaysia. Many more Malaysians are beginning to pay care about conservation issues regarding sun bears because of Dr. Wong’s hard work. She hopes that everyone will work together to conserve sun bears and make this wonderful creature a first class national protected animal.
Rare sculptures of Sun Bear Clay Art done by the skillful Ms. Tan Tzy Ean.
A little speech from Dr. Wong before unveiling the Sun Bear Clay Art sculptures during Sun Bear
