The First Venezuelan Week in Malaysia

To most Malaysians, the very mention of Venezuela conjures up images of some of the most alluring beauty queens the world has ever seen. Yet, very little is known of its rich cultural heritage or the fact that Venezuela is one of the largest oil producers in the world.

From 2nd to 9th July 2006, in conjunction with the commemoration of 195th Independence Day of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the first time in Malaysia, the Embassy of Venezuela will celebrate the auspicious occasion by showcasing the arts and craft of Venezuela together with an eventful calendar of activities and exhibitions. The eventual success and great interest generated by the week-long event has been made possible through the collaborative efforts between the Venezuelan Embassy staff and our main sponsors, Soka Gakkai Malaysia, Crowne Plaza Mutiara Hotel; Pampas, South American Grill & Bar; and Salsa Havana, Latin Club & Tapas Bar.

It is heartening to note the goodwill and generosity extended to Venezuela; it goes beyond the geographical and climatic similarities shared by both countries. The commitment to socio-economic exchange and political ties established between Malaysia and Venezuela has resulted in a progressively improved relationship. The very success of the inaugural launch of Venezuelan Week 2006 signifies a new level of development, encouraging proactive political, economical and cultural exchange to foster bi-lateral ties and dialogue between Venezuela and Malaysia.

Indigenous Art And Craft Exhibition

Venezuela has very strong folk cultural roots; its thirty-six ethnic groups are spread over vast zones of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers that border neighbouring Colombia, Brazil and Guyana. The exhibition provides an excellent overview of a thriving indigenous art and craft heritage rarely encountered in this age and time. The conservation of indigenous artprovides a unique glimpse into the techniques and materials used, contributing to the worldwide effort to preserve precious Pre-Columbian art consisting mainly rock carvings and cave paintings in the form of petroglyphs. Venezuela’s colonial era is mainly characterised by religious paintings and sculptures in the Spanish style. Amongst the exhibits are significant artifacts from the andinos (hardy mountain folks); the guayanés, (tough frontiersmen following their dreams); the llanero, (cowboys of the Llanos); and the maracucho (energetic entrepreneurs of the Maracaibo area).

Internationally-Acclaimed Film Showcase

The subject matter presented by multi award-winning films covers a wide spectrum: From the historical saga of the arrival of Spanish conquerors by director, Andres Agusti (The Admiral Faces); to the melodramatic depiction of a harsh yet courageous subsistence way of life among the Andes (A House with the View of the Sea); to how a single person’s wrenched past isturned around, inspiring a community’s efforts to preserve its customs and language (One Life and Two Trails); to that of emotional upheaval when one must deal with to maintain sanity during war (Knocks At My Door); and the hostile feuds and intriguing counter-plots taking place below the world-renowned Angel Falls (Roraima). The showing of some of the most celebrated films of our times is an indication of the dynamic and robust growth of the Venezuelan film industry.

Works Of Master Photographers

A grand total of 40 images shot in the 80s by master photographers, Vladimir Marcano and Esso Alvarez will be displayed. Shot with two lowly-branded plastic cameras nicknamed, “Holga and Diana,” respectively.

The images are testimony to the poetic vision of ordinary life; a series of highly focused and visually stunning works that in the words of writer, Edmundo Brancho, “hidden potency beyond the eye of photography” and described by the artist, Ani Villanueva as “magnificent combination.” The exhibition is a timely reminder in our highly sophisticated technology-driven society: Originality, sensitivity to forms executed in the simple black and white format are hallmarks to creative par excellence.

‘Arepa’ Gastronomic Experience

Arepa is the most popular foodstuff in Venezuela. Like bread, it can either be eaten with a main meal or stuffed with meat, Bolognese, cheese or scrambled eggs as one wishes. The age-old tradition of preparing arepa from freshly husked and ground corn has been replaced by using pre-cooked white corn flour. The savouring of arepa has taken on an international appeal as it is increasingly available worldwide. For authenticity, the Embassy of Venezuela has specially flown in pre-cooked white corn flour for the food festival. An invitation to the “Arepa Festival” is not just another food-tasting experience but an attempt to get to know Venezuela as a country steeped in cultural diversity.

‘Guitarist Extraordinaire’ Appearance

Aquiles Báez is ‘guitarist extraordinaire’ of Venezuela. Especially flown in to perform for the gala event, invited guests will marvel at his artistic virtuosity with the guitar; sophisticated at times, yet harmonious and soothing to the audience. Mr Baez’s outstanding accolades include: National Artist Award of Venezuela as best arranger of the year; William Leavit Award at Berkley Music College and other numerous awards for exceptional scores for the theatre, films and dances. Mr Báez has performed extensively throughout the Latin American countries, Europe, Japan and North America.

Venue: Soka Gakkai Malaysia, 5th Floor Wisma Kebudayaan SGM,
243 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.