Magical World of ARVA

It was a mythical world inhabited by humans and elves that greeted 

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) students recently as they walked 

through an adventure exhibition themed City of Arva.

Exhibition organising chairman Chan Wai Hong and his team presented a wide range of artworks at the exhibition that also told a story.

A display of comic drawings and paintings as well as handicraft masterpieces drew students into the magical world of Arva.

A cardboard cutout of Prince Darius and elf Aurilea

“We came out with the idea of a love story between a female elf named Aurilea and a prince of human-descent named Darius.

“The couple overcame all obstacles and rebuilt the city of Arva, where humans and elves lived in harmony ever after,” he said.

Chan, who is also Utar Arts and Crafts society president, said the concept of the ‘City of Arva” exhibition was mooted about a year ago.

He added that about 30 students-cum-artists were roped in to turn the campus’ Heritage Hall into the fictional kingdom.

“We came out with designs like castle guards, three-dimensional tea pots, tree bark, bushes and a three-tiered wedding cake,” he said, adding that they were mostly crafted using cardboard and newspaper.

 Teapots and cups made from used cardboard

The most intricate work, which was built by four artistsover two months, was a model castle made of A4 paper.

“All the cutting, pasting and folding was done according to accurate measurements to ensure the castle’s symmetrical appearance,” he said.

The castle of Arva appears as if made of crystal when it is lighted up with bulbs installed within the paper building.

To add more fun to the adventure, event sponsor manager Leong Min Zhi wrote a music piece named The City of Arva for the exhibition.

Entrepreneurship student Desmond Khoo Chin Soo, who visited the exhibition, said the background music fit right in with the combination of drawings and crafts.

“For a moment, I truly believed I was a citizen of the City of Arva,” he said.

Khoo, 20, also said the organising team must have spent nights and days to put up this exhibition and applauded their efforts.

Chinese Studies student Kuan Tse Ling, 22, said storytellers stationed at several booths had helped her better understande the sequence of the story.

Kuan was amazed by the paper artworks that showcased the love between Aurilea and Darius that flourished throughout the four seasons of the year.

“They deserve the happy ending as their quest for love was melancholic,” she said.

 Aurilea's Aqua Stone

 Paper made 'City of ARVA' by Jacky 

Real huge cardboard coffin