RIYADH, 9 November 2006 — Four students from different age groups who topped the list of contestants in different categories in the 2nd Riyadh Indian Friendship Association (RIFA) painting competition will be honored at a function here on Nov. 17. The contest was held on Sept. 22.
Some 1,000 students from different international schools took part in the contest, R. Muraleedharan, secretary, RIFA, told Arab News. He said the winners were selected by a panel of judges consisting of Abdul Khayyum Bustani (head of the department of Fine Arts Division, International Indian School Riyadh), Hamza (art teacher Al-Yasmin International School, Riyadh) and Aslam Madathara (commercial artist).
The toppers were: Group 1: Firzan Feroz, UKG, Middle East International School (MEIS); Group 2: Moina Azhari, Class V, International Indian School Riyadh (IISR); Group 3: Reshma Prasad, Class IX (IISR), also the winner of the Best Painting Award; Group 4: Akshaya Pasupathi, Class X (International Indian School Riyadh).
A total of 42 prizes would be distributed among the winners on Nov. 17. All the class winners will receive certificates and trophies, while the group toppers will get books on painting, in addition to certificates and trophies. There will be a special prize for the best painting.
The paintings of all students who had participated in the competition will be on display at the exhibition, which will be open to the public from 2 p.m. onward the same day.
Commenting on the performance of the participants, the judges said that even though most of the students have innate creative talent, they lack the necessary tools to express it. They said parents and teachers in schools should take special interest to hone their artistic skills.
