Disney features Malaysian artists in global campaign celebrating 100th anniversary

Disney has launched a new ‘Create 100’ campaign, a global celebration of creativity marketing 100 years of Disney storytelling, in which Malaysian visual artist Red Hong Yi (pictured right) will represent the local creative community.

Additionally, Red has enlisted next-generation bead artist Danielle Soong (pictured left) to join the celebration. She will also produce a piece to mark the occasion.

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“I have always been touched by the magic of Disney movies and characters since I was a kid watching them with my grandfather,” said Red, adding that she had hoped to be an artist for Disney someday, making her opportunity with Disney a full circle moment.

“Through Create 100 and my love for art, I’m using unconventional materials and storytelling to create an artwork inspired by Disney. Everyone can create something new, so I hope all aspiring creators will continue to experiment and be courageous in putting their art out and telling their stories to the world,” she added.

To kick-off the campaign, Disney worked with Virgil Abloh Securities to reveal a 6-foot structural sculpture of Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey from Disney’s Fantasia at the Royal College of Art in London. The life-size piece titled ‘Structural Sorcerer — a Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey Sculpture’ was commissioned by Disney and designed by ALASKA.

“Paying homage to the everlasting legacy of Virgil Abloh, the Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey sculpture takes inspiration from his work on the grid furniture series and the Mickey Mouse illustration he created in 2018 in celebration of Mickey Mouse’s 90^th birthday,” said the late artist’s wife, Shannon Abloh.

“Disney’s timeless stories and characters have made an indelible mark on pop culture around the globe, transcending borders, industries and generations,” said consumer products, games and publishing president, Tasia Filippatos. “We couldn’t think of a better way to honour 100 years of Disney storytelling than by collaborating with this outstanding collective of visionaries in support of Make-A-Wish.” 

Additional incredible artworks, items and experiences, together with the stories behind them, will be revealed over the summer.

The Create 100 contributions feature everything from musical elements to comic books to recreations of iconic movie props and more from renowned talent such as Beyoncé, famed French fashion designer Christian Louboutin, Italian global creative director for Swarovski, Giovanna Engelbert, Chinese virtuoso pianist Lang Lang, American fashion pioneer Tommy Hilfiger and celebrated Brazilian artist Vik Muniz.

Global partners such as adidas, Pandora and Coach will also be contributing one-of-a-kind pieces to the celebration, according to a statement. 

“Wishes are generated by the imagination of our wish children and that creative spark inspires their journey with us,” said Luciano Manzo, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish International. “Create 100 showcases the power of creativity to bring hope. This inspirational initiative will help grant life-changing wishes for children around the world who are living with critical illnesses. We are so grateful to Disney and all the artists involved for their support.”

This is not the first we have seen of global brands such as Disney working with Malaysian visual artists. Earlier this year, Netflix collaborated with marketing platform Mash, and Malaysian papercutting artist Eten Teo to create a piece of cultural artwork to celebrate Lunar New Year for Netflix viewers across Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Mash curated a virtual creative studio which brings together seven creatives from its global network, each with a deep and authentic cultural connection to Asia. The final piece was inspired by the artwork of Eten Teo in order to create an artwork that spoke to the true essence of Lunar New Year. Framed by auspicious elements such as fish (abundance), coins (wealth) and peonies (prosperity), the piece reveals a cross-generational family celebrating Lunar New Year. It is a mish-mash of the myriad tiny yet meaningful familial interactions.

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