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IM GROUP DONATES SCULPTURES TO RAISE 

AWARENESS FOR WORLD’S SMALLEST BEAR

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 30 August, 2022.  Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) Malaysia, has received a surprise gift of two Sun Bear sculptures, from IM GROUP and Lai Lai Art Gallery/Studio, to raise awareness of the endangered species in time for Malaysia’s 65th independence-year celebrations.

The sculptures, originally part of the ‘Healthy Forest, Happy Wildlife’ art exhibition—organised Lai Lai Art Gallery/Studio in support of BSBCC in Sabah—were amongst the artworks that most impressed the conservation centre’s founder, Dr. Wong Siew Te. 

“Although the exhibition featured creations from many artists, who had already donated 50 percent of the proceeds from their sales to the BSBCC, I saved this piece, in particular, as a special thank you and encouragement to Dr. Wong for his cause,” explained Malaysian-born artist Alice Chang Guerra, owner of Lai Lai Art Gallery/Studio and Chair of IM GROUP Foundation.

Inkmaker Easypaint installation at Mowilex Cikande factory
Easypaint system
Easypiant Installation in Mowilex Cikande  factory

“I am particularly touched by this generosity and wish to express my sincere thanks to Alice Chang Guerra for helping to bring further global attention to the smallest bear in the world,” said Dr. Wong. The sun bear, with its distinctive sand-coloured chest patch from which its name derives, is native only to the tropical forests of South-East Asia, and plays a vital role in their ecological balance, yet today, as a result of poaching and deforestation it has become an endangered species. The BSBCC founded by Dr Wong Siew Te, specialises in the rescue and rehabilitation of sun bears, providing them with a safe environment in which to grow whilst monitoring their well-being. The conservation centre is also one of the main contributors to research on sun bears whilst promoting ecotourism.

‘Bacio’—meaning kiss in Italian—as the pair of flower-patterned mosaic sculptures are known, are inspired by a parent bear giving her cub a reassuring kiss of encouragement as it struggles for independence, “…I felt these sculptures were evocative; both of the conservation centre that rehabilitates rescued sun bears, as to the strength that our own people have given to our nation, especially since the covid challenges, to help Malaysia stand back up on its feet again, for this the 65th anniversary of our own independence,” continues Chang Guerra.

The Conservation Dream Team

Alice Chang Guerra (extreme left) with Dr. Wong Siew Te (enter) and the artists at Lai Lai Art Gallery / Studio

The sculpture, patterned with flowers to represent “blooming parental love” is also meant to encourage people to be more understanding and affectionate to one another other. Chang Guerra believes the world needs more empathy, like a patient parent that listens and kisses problems away, “I chose an Italian word, because as well as being a homage to my husband, who is Italian, it seemed in itself a display of understanding of different cultures—so, whilst the sun bear is Malaysian, the title of my sculpture is Italian.”   

The sculptures, made from recycled pieces of broken ceramics, cemented together with love symbolically carry a powerful message of strength, as Chang Guerra concluded “Together, we can pick up the pieces and start again to build a better world, each of us just needs to do their bit and slowly slowly, just like a mosaic, a new whole will appear.”

The sculpture, patterned with flowers to represent “blooming parental love” is also meant to encourage people to be more understanding and affectionate to one another other. Chang Guerra believes the world needs more empathy, like a patient parent that listens and kisses problems away, “I chose an Italian word, because as well as being a homage to my husband, who is Italian, it seemed in itself a display of understanding of different cultures—so, whilst the sun bear is Malaysian, the title of my sculpture is Italian.”    

 The sculptures, made from recycled pieces of broken ceramics, cemented together with love symbolically carry a powerful message of strength, as Chang Guerra concluded “Together, we can pick up the pieces and start again to build a better world, each of us just needs to do their bit and slowly slowly, just like a mosaic, a new whole will appear.”

IM GROUP (previously Inkmaker Group), which offers integrated dispensing solutions—through its brands; Inkmaker, Rexson, Vale-tech, Swesa, Teko, Tecnopails and IEC+ —has a host of initiatives and activities, headed by Alice Chang Guerra, planned for 2022/23 within the communities where it operates globally.   

For further information on Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) Malaysia visit www.bsbcc.org.my or if interested in making a donation or volunteering, contact Dr. Wong Siew Te on +60 89-534491 or email at info.bsbcc@gmail.com.


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About Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC)

Founded in Sabah, Malaysia in 2008, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) is the only sun bear conservation centre in the world. It has two aims: 1. to provide care and rehabilitation to rescued sun bears; and 2. to increase awareness of sun bears internationally. These aims work to ensure the absolute right of every bear to live in the forest. The centre currently has 43 rescued ex-captive sun bears and 1 captive born residing at the BSBCC. The facility includes large forest enclosures to provide a natural environment suited to the needs and welfare of the sun bears and to facilitate their rehabilitation back into the wild.  www.bsbcc.org.my

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About Lai Lai Art Gallery / Studio 

Founded in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1999, Lai Lai Art is the gallery / studio of Malaysian-born artist Alice Chang Guerra, better known in art circles as "Lai Lai". Here she creates her artworks and often holds exhibitions in aid of charity organisations, of which she is an active promoter, especially with concerns to children. Ms Chang Guerra is also the Chair of IM GROUP Foundation. 

Lai Lai Art Gallery/Studio

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About IM GROUP

Formed in Italy in 2021, IM GROUP (formerly Inkmaker Group) is the holding brand of: Inkmaker, Rexson, Vale-tech, Swesa, Teko, Tecnopails and IEC+. With its combined strength the group offers total process-engineering solutions within the industries of paint, coatings, ink, speciality-chemicals, adhesives, corrugated packaging, pharma, food, cosmetic, textiles and more. IM GROUP, with its brands, operates with its own staff and offices in over 15 countries over 5 continents. 

im-group.com

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About Inkmaker

Formed in Italy in 2021, IM GROUP (formerly Inkmaker Group) is the holding brand of: Inkmaker, Rexson, Vale-tech, Swesa, Teko, Tecnopails and IEC+. With its combined strength the group offers total process-engineering solutions within the industries of paint, coatings, ink, speciality-chemicals, adhesives, corrugated packaging, pharma, food, cosmetic, textiles and more. IM GROUP, with its brands, operates with its own staff and offices in over 15 countries over 5 continents. 

www.inkmaker.com

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About Rexson Systems 

Established in 1984, Rexson is a privately-owned British brand of automated dispensers that are widely used in the paint and coatings and liquid ink industry, as well as the industries of cosmetics, food, oils, pharmaceuticals and speciality chemicals. Materials can be liquid, gels or paste, hazardous, caustic, flammable or have thixotropic rheology. Its headquarters are in Kettering, Northamptonshire in England and it has a global network of regional and international clients and support partners. rexson.co.uk

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About Vale-Tech  

Established in 1985 Vale-Tech, previously a subsidiary of Rexson, is a British brand of ink dispensing systems for the worldwide printing industry. Vale-Tech employs a team of engineers dedicated to the design and build of innovative products incorporating the latest technology focused on narrow web and paste-ink dispensing systems. Its headquarters are in Newmarket, Suffolk in England and it has a global network of regional and international clients and support partners. 

vale-tech.co.uk

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About SWESA  

Formed in Germany in 1994, Swesa, is a privately owned and independent German manufacturer specialised in customised automated dosing-systems for the food packaging, office furniture, tissues and heavy-duty corrugated packaging industries. Swesa machines are customisable and explosion risk (ATEX) certified. Its headquarters are in Eltville am Rhein, Germany and it has a global network of regional and international clients and support partners. swesa.de

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About Tecnopails   

Established as LAVELLI e C in 1974, Tecnopails, is a privately owned and independent Italian manufacturer of customised modular automated filling, sealing, labelling and palletising machinery—for pails, buckets and cans—that is widely used in the ink, paint and coatings industry, as well as the industries of food and speciality chemicals. Tecnopails’ machines are explosion risk (ATEX) certified. Its headquarters are in Piacenza in Emilia Romagna, Northern Italy and it has a global network of regional and international clients and support partners. tecnopails.it

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About IEC+  

Established in 2013, IEC+ srl is a mechanical engineering company, specialised in the design and manufacturing of dispersing, grinding and mixing equipment as well as complete engineering studies and turnkey solutions. Its headquarters are located in Travesetolo, in Parma, Northern Italy with a global network of regional and international clients and support partners. iecplus.com