This Hungry Ghost month, visiting a cemetery could also be the very last thing in your to-do checklist.
The Jelajah – Heritage Nature Park (Jelajah) artwork exhibition at the Kuala Lumpur Hokkien Cemetery in Bukit Seputeh, nonetheless, is the place to be if you’re an artwork lover and heritage fanatic.
The site-specific exhibition, which runs till Sept 10, options mixed-media installations and images by 9 artists and an artwork collective from various backgrounds.
From 1,000 paper birds “transmitting” the messages between the dwelling and the lifeless to the beat up washing pans in a stream highlighting KL’s tin mining historical past, Jelajah affords a time out with a distinction. .
The exhibition covers a small part of this 57ha century-old Chinese burial floor which is the ultimate resting place for a lot of distinguished Hokkien leaders, together with educationist and activist Lim Lian Geok.
Fiqtriey Al Haqimiey’s ‘A Moment In Time Capsule’ pictures sequence options totally different chicken species discovered at the cemetery. Photo: Lostgens’
“The cemetery is an important green lung in KL with slopes, pristine streams and an underground spring, It’s also rich in history and heritage. What better way to enjoy both than taking a walk here and discovering exciting artworks,” says Thay Peng Kee, secretary basic of the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Hokkien Association (SKLHA), the cemetery’s custodian.
It positively was a supply of inspiration for the collaborating artists, who come from artwork, social activist, writing, avenue artwork and design backgrounds. They embrace Ahlan, Atelier BT 11, David Wong, Emily Chow, Fiqtriey Haqimiey, Poodien, Hishamuddin Rais, Rat Heist, and Sun Kang Jye, Matt Gan Sian Wei and Sun Chen Shuen.
The set up works seen outside present that whereas the cemetery might characterize the top of 1’s life journey, it’s also the start line for different lives.
Rat Heist’s ‘Untitled’ (combined media, 2022) set up. Photo: Lostgens’
“The work or theme of the reveals will concentrate on gratitude, tracing of historical past, cultural heritage and the pure and ecological atmosphere. The exhibition hopes to seize and convey the various and multifaceted elements and constructive spirit of the cemetery,” outlines the exhibition assertion.
Jelajah is organised by SKLHA and curated by Lostgens’ Contemporary Art Space in KL.
“We don’t want the public to think of the cemetery as belonging to just the Hokkien community. It is part of KL’s history and heritage. It belongs to everyone. It’s important for people to realise that. The cemetery’s preservation is a shared responsibility,” explains curator Yeoh Lian Heng.
Hishamuddin Rais’ work warns concerning the extreme slicing down of timber within the metropolis. Photo: Lostgens’
“We additionally did not need the exhibition to be simply concerning the artworks,” he provides.
According to Thay, as a part of the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2040, the Kuala Lumpur Hokkien Cemetery may very well be rezoned as a industrial space.
“We knew we needed to do something to raise public awareness to preserve this cemetery. One way to let people know that this is a place of heritage, history and a natural ecological park is through this exhibition at a cemetery. I don’t think this has been done before,” says Thay.
Yeoh says the exhibition would take about an hour to finish. But if you’re afraid of getting misplaced, don’t fear. You can get an artwork path map at the cemetery’s workplace. You also can scan the QR code subsequent to the artworks to know extra about every work and the artist behind them.
Poodien’s ‘Di Sini Pasti (Here Is Certain)’ (bamboo, rope, 2022) set up. Photo: Lostgens’
Yeoh recommends taking the guided tour to get probably the most out of the artwork and heritage path expertise.
Fiqtriey Al Haqimiey’s A Moment In Time Capsule pictures sequence is the one exhibit on show contained in the cemetery’s funeral home Good Fortune Pavilion. The 26 pictures right here doc the assorted chicken species discovered at the cemetery.
The different artworks are strategically positioned alongside a devoted path close to the cemetery’s walkway, which ends close to a bridge the place a stream flows beneath.
Hishamuddin Rais affords a well timed environmental-minded piece, which incorporates prints on canvas hung round timber with statements like: “This is my home. Don’t steal it” and “Why? Why did you kill me?”.
David Wong’s ‘Dulang’ (steel, woks, 2022) set up. Photo: Lostgens’
If the Jelajah exhibition is nicely acquired by the general public, Thay says that extra exhibitions at the cemetery and its surrounding space might be deliberate sooner or later.
Such a present affords the artists an opportunity experiment and to additionally entice a brand new viewers, says Yeoh.
“Exhibitions now want Insta-appeal, and Jelajah has a fantastic backdrop. But it’s also an opportunity for guests to study concerning the native artwork scene and the historical past of the exhibition website,” he provides.
Aside from the exhibition, the affiliation can be planning to beautify the cemetery by replanting 400 timber and changing the walkway right into a biking path.
The SKLHA, established in 1885, is chargeable for the event and administration of the Kuala Lumpur Hokkien Cemetery.
More data here.
