AIR Exhibition
Have a nice dream’s Lok Ann
Exhibition by Moelyono
On the 30th September 2013, the next day upon Moelyono arrival in Lostgens’ residency, Moelyono has encountered the final day of Lok Ann, a restaurant which had run the business for 74years at the century year old Sultan Street in Kuala Lumpur. Lok Ann had been forced to end its business due to land acquisition from the ongoing MRT project which includes future tunneling undergo the building. A massive number of Kuala Lumpur residents congregated in Lok Ann on that particular day to grab a chance for the last meal and farewell to the historical Lok Ann.
Moelyono, an artist who is profoundly sensible to the community has came across an idea to make an installation artwork, namely ” Have a nice dream, Lok Ann!”
Artist Statement
Have a nice dream Lok Ann
I came to Kuala Lumpur for residency on September 29, 2013. Yeoh picked me up at the airport with his car and we drove towards Lostgens Art Space on Jalan Panggung, passing by Lok Ann Hotel and the intersection of Jalan Petaling.
The next day, while I was looking for food in China Town, I passed by Lok An Hotel again, and I saw many people buying noodles at the ground floor of Lok Ann Hotel.
I was informed that there were many people at the coffee shop because Lok Ann hotel, constructed in 1938, will be demolished for the development of MRT.
As a visitor, I was shocked to hear the forced acquisition of a historical heritage hotel. Malaysia is a dream country to work in for Indonesian workers. The image of Malaysia is rich, prosperous and represented by the awe of Twin Towers.
As an artist, demolishment of a historical heritage building is something really wasted and disheartening. This is the paradoxical process of a developing country, chasing after the lifestyle of industrial nations for profit through the building of mass rapid transportation system that bulldozes through cultural heritage which has endured the change of times.
Artists create architectural work, which are recognized and appreciated by the society as icons and identities of a community. Now, in the age of industrialism, status is based on consumerism lifestyle. City icons, cultural creations should not be abandoned or neglected, or being used for political advantage.
My residency will take about a month, creating paintings and installation as a reflection of myself as an artist. Will Indonesia, with its pulse in the capital of Jakarta, suffer the same impact of cultural historical heritage demolishment to make way for the monorail construction? The wave of globalization and industrial lifestyle is now clearly constructing our mind, will we still have dreams to pursue? Have a nice dream Lok Ann.
Bio
Moelyono is an artist and writer in Tulungagung, East Java. Moelyono was born in the city of Tulungagung, East Java, on 5 August 1957. He spent his childhood in this place but he went to Jogjakarta, Central Java, in the 1980s to study painting at the Institute of Indonesian Arts (Institut Seri Rupa Indonesia). Soon after completed his study in Jogjakarta he went to Jakarta to work in a number of jobs in the advertisement industry. However, he decided to return to his hometown to become ‘a community-based artist’ working with the fishermen children in Brunbun village, near Tulunggagung and other places in Indonesia. Influenced by Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, he has become well known for his successful efforts to encourage workers to engage with local political issues through community theatre.
Lostgens’ Artist Residency Project 2013
Date of Exhibition
24th Oct – 3rd Nov 2013
Opening
24 Oct 2013 , 8.00pm
Opening Guest
Wong Hoy Cheong
Opening performance
Race Phua
Venue
Lostgens’ Contemporary Art Space
