Pudu Community Art Project
Pudu is one of the earliest settlements in Kuala Lumpur and it gives a distinctive identity and sense of space which directly contribute to the making of “Kuala Lumpur”. However rapid urban development has disjointed the visual and physical coherence where Pudu is largely neglected with inconsistency and piecemeal development that has adversely affected the quality of the streetscapes, which contributed to the decaying sense of community and loss of historical continuum.
With the collaboration with Lost Generation Art Space, a community-based outreach linking art, humanity and culture was initiated with various local stakeholders to raise the public awareness, to empower community participation and to educate the younger generation.
This project was initiated as an attempt to rediscover the significant cultural value of Pudu via a series of community-based arts and culture programs in the hope of engaging the locals in building the groundwork for communal bonding with the ultimate aim of revitalizing the community.
Date of Exhibition
11th – 25th September 2010
Opening Night
11th September, 2010
Venue
Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Events & Activities
oral history exhibition
pudu old photo exhibition
site-specific installation art
art bazaar
talk & sharing
treasure hunt
classic movie screening
t-shirt printing workshop
tugu drum circle’s workshop
pudu art, food & cultural tour
music, dance, art & theatre performances
my pudu – multimedia children workshops + exhibition
Acknowledgement
Organizer: Lost Generation Arts Space
Sponsors: Eu Yan Seng • Shaw Parade •
Pudu Plaza • Purple Cane
Supported by: Rukun Tetangga Pudu • Persatuan Penjaja-penjaja dan Peniaga-peniaga Kecil Pudu •
Dasein Academy of Art • UCSI University
Advisor: YB Fong Kui Lun
(member of Parliament Bkt.Bintang)
Media Partners: my fm • ai fm • 鄉音考古思想起 • Timeoutkualalumpur • Malaysiakini • merdekareview.com
Project Crew: Yeoh Lian Heng • Tsuji Lam • Joseph Teo • Foo Wei Meng • Chong Hui Ting • Chai Chik Ying • Eddie Choo • Tan Kean Hong • Ng Bee Peng • Allen Ng • Chan Lai Kuen • Chang Soo Ann • See Tho Chee Seong • Cheng Yen Pheng • Tiong Chai Heing • Tan Chung Wee • Chin Chaw Liang • Chua Wei Jie • Ching Yee • Mea Oon Hui Mei • Jimmy Choong • Sean Kan • Lee Zong Xun
Volunteers: Soh Ee Peng • Wong Sam Lin • Low Lryn • Low Yuen Zhee • Tong Siew Woan .• Ng Kim Ni • Shally Cheng Shy Leo • Soon Mei Ling • Ching Wan Bing • Chong Kim Chiew • Gan Sze Hooi • Law Chai Guan • Kek Yee Boon • Lim Tjun Wei • Oo Ching Tam • Chew Chai Hwee • Chong Soon Leong • Kow Yoong Xhin • Hooi Rui Yi • Poh Yong Sin • Kam Wei Chyi • Wong Jiing Yuan • Tommy Soh Teong Kok
The Project Objectives :
1) To discover and identify the unique characteristics and significant cultural value of the Pudu community.
2) To engage the local community in rediscovering old stories and memories of Pudu through the documentation of oral history shared by people who are part of the community.
3) To cultivate an appreciation of the cultural and environmental value of Pudu among the public and local community.
4) To strengthen the communal living and environment of Pudu based on its identity of culture and humanities via a series of art and cultural programs.
(1st) Pudu Community Surroundings
(2nd) Pudu Community Art Project Team
Oral History &
Field Research
The project team has been researching Pudu history through a process of interviewing local neighbourhood, residents and long term engaged individuals. Documentation process includes voice and video recording local histories through elderly individuals, local associations, variety of old occupation and industries lasted for few generations and religious places; scanning community old photographs and artifacts; as well as recce and photograph the significant architecture and landmarks of Pudu area.
Occupations for Generations
Associations & Individuals
Food Industries
The highlight of the project was a two-week Pudu Art Fest which consisted of various programs i.e. Pudu Old Photo Exhibition, My Pudu – Multimedia Children Workshop Exhibition, Coffee Table Books on Pudu’s selected point of interest, Oral History Exhibition, Pudu Site Model Exhibition and Site Specific Installation Art, Pudu Cultural and Art Tour, Treasure Hunt and Classic Movie Screening.
Exhibition
Oral History
Pudu Old Photo
Classic Movie Poster
Community Artifacts & Antiques
Multimedia Workshop Artworks
Dasein College Student Artist Books
Site-specific Installation Art
Pudu Jail Mural
by Sun Kang Jye + Gan Sian Wei
Pudu Jail’s mural is a juxtaposition of the scenes inside Pudu Jail. For instance, the comparison between the living conditions inside the jail and the beautiful landscape murals on the jail’s exterior walls. Ironically, these landscape murals were to reconcile the outsiders’ perception to the enclosed condition behind the walls. The artist uses an old shop roller shutter as a presentation platform, together with printed name cards collected from the printing shops in Pudu area (which is a common local impression to the place itself) to reproduce the Pudu Jail scene on site.
Your Life. Our History
by Kim Ng
Artist was using wood carving techniques to further “re-construct” the certain parts on the site which have been fallen apart or damaged, and it also fulfils the artist’s personal intention to “restore” those empty parts in hoping those work can stay there for long, or as permanent. Images of “Pudu life” were collected and turn into wood cut on thin panel, which then be fixed onto the original structure on the main entrance of Pudu Plaza.
Light Box Signs Installation
by Astrid Köppe
A series of 10 light boxes with abstract images of local impressions. The installation art pieces are created to blend into the existing kaleidoscope of signboards and light boxes. Their presence may not be instantly noticed, but when someone catches sight of them, they will appear somewhat mysterious, giving the passers-by something to puzzle about—a good way to start thinking, and hopefully, it will open their eyes to the beauty of everyday objects around them.
蛤蟆隨街跳
by Ho Wai Fong
The idea of this artwork is to replace the local tattered things as well as to maintain and preserve the existing appearance and culture uniqueness of Pudu. On the other hand, the audiences are able to see the “speechless residents” in the exhibition space.
My blessings . My hope
by Juleen Sew
“My blessings. My hope is based on this land. For generations to come, we will sing and rooted, reveal the glory from the past and never give up.”
Artist was using recycled traditional Chinese quilt (Bai Jia Bei) which normally passed on by one generation to the next as a medium of remembrance. Audiences were then required to tie the cloth strips to the metal branches in order to insert their deep blessings for this land. The view became a sea of flowers from a distance upon the installation art work completion.
New Cloths For “Her”
by Yim Yen Sum
“My artwork inquires into the relationship between people and relationship between people and environment. As from before, in the process of the transition from the old to the new, traditions have always been neglected by us. I want to explore ourselves in the process of transition from the old to the new, and, what affects us and also what is lost.”
Post Box Make the Home
by Teoh Joo Ngee
“I would like to create an extraordinary silent environment in terms of distance, angle and time. As a response to space, enabling each piece to find its own autonomous existence, from the Post Box Make the Home evolves intuitively as I draw inspiration from our own emotional responses to the evolving environment, hoping to create an internal landscape, which captures the essence of nature in motion.”
Performance Art
Durian Pudu Project
Collaboration Performance by Carlos Llavata (Spain), Goh Lee Kwang (Malaysia) and Vinci Mok (HK)
We believe it is no necessary to go into complex matter of art if we want to contact the gent of the area, but go into the attractive things of live that normal persons recognize and understand, to make them interested in and get them closer to the idea of community/ culture and to their historic background./ Carlos Llavata
In “Quote”, by making the sound concrete we can transfer the sound to different location, shifts to other scene, enable the sound to be known and become familiar once again./ Goh Lee Kwang
Stamping Project #2 – Pudu
by Liew Teck Leong
“A man, take care of their own bodies, help him take care of the world, the world will also affect the care of a person’s care of their bodies, both are extremely important.” Helen Lynd
Hope that through this Stamping Project as a “body extension”, while the body is a social phenomenon, our expression (body image) is not opposite to the end of this embodiment of the attendant with others. A group of people living in an enormous environment creates an extension of the body in shaping their own characters, histories, moralities and lifestyles.
The Classic Accent Team
Performance Art by Chong Keat Aun
Guqin by Leong Hao Yen
Photography by See Tho Chee Seong
“What else can I do? Do we need the accent, or, as contrary, the accent needs us?”
This is the artist introspection in initiating a series of local accent Folk Art, Performance & Culture project. The artist is collecting the traces of local folk culture which has been deteriorating by generations in order to revive its value to the current and future generation. Art performance was showed to local community and photographs were taken in variety of Pudu landmarks.
Cultural Tour
Architecture & Historical Tour
by Teoh Chee Keong
Heritage & Cultural Tour
by Tang Ah Chai
Japan Video Artists Visit Pudu Tour
by Yeoh Lian Heng
Pudu Culture & Art Tour
open tour for public during Pudu Art Fest
UTAR Student Pudu Tour
by Foo Wei Meng
New Era Student Pudu Tour
by Chong Hui Ting, Eddie Choo & Tan Kean Hong
Talk & Sharing
UCSI (architecture dept.)
Pudu site model talk & making progress
Educational Talk
by Lai Chee Kien
Oral History Screening
Open for public audience during Pudu Fest
MoonWalk Pudu Art Fest
During the festival opening on the 11 Sept at Shaw Parade, numerous art events and activities are scheduled throughout the day which significantly welcomed by the Pudu community and public audiences. In addition, traditional lanterns are distributed to the public, but more than just celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, the lantern parade is one of the many activities for people to discover a different side of Pudu. A series of performing art shows took place along the old Pudu street with dance, music and theatre performances.
Indoor Activities
Tugu Drum Circle’s Percussion
by Paul Lau
Drum workshops & performances are being held at one of the most familiar landmarks, Pudu Plaza on Pudu Art Fest opening day to gather all folks of life to join the multi-racial community festival.
Music & Sound Performances
Rainf – Electronic Music
Silent Keat – Electronic Music
Goh Lee Kwang – Sound Art
WVC Trio – Jazz Music
Soundscape – Rock Band
Yong Yandsen – Experimental Music
Pudu Rukun Tetangga – Choir
Malaysian Cross-Talk Society
Art Bazaar
art & craft market which contains variety of local handmade products & unique collection; photo exhibition by the Classic Accent Team; public are able to purchase Pudu culture map which contains the team data collection and documentation along with the oral history project; Stamping Project#2 performance art video documentation is displayed at the reception of the same venue.
Performances
Street Art Project – Requestioning Public Security and Safety
Street art performers: Lisa Foo(LFSS) & Aida Redza
Artistic director: Liew Kung Yu
Music: Saidah Rastam
To stir and bring life and tap on energy and behaviour of street to turn threatening and unsafe streets/spaces at Pudu into a fun playing in the street. An evening performance along the street with Aida Redza amidst eco-sculpture of light from thrash. With emotive and ephemeral sound accompaniment by Saidah Rastam, as the journey visualizes movement and imagine playful life in unsafe and restricted areas and spaces at Jalan Pasar.
Nyoba kan Butoh Dancer
Butoh dancers: Lee Swee Keong, Liew Chui Ting (Jess)
Artistic director: Lee Swee Keong
Nyoba Kan’s Butoh has been based on the ideology of cultivating the spiritual growth, among the growth of body, mind, and soul.The artistic director, Lee Swee Keong has combined various techniques and discipline acquired from the pioneers in forming his own Butoh philosophy. He believes that Butoh helps to reconstruct the body and the mind, providing a new perspective towards life and death, This is a form of spiritual expression far beyond the physical.
The Classic Accent Team
Performers: Chong Keat Aun, Mai Eng & Amy Mah
Guqin: Leong Hao Yen
Cantonese opera: 葉柏麟, 張妙玲
Hakka folk songs: 丘惠中
Music composer: Yii Kah Hoe
Photography: See Tho Chee Seong
Theatre
Chinese Musical Dance Epic:
Anak Malaysia
by Dua Space Dance Theatre
Live singing: Hakka, Teochew, GuangDong & Hokkien
“Anak Malaysia” tells the story of how the ancestors of Malaysian Chinese came and built their homes in this nation, depicting the emotions and history of the Chinese community rooting on this land. The production presents the harmonious scenery of all races living here in Malaysia on stage, promoting social integrity, and delivering blessings to our country.
Scenes in Pudu
Performers: Goh You Ping, Wong Qi Min, Happy Kee, Chin Lee Ling, Seng Soo Ming, Roax Tan & Jinnie Lim
Artistic director: Soon Choon Mee
Video: Au Sow Yee Sound: JJ
An entertaining performance which creatively combines street performance, traditional medicine show and theatrical play. A lively portrait of the simple life in Pudu seen through the eyes and told by the voices of an array of characters, such as a carpenter, an Indonesian daughter-in-law and a scissors grinder.
Lantern Parade
Soprano by Lau Yu Xin
Lion & Dragon Dance
by Pudu Rukun Tetangga
SJK(C) Kung Min student performance
