Figure 1: A fresh 2022 mural by PACAQ
14th January 2022 - A new year visual experience caught the attention of Alor Gajah's public. Situated at one of the rapidly commutes areas at the heart of Alor Gajah's roundabout, this mural artwork engages its community towards a fresh contemporary narrative. One significant towards our country's sustainable National Cultural Policy (DAKEN2021) on inclusive community.
Staged at the centre of Alor Gajah's landmark point, this interesting mural artwork is one of the many collaborations between Alor Gajah Municipal Council (MPAG) and Public Art Creative Aesthetic Quality (PACAQ). This fresh 2022 Alor Gajah attraction project is lead by Dr Sharmiza Abu Hassan as well as visually coordinated by Hisammudin Ahmad, both senior lecturers from the faculty of Art and Design, UiTM Alor Gajah, Melaka.
The location where the mural artwork is staged is at the centre of the Alor Gajah's busiest commute areas, in-front of Alor Gajah's main roundabout as well as its main square known as 'Dataran Alor Gajah'. The rapidly commute location addresses the mural artwork as a hallmark attraction on its own, through its interactive visual appearance of form and context. Thus, such visual appealing experience can be celebrated by any social media lover, upon taking their piece of post on Alor Gajah's new visual and story experience.
Elements of doodling appears as a contemporary art style suggesting new inviting experiences to be cherished by viewers from all generations and backgrounds. Such style portrays the significant nature of public art as being approached inclusively by all members of the public. In Contemporary Art, artists are interpretative agents who connects viewers inclusively, with entity and experience of an artwork produced, as opposed to the exclusiveness and conservativeness nature of modern and classical art.
A firm contemporary grip is evident as the approach of the mural artwork through its visual form and context. Rather than representing exclusive mono-cultural subjects of forms and figures portraying the three main races of Malaysia, this mural artwork depicts fresh visual subjects, regarded as fresh identities which connects its community in a universal manner. It is evidently viewed through the multiple architectural buildings which has been a dynamic facet of pride and prejudice of the communities in Alor Gajah. The new visual forms appears universal, however at the same time does not compromises its classical identities. This mural is a sign and symbol of Alor Gajah to engage forward towards a more diverse and sustainable community.
Figure 2: Left Section of PACAQ Mural in Alor Gajah
The whole mural artwork could be separated into two sections, in regards towards its respective visual context. The left section of this mural artwork depicts the narrative story of Alor Gajah from its outskirts areas of seascapes towards cityscapes. Nevertheless, the right section addresses the name of Alor Gajah, throughs its gastronomical concepts of dynamic geometrical forms.
The left section of the mural artwork itself as seen in figure 1 could be separated into two identical sections. It is separated by the junction sign of 'Masjid Tanah, Lendu, Pengkalan, Simpang Ampat' at the centre where the MPAG building is situated. The subjects in the left suggests landmark areas through its abundant nature of paddy fields, hill surfaces, mountains, as well as 'Cape Rechado' (Tanjung Tuan) lighthouse of seascape areas. Moreover the subjects in the right suggests dense populated areas of infrastructural development of the past and present of Alor Gajah. Structural buildings such as the 'A Famosa Outlet' is a symbol which suggest economic development and prosperity.
The mosque architectural buildings carries a spiritual narrative through its inclusive designs of pyramidal tiered rooftops resembling the pagoda's architectural element, as well as the 'Mahkota Atap' or Stupas situated at the peak of the rooftop, whereby testifies such rich and inclusively vibrant communities and culture found in Melaka, especially in Alor Gajah.
The typography on the right section of the mural artwork, proclaims a fresh visual direction for Alor Gajah. The typeface are inviting the audience towards a new direction of Alor Gajah, its curvilinear shapes as opposed to pointed and straightforwards shapes, celebrates a new inclusive message rather than being enclosed by pointed conservative points and lines. The concept represents Alor Gajah as embracing new developments and achievements in parallel towards such contemporary situation we find ourselves today.
The typeface encapsulates a gastronomical concept which promotes one of the beautiful sides of Alor Gajah, the delicious foods which colours the vibrant reality of Alor Gajah inside-out. In consequence, the stomach itself is one organ apart close to the heart, such vibrant symbolizing aspect can be viewed from the letter 'J' where its dotted-point is addressed suggesting the shape of the sun, vibrant and inviting.
The colours depicted in this mural artwork compliments the whole environment of the Alor Gajah Square (Dataran Alor Gajah), with its colourful colours and significant schemes found identical to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) cube artwork situated at the square.
The colourful experiences from the Alor Gajah Square is translated towards the direction of the mural artwork colour scheme, engaging fresh experience and ambience of host community and viewers around Alor Gajah. Hence, the identical colour scheme develops a sustainable character which suggests sustainable cities and communities (SDG11)
In a nutshell, this latest mural artwork project through the collaboration of MPAG and PACAQ is viewed as a successful contribution in responds towards UNESCO's Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG10 (Reduced Inequalities) leading towards, SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
A Contemporary Art approach remains significant in spearheading an inclusive visual direction for Alor Gajah, which encapsulates universal elements rather than exclusive, cliche, and conservative subjects, whereby at the same time does not compromises elements of its cultural identity altogether in a whole contemporary art approach.
PACAQ would like to congratulate Associate Professor Dr Azahar Harun, Dr Sharmiza Abu Hassan, Dr Rosli Zakaria, Visual Coordinators; Hisammudin Ahmad, Wan Zulkifle Wan Yaacob, Mohd Shaharudin Sabu, Shahrul Munir Kaulan, Ahmad Zuraimi Abdul Rahim, Mohd Saharuddin Supar, Azahari Khalip, Mohd Ali Azraie Bebit, and other contributing staffs and students responsible towards the development of this recent PACAQ public art project.
'Keep on Charging!'
MUSADDIQ MOHAMAD KHALIL
Department of Liberal Studies
UiTM Alor Gajah
PACAQ- UITM RIG 2022
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