Unity Canvas
Malaysia's 63rd Independence Day Community Art Installation, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
Organized by Art WeMe Contemporary Gallery & sponsored by Faber-Castell
Photos courtesy of Leandro Yeliche & Yo-Han
This is what happens when ideas are made real. Many years ago I had an idea to make a collaborative installation / work of art that involves the community in public spaces to draw, paint and color whatever they wished onto a large canvas / surface. At the time, the proposal didn't happen, but I believe now - Perhaps the timing was not right yet.
In 2020, that initial spark of an idea became reality. I got a call from my gallery Art WeMe Contemporary Gallery and Su-Fei - the gallery owner was in talks with the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur marketing team about an Independence Day campaign to unite shoppers at the main concourse with an art-themed colouring event / exercise. Su-Fei asked me whether I could produce a drawing that could be printed to a 3.5ft x 40ft scale. Because I already had the intention from before, I said yes, let's do it.
Dreams do happen. Have the courage to work on your craft, have pride in your work and always believe. Four 40 foot prints were made, attached to the podium, coloured in by the public - for a duration of an entire month. The completed works were then displayed at the concourse of Pavilion KL.
Art is a yardstick on how society is doing. Just looking at all those face masks, graffiti, abstract marks and wordings - They were not part of the original drawing. These are the marks of the people. They are gems which were unearthed; beautiful things that people are capable of making.
I'd like to thank all the teams who worked hard for this project who brought all the elements together to make this a success. Thank you, and thank you to all the random strangers who participated in this community endeavour. It warmed my heart to see everyone come together in the spirit of making art.
Nicholas Choong, August, 2020
Malaysia's 63rd Independence Day Community Art Installation, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
Organized by Art WeMe Contemporary Gallery & sponsored by Faber-Castell
Photos courtesy of Leandro Yeliche & Yo-Han
This is what happens when ideas are made real. Many years ago I had an idea to make a collaborative installation / work of art that involves the community in public spaces to draw, paint and color whatever they wished onto a large canvas / surface. At the time, the proposal didn't happen, but I believe now - Perhaps the timing was not right yet.
In 2020, that initial spark of an idea became reality. I got a call from my gallery Art WeMe Contemporary Gallery and Su-Fei - the gallery owner was in talks with the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur marketing team about an Independence Day campaign to unite shoppers at the main concourse with an art-themed colouring event / exercise. Su-Fei asked me whether I could produce a drawing that could be printed to a 3.5ft x 40ft scale. Because I already had the intention from before, I said yes, let's do it.
Dreams do happen. Have the courage to work on your craft, have pride in your work and always believe. Four 40 foot prints were made, attached to the podium, coloured in by the public - for a duration of an entire month. The completed works were then displayed at the concourse of Pavilion KL.
Art is a yardstick on how society is doing. Just looking at all those face masks, graffiti, abstract marks and wordings - They were not part of the original drawing. These are the marks of the people. They are gems which were unearthed; beautiful things that people are capable of making.
I'd like to thank all the teams who worked hard for this project who brought all the elements together to make this a success. Thank you, and thank you to all the random strangers who participated in this community endeavour. It warmed my heart to see everyone come together in the spirit of making art.
Nicholas Choong, August, 2020