Last year I met
watercolours artist, Lee Chin Chian, when he made his project pitch to the Award Committee for the
Iskandar Malaysia Beyond Boundaries Programme (IMB2P) at the offices of Iskandar Regional Development
Authority (IRDA).
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| Guest-of-Honour, YB Sheikh Umar speaking at the opening event for The Art Journey of Pekan Nanas |
Lee, whose hometown is Pontian, had
applied for a grant to conduct a Sketch Walk through the Pekan Nanas new village
in the theme, Art Journey of Pekan Nanas.
This project would involve local and foreign
artists who would sketch and paint live scenes and wall murals in Pekan Nanas new
village while they experience the local culture and heritage.
I still remember the way Lee passionately described
his proposal and how participants of the Sketch Walk could appreciate the
on-location art experience along with the popular local food in this area.
I know that “new villages” have a significant role
in our nation’s history because it was in fact, a counter insurgency technique
employed by the British here in the mid-1950s during the Malayan Emergency.
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| Designs on wooden coasters, fridge magnets and key-chains inspired by window grille designs in new village homes |
New villages were formed by the relocation of the
population, mainly Chinese, into guarded camps in order to isolate them and
prevent the army insurgents led by the Malayan Communist Party, from receiving
their supply of food, material, information and in getting new recruits.
Since the nation’s independence in 1957, these
villages have evolved into residential areas and most have been demolished for
redevelopment.
The few that remain are precious pieces of history
and I can understand why Lee aims to preserve the charm and beauty of the Pekan
Nanas new village in his project.
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| Local art activist, Cha Ming Cheng and the range of wooden handicrafts inspired by Kampung Cina Pekan Nanas homes |
The Pekan Nanas new village, fondly known as
Kampung Cina Pekan Nanas, has some 70 years of history and is thriving, with
many homes still occupied by third generation families.
Fast-forward to mid-2019 when IRDA awarded the
shortlisted applicants with their IMB2P grants and the grantees went forward
with their art and culture projects.
Lee was among the grantees who did not hesitate in
embarking on his Art Journey of Pekan Nanas project in collaboration with
several local art activists.
On June 15, the group of invited guests arrived in
Pekan Nanas for a three-day-two-night art and heritage experience.
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| Cover design of the wooden trinket box that resembles the typical facade of a new village home |
They included 40 artists and 10 photographers, not
only from Johor but also from Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and China.
When I met Lee again, it was in Pekan Nanas at the
opening ceremony of an exhibition to showcase The Art Journey of Pekan Nanas.
Lee introduced me to local art activist, Cha Ming
Cheng of Batu 27 Creative, who proudly showed me the range of wooden
handicrafts in classic designs that were inspired by the window grilles of new
village homes.
Made from wood salvaged from wooden pallets, the
handicrafts were designed as coasters, fridge magnets and keychains as well as
a small trinket box, skilfully embossed with a range of window grille motifs
using a laser cutter.
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| Watercolour paintings of window grilles by Jonas Lim are converted into a series of picture postcards |
As Cha discovered the interesting range of metal window
grille designs in the new village homes, he wanted to preserve them for
posterity.
After he had captured the designs in photographs,
Jonas Lim, a young watercolour artist under Lee’s tutelage, was tasked with doing
a series of painting.
A total of 12 paintings of window grille designs
were painted by Lim and these pieces of artwork have been converted into
picture postcards.
A closer look revealed that the cover of the wooden
trinket box is designed to resemble the typical façade of a new village home: A
door in the centre – guarded by collapsible gates – and two windows on either
side of the door, open wide to display its metal grille designs.
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| Lee Chin Chian with a canvas created from the fibers of pineapple leaves |
He said all souvenir items may be sold separately
but the box set should contain one coaster, one keychain, one fridge magnet and
four postcards.
Cha was pleased that they have now produced the
first of many souvenirs that would remind visitors of the uniqueness of Pekan
Nanas.
I was pleased to learn that they already have plans
to set up a one-stop Visitors Centre in Pekan Nanas town for visitors to pick
up maps to the local attractions, arrange for guided tours and to buy souvenirs
and local products.
I’m familiar with new villages and admired these
paintings of authentic new village scenes, rendered in watercolours and oil
paints, that captured the essence of a gated and guarded community from a
bygone era.
There were no fences around the homes – simple structures
built mainly in wood, originally topped by thatched or zinc roofs but now by
tiles – and the shadows were cast by matured trees in the shared gardens.
It was significant that a section of the paintings
on display were painted on sheets of canvas created from the fibers of pineapple
leaves.
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| A section of the display with new village scenes painted on canvas created from fibers of pineapple leaves |
The Guests-of-Honour for the event were, YB Sheikh
Umar Bagharib Ali, the Paloh assemblyman with the portfolio for Information,
Entrepreneurship Development, Cooperatives and Creative Economy and YB Yeo Tung
Siong, state assemblyman for Pekan Nanas.
YB Yeo expressed his pleasure in how the charm of
Pekan Nanas was successfully captured by the various pieces of artwork
showcased at the exhibition and he hoped that such an event could become an
annual one.
He was also pleased that in October, this
exhibition on The Art Journey of Pekan Nanas, would be displayed at a venue in
Johor Baru, for more people to appreciate what Pekan Nanas has to offer.
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| Happy recipients of uniquely Pekan Nanas souvenirs; [Left to Right] YB Yeo Tung Siong, YB Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali and Yours Truly! |
YB Sheikh Umar said that Pekan Nanas was unlike
other Johor destinations like JB, Kota Tinggi or Mersing, and even though it is
a small town, it is big in talent.
He congratulated the organisers and commended them
for their initiative to carry out this art and heritage project which goes a
long way to bridge the local community and promote this small town to the rest
of Johor and beyond.
He encouraged them to continue in their efforts to
promote Pekan Nanas so that eventually, visitors who come to JB have a sole intention
to visit Pekan Nanas.
He also hoped that while the visiting artists were
in Pekan Nanas, there was a transfer of skills and education so that local
people learned from them and are empowered to do something beneficial for
themselves and the local community.
As a token of appreciation, Lee presented YB Sheikh
Umar and YB Yeo with his sketch portraits of the two Guests-of-Honour.
They were also each presented with a souvenir of
that wooden trinket box, complete with one coaster, one keychain, one fridge
magnet and four postcards, within.
It was my pleasure to receive a similar souvenir wooden
box too!
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