Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman - Asian Architecture

LIFE IN COLOUR

ASIAN ARCHITECTURE ARC60403 / ARC 2234

ASIAN ARCHITECTURE ARC60403 / ARC 2234 COPYRIGHT 2014, LIFE IN COLOUR, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in article and reviews.

TAYLORS LAKESIDE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

ASIAN ARCHITECTURE ARC60403 / ARC 2234 JALAN TUANKU ABDUL RAHMAN

P R O L O G U E Located in the heart of the city, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, often abbreviated to Jalan TAR, is a well-known traditional shopping district in Kuala Lumpur. It was and still is the shopping capital of Kuala Lumpur before modern shopping complexes took over the city. The colours of the buildings and various textiles brighten up and lightens the mood of the street, creating an impression of an exclusive lifestyle.

The pre-war buildings area the main elements along this stretch of road with its colorful distinctive facades, which have been preserved for retailing purposes. Both locals and tourists are able to engage in a different shopping and cultural experience while walking through the archways of shops along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, just like the years before. Colourful fabrics, textiles, and clothing are just some of the things that are offered by the shops with an irresistible bargaining price. Sogo Shopping Complex and Coliseum Theatre are also located along this stretch, which are famous for shopping and cinema respectively. Saturdays at Jalan TAR become more exciting as the back alley of the road, Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman, transforms into a market that features both local products, as well as local delicacies.

One of the key features that symbolises Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is colour. Colours can be interpreted in different ways, be it either literally or figuratively. Representing both the actual color of a subject or the emotions it evokes. Colour theory is the mixing of colours which forms a specific color combination. This will act as a reference to categorize the subjects in the photographs according to the colours that best describe them. Some of the colour theories that will be focused on are warm, cool, neutral, complementary, split-complementary, analogous, and triadic colors, as well as tint, shade and tone of colors.

The photo book will be separated into ten different parts, each with a specific color theory. Warm colours are made with orange, red and yellow which tend to make us think of heat and warmth, as it gives off a cozy feeling. Cool colours such as blue, green and purple have the ability to calm and soothe a particular visual. As for neutral, it usually means without colour or feelings. Black, grey, white and beige are known to be of neutral colors. Contrast in colours are considered to be complementary colours, as they are opposite each other in the color wheel. It helps to create a vibrant look and makes a subject stand out. This could also symbolise the opposing feelings seen in the photographs. Split-complementary colors are somewhat similar to complementary colours, but it has less tension. Creating serene and harmonious visuals are often done by using analogous colors, where the colors used are next to one another on the color wheel. It provides a pleasing feeling that can be represented figuratively. Triadic colour harmonies tend to be quite vibrant making the photographs lively. A color scheme using tints is usually soft, youthful and soothing. It is where a tiny touch of white is added to any colour, which is sometimes known as pastels. Whereas a shade is simply any color with black added. Shades tend to give off a deep, powerful and mysterious feeling. Tone is however more pleasing to the eye. Any colour that is greyed down is considered a tone, which are usually more complex, subtle and sophisticated. It can also represent the colourful sound made from different tones by various subjects.

The lifestyle of the Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is so rich that it can be appreciated throughout the street, back alleys,every nook and crammy. Through the photographs, the readers would be able to experience these colours in their own way. Life was meant to be colourful, so live yours in colour.

JALAN TAR - SHOPLOT

TINT TONE WARM COOL SHADE

TRIADIC NEUTRAL ANALOGOUS COMPLIMENTARY SPLIT - COMPLIMENTARY

JALAN TAR - MARKETPLACE

TINT

The lightbulbs located in the shops add a brighter tint to the space inside it. This creates a sense of liveliness to the shop. Besides that, the

otak-otak

seller’s

expression

contributes to the liveliness of the space.

photographed by Surayyn Selvan

A cheeky kid caught the attention of one of the workers who was giving out flyers to the pedestrians along the shop lots in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. To lighten up the day. To be working on a gloomy day outside of the shop and giving out flyers, the man who pinched the little boy’s cheek still have the mood on being cheerful and friendly to others. Similar to the general term for tint colours which is to add white from a darker hue.

photographed by Meera Nazreen

The mixture of his soul into his creativtity

spread

out

the

Tint-

ness, he is going to deliver after this scene of picture. His passion towards what he is doing will be sprayed later on for people to view which is full of pure tintness colour.

photographed by Adila ZAAS

A tint of waiting and choosing. Long stretches of shops with a vast variety of beautiful textile to choose from for the visitors around Jalan TAR. The shops are beautifully placed along the streets with an old school feel to it.

Shop owners can be seen waiting on the steps while hoping for visitors to choose from their collection of textiles.

photographed by Sharifah Diyana

The

salesgirl

customers

interacting

enquiring

on

with the

the scarfs.

A tiring day from working all day long but yet manage to keep up with a sincere smile is very admirable. To keep on being cheerful after dealing with lots of customers that day is needed.

To

still

be

having

vibrant

colour in life when the rest of the things around is bad shows that even with a hint of vibrant colour to be out in between dull hue and a complementary colour.

photographed by Meera Nazreen

photographed by Meera Nazreen

A waste picker who went through the trash can to find any goods useful still for himself Collecting garbage out of the trash can is not a job for everyone. This man dig through the trashcan behind him for his own happiness and convenient. Through the eyes of other people, he may be miserable or dull but perhaps as an individual, this man is adding a little more vibrant or lighter colour to his so-called dull life

TONE

The smoke caused by the satay seller producing different tones in the photograph. The vividness of the street is suppressed due to this but it adds a sense of modesty and repose

to

the

photograph.

The

different green and grey tones add variety to the photograph as well.

photographed by Surayyn Selvan

That tone of colourful talks and laughter. different

Friendships variety

of

built

from

people

that

everyone needs in their life. Just as seen by these two man, a shop owner and a security guard. Both enjoying

each

others

company

while being surrounded by colors.

photographed by Sharifah Diyana

A clown performing and selling balloon

tricks

outside

of

Sogo.

The clown sells vibrant colored balloons, and doing balloon tricks for the children in the area. He brought a sense of happiness and enlightens the gloomy

photographed by Jannah Jailani

area, especially during weather

after

the

rain.

The stall seller was sorting and arranging the brooches to be sold.

The

shimmering

surrounding

the

brooches stall

seller

harmonize with his cheerfulness, emitting a sense of peacefulness and positivity. It brightens and lightens up the atmosphere of the stall, despite the evening being rather dark and gloomy with the after-rain weather.

photographed by Jannah Jailani

The tone colour from the seller that always do their best by filtering the market to give what’s best for the customers. In addition, while cleaning up the shop it has the tone of arranging it in a nice way to attract people to come. It is really a beautiful tone to see.

photographed by Adila ZAAS

WARM

The

manager

checking

the

products and stocks of his stall.

The stall is covered in warm colors of the canopy and jerseys. The warm colors

gives

off

a

feeling

of

invitation and coziness to the stall.

The red canopy is the color of passion,

probably

to

show

the

passion for the sport of the jerseys. photographed by Jannah Jailani

Warm colours are said to give a sense of energy to a space when used. The theory behind this can be seen in this photograph where the use of vivid colours in this photograph create a very energetic atmosphere to this shop.

photographed by Surayyn Selvan

Warm colour that represent the greetings that they gave in Jalan Tar especially from the storekeepers. To attract and give a good service to customers is to spread the beautiful sion.

smile

through

Eventually,

once

every you

expresstep

in-

side any door of the shops there, the warm

colour

does

spreads

beautifully.

photographed by Adila ZAAS

A mother and her son riding a decorated trishaw along the street.

The feeling of warmth emitted by the pair who were riding a colorful trishaw. The mother’s facial expression was that of happiness and joy, being able to ride the nicely decorated traditional transportation.

photographed by Jannah Jailani

The

arrangement

of

textiles

in

shops

bring out the life of the space. It gives of a warm feeling for the visitors. Warmth can also be found in the sisterly love seen between these children. They were both busy

playing

with

one

another

while

waiting for their mom to be done with shopping.

photographed by Sharifah Diyana

COOL

The relationship between buyers and sellers. Choosing those specific colors of textiles around Jalan TAR isn’t something that is easily done, as well as selling them off. The shop owners were casually acting cool while trying their best to sell their product, and waiting for the customers to agree on a purchase.

photographed by Sharifah Diyana

The

feeling

by

waiting

family

of

just

for

keep

calm

transportation,

members

and

etc.

Just by sitting and chill by the roadside ness

gives within

out every

the

coolpeople.

photographed by Adila ZAAS

Cool colours are said to recede when used. The idea of recession can be seen in this photograph where the historical building is overwhelmed by the busyness of the street. It also adds a state of calmness to the street creating a sense of balance.

photographed by Surayyn Selvan

photographed by Jannah Jailani

A man was sitting outside a textile shop after the rain, tired of walking around the city.

Right after the rain, there were many people who went out from under the shade and started to walk around the city. Some, as the man above, were tired out from walking and waiting. Both types of people were shown in this picture, showing diversity in actions of the people in the area.

SHADE

Those colourful shade that keep on moving from a distance to another to promote, entertain and mesmerize the place give happiness to certain people. By being near or below the balloons shade, you have the temptation to grab it or being below it forever and see it floating in the air.

photographed by Adila ZAAS

Shades of red. Crossing junctions has never been this colourful before. Weekends are filled with people crossing the streets, especially with their loved ones. Families and friends take the time to enjoy themselves while they shop and walk around, apart from being together.

photographed by Sharifah Diyana

A very literal representation of shade can be seen in this photograph where the drink seller is shaded by the roof.

Due to this, different shades of the environment are produced such as the darker space within the shop and the brighter side where the customers are.

photographed by Surayyn Selvan

TRIADIC

One family sitting along the sidewalk while waiting for the other family members to be done with their shopping Exhausted from all the busy street, streets which are crowded with all the people walking through, to shop, site seeing or just running their businesses, these family still have the patience to wait for their mom who was still into shopping, on the sidewalk. Their active mom can represent

the

vibrant

colour

to

balanced out the dull hues, which is the family photographed by Meera Nazreen

Family,

Entertainer,

marketplace;

the three usual figures to be seen in Jalan Tar. These three colours give the perfect situation of being in Jalan Tar. It creates the beautiul Triadic Colour to mesmerize it with story, music, and business.

photographed by Adila ZAAS

Triadic colours would tend to result in vibrance due to the high degree of contrast. In this photograph, the variation of colours used for the towels gives the impression of incongruity. Despite that, the combination of colours balance each other out creating a sense harmony.

photographed by Surayyn Selvan

I see red, yellow and blue. I also see you. Food and drinks are also a big part of the view. Quenching his thirst after shopping while passing through. As the owner prepared the drinks, he prepared to pose for me too. Was that peace sign something you really had to do?

photographed by Sharifah Diyana

A little boy having his nap in the busy street of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman being strolled by the father The busy environment of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is still comfortable for the little boy to be sleeping in his trolley. A sleeping kid can be representing the vibrant colour in a triadic colour scheme as to be different is to stand out. In this case, the busy streets and noisy surrounding are as the accent which compliments the sound asleep kid photographed by Meera Nazreen

photographed by Meera Nazreen

A young foreign boy accompany his mother for some shopping at one of the textile shop in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Jalan TAR). A dominant colour with the help of two other colours as the accent would create a vibrant environment. The young boys eyes and his foreign facial act as the dominant colour in this situation. While the two other colours which act as the accent are portray by the local culture and people. The mixture of foreigners in a local scene increases the whole experience of being in this particular street.

NEUTRAL

Classic shades of neutral. Pastel colors in the background enhances the soothing mood of the moment, as well as the clothes worn by the mother and son. While the mom catches her breath, something else got the little kid’s attention.

photographed by Sharifah Diyana

A

child

was

staring

blankly

behind her mother, whilst she was choosing which scarf to buy. The lack of facial expressions from the child expresses a sense of neutrality in the picture. Despite the overall color composition of the picture being warm and vibrant, the indifferent manner of the child pales out the bright background and evens out the focus.

photographed by Jannah Jailani

This

is

the

most

usual

or

neutral

colour you can see in Jalan TAR. Say how colourful or cheerful the colour you think and

eventually it has become neutral to

people that keep always visiting this place.

In a way, it has been symbolic neutral colour to the place eventhough it is colourful.

photographed by Adila ZAAS

photographed by Surayyn Selvan

Neutrality is achieved through the overwhelming use of achromatic colours in the photograph as compared to the accented colour which is red.

It can also be seen through the balance of the composition of the photograph where the construction worker is positioned in between the Coliseum.

ANALOGOUS

For me, a street can be dull without the harmony from people and shoplots. That is why this picture actually aim to the vision of the street to highlight the anolougous that can be seen in the middle of stalls. Random people being in one street but they only open their mouth if they are interested to go to the side of streets full of shoplots and markets.

photographed by Adila ZAAS

Off floating balloons and bubbles. As the men make a living out of selling balloons, the kid was happily chasing and bursting bubbles. The colors red and yellow from the balloons complements each other. It brings out that colourful and cheerful vibe which can be seen throughout the street.

photographed by Sharifah Diyana

Sitting on the floor outside of a shop in Jalan TAR is not new and definitely not something foreign to the public there. Either its to rest or getting a little snacks, the people who does such activity there just blends in well with the whole busy street. It is not unpleasant for the eye of the people passing by there which makes the activity seems like it’s a new culture.

photographed by Meera Nazreen

photographed by Surayyn Selvan

Analogous colours are usually accented with dull coloured backgrounds and this can be seen in this photograph where there is a harmonious use of vibrant colours set against a very tectonic and man-made background. Due to this, there is a sense of serenity in the atmosphere.

COMPLEMENTARY

Complimenting each other between customers and shopkeeper to have the process of buying and selling in marketplace. Both of them will get benefits when they go back home but in different manner. What is beautiful to be seen is that the complimentary colour can be seen a lot in every shop when there is customers and shopkeepers.

photographed by Adila ZAAS

Vibrance is the main objective of complementary

colours.

In

this

photograph, the idea of vibrance is portrayed by the clown. The vivid colours on the clown creates a very lively atmosphere. However, the use of different colours also confuses the child.

photographed by Surayyn Selvan

A street artist spray painting in front of Sogo shopping complex.

Spray painting, being an uncommon preference of art technique, gives a contrast to the surrounding activities that mainly comprises of businesses.

The street artist was one of the main attractions along the main street.

photographed by Jannah Jailani

A man fanning satay over a small grill in front of a restaurant along the street. The existence of food culture in the area during market hours complements

the

textile

busi-

ness of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. It attracts more visitors to the area to solve the problem of famish and thirst during or after shopping

photographed by Jannah Jailani

A

pair

of

children

sticking

out

through a parked car’s window.

Although being a textile business dominant street, the presence of children

brightens

the

picture,

adding more colors to the already colorful street gives it life and youthfulness.

photographed by Jannah Jailani

A

lady

kindly

enough

donate

some money for the panhandler sitting outside one of the stores.

The relationship between these two strangers compliment each other like how the colour red would compliment with the colour green. Two different shades of colour combined together and produced a beautiful outcome.

photographed by Meera Nazreen

Complementing one another. The contrast of the background buildings to the surrounding brings out the beauty of the street. The people, textiles and balloons adds color to the street and gives it more life. Visitors can enjoy the colors seen throughout the stalls while taking a stroll down the street.

photographed by Sharifah Diyana

photographed by Meera Nazreen

Colours of the opposite of each other which will give out a WOW effect. The product would stands out. This picture of a band formed by 4 handicapped men playing their respective musical instruments increases the attention from the spectator or people around. People’s impressiveness represents the stand out product.

SPLIT - COMPLEMENTARY

A man paddling his

extravagant

trishaw around Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman was still be able to give out a big sincere smile and posed out a peace smile through the tiredness based on his sweats forming on the t-shirt just shows the vary complimentary. His smile is as to show a very vibrant colour through all of the dark colours which could be portray as his sweats and tiredness. photographed by Meera Nazreen

The idea behind the split complementary is creating contrast without too much tension. This can be seen in this photograph whereby there are two different shops but the flow of the textiles within the shops create a sense of moderation through continuity . The women also balance each other out although they are in two contrasting positions.

photographed by Surayyn Selvan

The extra complimentary that can be seen here through the picture. It has the same contrast between performers and audience because it had been transferred from the performers. Performers already have the value of complimenting the music but now, they deliver it to the listener for both side to compliment it together

photographed by Adila ZAAS

photographed by Jannah Jailani

A

roadside

colors

can

seller be

presenting

represented

toys by

for

the

sale different

to

a

family.

emotions

Different

and

facial

expression of the people in this picture. The child’s curiosity for the toys, the father’s reluctance to buy them and the seller’s hopefulness for a sale.