THE FORGOTTEN TOWN KOTA KINABALU’S OLD TOWN by Flanegan Bainon
Bandaran, used to be the only Town in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. (Malaysian Borneo) from early 60's till early 80's. After the new government and politician won the first General Election in Sabah. They decide to expand the Capital city of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu from the non-existed Water Village until The Port. In the mid 80's most of the commercial shop, famous restaurant, coffee shop moved to the new Commercial Center facing South China Sea. Only a few famous restaurant, night club, karaoke bar & hotels still decide to stay in the Old Town. 20 Years later, I decide to go and visit the Old Town and explore the whole area in early Morning before the place packed with Cars and People. The place haven't change allot, but the atmosphere and the architecture is very different than the new city located beside the sea. Most of the painted walls are torn and the color almost faded except the behind building just facing the forest hill. Most of the shops here are Coffeeshop for the elders, Design Print shop, Frame shop, Night Clubs and a few old top shop house mostly rented by the Immigrant. Most of the Immigrant are from the Phillippines, Indonesia and China. They still use the old tradition way to wash and dry their clothes outside. While the local living in the suburbs or apartment in the city already use washing machine and dryer because of car pollution. Most of local photographer never think of shooting or do a report about this Old Town in the city. I guess i am the first and maybe last photographer will only photograph this area after this area has abandoned by the local and city hall in early 90's. Well, I'll definately be back here again in 2 years times. Will the Forgotten Town be demolished by the city hall to develop more better place for the public, just repaint the building? or still remain the same Old Bandaran since 1960's?
Hello and welcome to my first crappy online publish book. And also my first Documentary about the first Commercial Town in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah in the early 60’s before the exist city stand. What makes me want to document the environment of Bandaran fraction? I never thought about it until I went there meeting my friend. I found out that this place was never get photograph by any Photographer (local or non local), It has a very unique kind of atmosphere for me, especially the old building and a few abandoned you can see from outside. One day, I decide to go there during the public holiday because less traffic and people for me to focus more on photograph the environment. Went there about 8am in the morning and start shooting with 4 rolls of 36exposure Fuji negative film until mid afternoon. Let me presents to you, my first online photography book made by myself. The Forgotten Town. The Forgotten Town at Night will continue when i’m back to my hometown by end of this year.
Text By : Flanegan Bainon
All Photos was taken with Nikon F80 SLR Film on Fujifilm Negative.
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER :
Flanegan Vester Bainon, from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia currently living in Melbourne, Australia pursue his lifetime dream career Bachelor of Art in Photography majoring in Photojournalism & Portraiture at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University. Grown up from an average family in the suburbs of Penampang called Petagas. Mixture of Borneo Native Ethnic (Murut and Kadazan) with Chinese (Hakka and Cantonese) Blood.
at Musee de l’Elysee Photography Exhibition. Got publish at X Games Malaysian Magazine in 2006 ; JPG Magazine Issue 9 under Elegant entitled Sunset Silhouette Skaters. For more information about him and his work, You can visit his personal website and also feel free to email him. Http://www.flaneganb.net - Main Website Http://www.flaneganb.net/blog - Personal Blog Flaneganb@gmail.com - Email Address.
He started to hold his first camera when he was 19 years old when his father bought Sony A100 Powershot for himself but ended up ‘stolen’ by Flanegan. His first interests shooting object was Extreme Sports where he met his friends every evening at the skatepark and shoot lots of Action Shots. 1 years later, His father bought him a Kodak Consumer camera that have a SLR function. Less than half a year, He got a job to cover Asian X-Games in Kuala Lumpur and his photo can seen at Rollernews.com and also B3session.com He purchase his first SLR Film when he study Graphic Design at a local college called Sabah Institute of Art because Photography is Compulsory for 1 year. After graduate as a Graphic Design employer. He decide to continue his degree study at Australia majoring in Photography for 3 years. From now on He still learning about Photography in terms of Business and also conceptual. So far, His work only got exhibit once in Switzerland in 2007
Kota Kinabalu’s Sunset in Black and White.
Kopishop Breakfast
Untainted Heart.
To the left
Colors of Ghana.
Unused Outdoor Sink
Contrasy Stairs
Laundry
Continuity
Dirty Pipe
Door & Grill
Outside the Kitchen’s Restaurant.
Early Morning