SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia (MASSA) Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Architecture Asian Architecture _ ARC 60403/ ARC 2234 PROJECT 2: DOCUMENTATION STUDY PHOTOBOOK: JALAN TUN H.S. LEE, KUALA LUMPUR _ CULTURAL HARMONY JUNE 2015
JALAN TUN H.S. LEE (TUN H.S. LEE STREET ; 敦李孝式街)
CULTURAL HARMONY JEREMY TAY EUJIN JOSHUA TING SING RONG TAN MING LONG VENDY WILLIAM WONG KAH VOON
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CONTENT
THE PLAY OF PEOPLE AND APERTURES
CULTURAL BELIEF
LANE OF DISCOVERY
BUILDING SKIN DEVIATIONS
CULTURE ORNAMENTATIONS
INTRODUCTION
FOR CENTURIES IN KUALA LUMPUR, MERCHANTS AND PATRONS
HAVE WANDER UP AND DOWN THE VITAL ARTERY AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN TODAY AS JALAN TUN H.S. LEE THAT STRETCHES FROM TELEKOM MUSEUM ON JALAN GEREJA UP SOUTH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO WISMA TUN SAMBATHAN IN BRICKFIELDS. THERE ARE NO
INTRODUCTION
OFFICIAL
DOCUMENTS
STATING
WHEN
THE
STREET
WAS
CONCEIVED BUT OUR ANCESTOR ORIGINALLY CALLED THIS
HUMBLE TARMAC ROAD AS HIGH STREET, THEN JALAN BANDAR. EVENTUALLY, THE STREET WOULD BE ABBREVIATEDLY NAMED AFTER MALAYSIA'S FIRST FINANCE MINISTER COLONEL TUN SIR HENRY LEE HAU SHIK. THE APPROXIMATELY 1 KM STREET IS PUNCTUATED BY INTERSECTIONS SUCH AS SUCH AS JALAN TUN PERAK, JALAN TUN TAN SIEW SIN, JALAN HANG LEKIU, LEBOH PUDU, JALAN TUN TAN CHENG LOCK, JALAN HANG LEKIR AND JALAN SULTAN RUNNING ACROSS.
THIS HISTORICAL ROAD IS OFTEN UNDERRATED IN PROMINENCE AMONGST VISITORS DUE TO THE POPULARITY OF ITS NEIGHBOURS, JALAN PETALING AND JALAN SULTAN WHICH ARE RENOWNED FOR THEIR MANY STREET VENDORS. THIS MEANS THE STREET IS RELATIVELY QUIET THROUGHOUT THE DAY, WITH MUCH OF THE FOOT TRAFFIC DEPENDENT ON RELIGIOUS FUNCTION AND EATING HOURS. MOST
SHOPHOUSES ALONG THE STREET ARE ORIENTATED AROUND THE VARIOUS RELIGIONS AND SELL MAINLY CEREMONIAL FLOWERS, FOOD AND TRINKETS. THIS MODEST STRETCH OF TARMAC DOES ATTRACTS A STEADY STREAM OF VISITORS DAILY THROUGH ITS TREASURE TROVE OF FAMOUS FOOD OUTLETS SUCH AS LAI FOONG RESTAURANT, KIEW YEE BARU RESTAURANT, SOONG KEE BEEF BALL NOODLE AND HONG NGEK RESTAURANT.
DESCRIPTION THE SINGLE FILE TWO WAY STREET IS FLANKED BY BROAD SIDEWALKS AND SOME 200 SHOPHOUSES WHICH HAVE RECEIVED MIXED
PRESERVATION BY TENANTS OVER THE AGES. THE STREET IS THE FOREGROUND TO TRUE MALAYSIAN'S HISTORIC GEMS SUCH AS SRI MAHAMARIAMMAN TEMPLE AND SIN SZE SI YA TEMPLE (1864). THE FORMER WAS FOUNDED IN 1873 MAKING IT THE OLDEST HINDU TEMPLE IN KUALA LUMPUR AND FEATURES AN ORNATE 23M TALL 'RAJA GOPURAM' TOWER THAT IS EMBROIDERED WITH DEPICTIONS, GODS AND DEITIES MADE BY ARTISANS FROM SOUTHERN INDIA. WHILE THE LATTER IS A STANDING REMINDER OF YAP AH LOY, THE FOUNDING FATHER OF KUALA LUMPUR. ANOTHER UNMISTAKABLE LANDMARK IS THE CRIMSON RED GUAN DI TEMPLE (1887) THAT WAS FORMERLY A COMMUNITY CENTRE FOR CHINESE IMMIGRANTS. AN IMMENSELY UNIQUE FEATURE OF JALAN H.S. LEE IS THE LEE LAM THYE WET MARKET,
WHICH IS A PRESERVED ANOMALY WHERE TIME SEEM STAGNATE WITHIN A BUSTLING CITY.
ARCHITECTURALLY, THE STREET FEATURES MAINLY TRADITIONAL CHINESE SHOPLOTS WITH A NARROW YET SYMMETRICAL FRONTAGE WITH INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS STYLES INCLUDING ART DÉCOR, EARLY MODERNISM AND PALLADIANISM. THE OLDER BUILDINGS ARE ADORNED WITH INTRICATELY CHISELLED STONE ORNAMENTS RESEMBLING NATURE AS A DISPLAY OF OPULENCE, WHILE NEWER BUILDINGS EXCLUDE THESE TO EMBRACE SLEEK STRONG LINES. THE SHOPHOUSES ARE BUILT OUT OF BRICK WHILE NEWER ESTABLISHMENTS ARE MADE FROM REINFORCED CONCRETE. COLOUR PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CHINESE ARCHITECTURE TO ADD ANOTHER DIMENSION OF MEANING TO A BUILDING, FOR EXAMPLE RED, BLUE AND GREEN ARE CONSIDERED AUSPICIOUS. THIS CAN STILL BE SEEN TODAY BY THE VIBRANTLY REPAINTED WALLS. THE LEE RUBBER TRADE ASSOCIATION BUILDING STANDS TALL ON THE CORNER OF JALAN H.S. LEE AND JALAN HANG LEE, STILL STRUTTING ITS MODERNIST ART DECO LINES AND STRONG GEOMETRY.
NOT ONLY CAN THE TRADITIONAL VASTU SHASTRA INDIA STYLE ARCHITECTURE CAN BE USED IN AND AROUND SRI MAHAMARIAMMAN TEMPLE BUT ALSO CORBEL WOOD BRACKET SUPPORTS ("DOUGONG") HOLDING UP A MULTI-INCLINED ROOF OF THE SIN SZE SI YA TEMPLE AND GUAN DI TEMPLE.
TODAY AND BEYOND EVOLUTION AND CHANGE IS INEVITABLE FOR ANYTHING THAT WANTS TO SURVIVE IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD, THE CENTURY OLD SHOPHOUSES HAVE EACH FARED DIFFERENTLY THROUGH THE TIMES. AT STREET LEVEL, SOME HAVE BEEN CONVERTED INTO CAFES AND EATERIES WHILE UPPER SPACES ARE CONVERTED HOMESTAYS, ALTHOUGH MANY ARE NOW ABANDONED. FORTUNATELY, MANY SHOPHOUSES REMAINED UNTOUCHED AND STILL HOSTS TRADITION TRADES SUCH AS TEXTILE, SUNDRY AND CHINESE MEDICINE OPERATED BY THE ORIGINAL TENANTS. STROLLING DOWN THE SIDEWALKS, ONE MAY NOTICE GAPS IN THE FACADES, AS NEWER BUILDING ARE MADE TALLER WITH SETBACK RULES TO ACCOMMODATE FUTURE ROAD EXPANSIONS WHICH WOULD SPELL THE END FOR MOST OF THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS. MALAYSIA HAS RECENTLY REALISED THE HISTORICAL VALUE OF THIS STREET AND PLACED IT UNDER THE NATIONAL HERITAGE TRAIL, MAKING IT A PRESERVATION PRIORITY. HOPEFULLY, THIS STREET WILL BE ABLE TO WEATHER FUTURE CHANGES AND RETAIN THE ESSENCES OF ITS MOMENTOUS PAST.
CULTURAL HARMONY MALAYSIA EXISTS BECAUSE OF ITS MAINSTAY RACES; MALAYS, INDIANS AND CHINESE COEXISTING PEACEFULLY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE NATION. IT HAS LONG BEEN THE AIM TO CREATE A SOCIETY THAT IS TOLERANT TOWARDS EVERYONE’S CULTURAL BELIEFS AND PRACTICES. THIS BELIEF IS EVIDENT THROUGHOUT JALAN H.S. LEE, WHERE THERE ARE PLACES OF WORSHIP FOR THE DIFFERENT RACES AND PEOPLE OF ALL ETHNIC ORIGIN CAN FREELY TRADE WITH ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION OF COLOUR AND IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR WELL OVER A CENTURY. THE VARIOUS ARCHITECTURAL STYLES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH RACE IS LEFT TO FLOURISH AND DIMINISH AT ITS OWN WILL.
THE MAN BEHING THE NAME NOT EVERYONE CAN GET A STREET NAMED AFTER THEM, LET ALONE ONE WITH SUCH SIGNIFICANCE. THIS GESTURE IS INDEED A REFLECTION OF LEE'S COLOSSAL CONTRIBUTION TO MALAYSIAN SOCIETY. BY THE TIME DEATH DAWN ON LEE IN 1988, LEE HAD ACCUMULATED A VAST LIST OF ACCOLADES THAT WARRANTED SUCH AN HONOUR. HIS LEGACY INCLUDED POSITIONS AMONGST MALAYSIA'S POLITICAL AND BUSINESS ELITE THAT HELP SECURE THE NATIONS SOVEREIGNTY. HE IS SUCCEEDED BY TWO SONS WHO HAVE ALSO FOLLOWED THEIR FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS INTO THE POLITICAL SPHERE. IN 1900, A NEWLY BORN LEE WAS FORTUNATE TO BE AN HEIR TO WEALTHY KUM LUN TAI, A PROMINENT ENTERPRISE DEALING IN TIN MINING, SILK AND REMITTANCE WHICH STARTED IN ZHENLONG, CHINA. AT THE MERE AGE OF 24, AN ENTHUSIASTIC LEE MIGRATED TO THE MALAYA, WITH THE AIM OF SPREADING HIS FAMILY’S BUSINESS AFFLUENCE THROUGHOUT SOUTH EAST ASIA. UNLIKE MANY OTHER MIGRANTS FROM CHINA AT THE TIME, LEE STUDIED LAW AND ECONOMICS AT THE PRESTIGIOUS CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY IN SOURCE: THE STAR ONLINE
ENGLAND. LEE'S BUSINESS INFLUENCE AND OUTSPOKENNESS LED HIM TO FORM THE MALAYAN CHINESE ASSOCIATION (MCA) ALONG WITH LEONG YEW KOH AND LIM CHONG EU WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT POLITICAL PARTY IN GAINING MALAYSIA'S INDEPENDENCE. SOON AFTER, HE WAS APPOINTED FINANCE MINISTER BUT RETIRED 3 YEARS LATER TO FOUND RHB BANKING, MALAYSIA'S FIFTH LARGEST BANK.
CULTURE ORNAMENTATIONS JEREMY TAY EUJIN
Auspicious skin Colours play a vital role in adding depth and meaning to Chinese architecture. Buddhists go to Temples just like Sin Sze Si Ya and Guan Di to pray for prosperity and well being. The colours red and green represent the former and latter respectively.
EVER PRESENT Although modernist style essentially tried to kill off all forms of unnecessary ornamentations but geometrical accent pieces with subtle colours nicely complement the strong brick lines
A PLACE FOR THE GODS Worship is only for speaking to heavenly beings and no where more done so than a temple. It is common to use visualizations of such adorned atop temples to create a stronger between devotees and the divine.
MIX TILL CONSISTENT As the various cultures progressed together, so did the architecture and the ornamentation that goes along with it. It essential now to design ornamentation that is accommodating towards all three races: Malay, Chinese and India. A common denominator that please all three is geometry.
NEW OLD OR OLD NEW Ornamentation are more than just beautifying objects. A corbel is a structural stone component evolved from the traditional Chinese ‘dougong’ or cap and block bracket system that looks highly impressive.
EVEN IN THE DARK In the absences of light, Indian ornamentation that depicts the various gods and deities appear ghastly different.
IT IS THE LITTLE THINGS Animal ornamentation create a mythical atmosphere that can sometimes instill a sense of fear and humbleness amongst devotees.
STANDING STRONG At its core, a column may be a cylinder or elongated cube but tectonics can change the way something so simple is perceived.
UNWORLDLY IMAGINATION A three dimensional wall motif of mythical beings such as dragons and phoenixes make reality more interesting.
NATURE REINVIGORATED It is difficult to find greenery in a hustle and bustle cityscape, therefore nature inspired motives revitalise spaces.
BUILDING SKIN DEVIATIONS THE STREETS OF TUN H.S LEE IS FLOODED WITH BUILDINGS OF DIFFERENT STYLES FROM DIFFERENT ERAS DUE TO THE EARLY MODERNISM MOVEMENTS AND VARIOUS RACIAL CULTURES. WHAT SEEMS TO BE OFF IS THAT EVEN THOUGH ALL THESE BUILDINGS HAVE A DIFFERENT BUILDING ENVELOP, THEY ALL SEEM TO FIT PERFECTLY INTO THE AMBIANCE OF THIS PICTURESQUE STREET, SIDE BY SIDE.
JOSHUA TING SING RONG
A HANDCRAFTED FACADE THE REPETITIVE FORMS ADORNING THIS SHOPHOUSE ARE SIMILAR, BUT DEFINTELY NOT IDENTICAL IF YOU GET A CLOSER LOOK. THE INTRICATELY HANDCRAFTED BUILDING SKIN IS WHAT MAKES THIS SHOPHOUSE STAND OUT IN ITS TIME BEFORE THE FLOURISH OF MACHINERIES. THIS ACT MIGHT SEEM ABSURD DURING THAT TIME, BUT IN THE END IT IS REMEMBERED WHILE ALL THE OTHER SHOPHOUSES ARE JUST ‘ANOTHER SHOPHOUSE’.
CRIMSON HAVEN THE RENOWNED “GUAN DI” TEMPLE FORMERLY SERVES AS A COMMUNITY CENTRE FOR CHINESE IMMIGRANTS. ONE OF THE GREATEST SERVICE THIS FORMER COMMUNITY CENTRE HAS DONE IS TO HELP THE IMMIGRANTS DELIVER LETTERS TO THEIR FAMILIES IN CHINA. THE RED AND GREEN COLUMNS AND POSTS ON THE BUFFER WALL OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE ARE PAINTED ACCORDINGLY TO CHINESE PROPITIUOUS COLORS THAT SUGGESTS THAT THE PASSING ON OF THE CHINESE LEGACY ARE ONLY POSSIBLE DUE TO THE SERVICE THE TEMPLE HAS ONCE DONE FOR ITS PEOPLE.
ART DECO ENTABLATURES STANDING DISCREETLY IN THE CORNER OFA BUSY CROSSROAD, THE LEE RUBBER BUILDING’S ART DECO FEATURES IS FIRST GIVEN OUT BY ITS FAUVIST COLORS. ITS’ ART DECO SPANDRELS ACCENTUATE THE SPACE BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE WINDOW IN ONE STOREY AND THE SILL OF THE WINDOW IN THE STOREY ABOVE CREATING A SENSE OF THEATRIC OPULENCE WITH REPEATED GEOMETRIES.
STATUS REINSTATED THESE CENTURIES-OLD SHOPHOUSES HAVE SUFFERED THE CRUEL TIDE OF TIME. WHILE THEY’RE STILL STANDING STRONG, THEY DESPERATELY NEED REPAIRS AND REFURBISHMENTS. OWNERS OF THESE SHOPHOUSES HAVE SEEN TO IT THAT THESE SHOPHOUSES WERE MERELY RESTORED TO THEIR FORMER GLORY AND NEVER FULLY DEMOLISHED. WITH A NEW COAT OF PAINT AND MINOR RENOVATIONS, THE SHOPHOUSES CONTINUE THEIR WATCH OVER THE STREETS OF TUN H.S LEE.
THE GREAT IN LITTLE THINGS THE BUILDING RENOVATIONS PHILOSOPHY DURING THAT ERA WAS SIMPLE, YOU ONLY BUILD WHAT YOU NEED. IT’S THE ONLY THING THAT DISTINGUISHES SHOPHOUSE FROM SHOPHOUSE. THIS PARTICULAR FAMILY DECIDED THEY NEEDED A ROOFTOP BALCONY, AND SO THEY GOT ONE OVERLOOKING THE OPPOSITE STREET WITH THE SAME REPEATING SHOPHOUSE AGAIN AND AGAIN.
RACE YOU TO THE TOP HIGHRISERS WERE INTRODUCED AS SOON AS THE EARLY MODERNISM MOVEMENT STRIKES MALAYSIA. THE AEC EDUGROUP (M) SDN BHD BUILDING IS ONE OF THE FIRST HIGHRISERS TO EMBRACE THE MALAYSIAN SKY. BEING THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE ENTIRE JALAN TUN H.S LEE, THE HIGHRISE LOOMS OVER ITS NEIGHBOURS, STILL WAITING FOR A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT.
DIRELICT MEMORIES THESE TWO SHOPLOTS LAY IN RUINS DUE TO REASONS UNKNOWN. ALL THAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE MEMORIES OF THESE TWO BUILDINGS ARE ALREADY FORFEIT FOREVER.
FAITH’S FORTIFICATION THE FAÇADE OF THE SRI MAHAMARIAMMAN TEMPLE IS RICHLY EMBROIDERED WITH FINESSELY SCULPTED HINDU ORNAMENTS AND DEITIES AS A SYMBOL OF FAITH. THE TEMPLE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, MAKING IT THE OLDEST HINDU TEMPLE IN MALAYSIA. THUS, BY MAINTAINING THE TEMPLE IN A GOOD SHAPE, THE HINDU COMMUNITY PAYS THEIR TRIBUTE TO THEIR GODS AS PLEDGE TO FORTIFY THEIR FAITH.
MODULAR AGGRESION THE RUBBER TRADE ASSOCIATION OF SELANGOR & PAHANG BUILDING IS WHAT MARKS THE RISE OF MODERNISM IN MALAYSIA. THE AGGRESION OF THE ARCHITECT TRYING TO MERGE TWO FAÇADE DESIGNS INTO ONE BUILDING IN A MODULAR SPACE GAVE BIRTH TO THE TRADE HEADQUARTERS RESIDING THE BUSY CROSSROAD OF JALAN TUN H.S LEE.
STREET REFLECTION THE MALAYA HOTEL SHARES ONE OF IT’S FAÇADE COLOR WITH ANOTHER BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET, CREATING A PLEASANT PICTURE TO THE EYE. WHILE NOT SURE WHETHER THE COLOR SCHEMES WERE PLANNED ON PURPOSE, IT DEFINITELY ENDED UP WELL.
LANE OF DISCOVERY (FIVE-FOOT-WAY; KAKI LIMA ; 五脚基) CORRIDORS THAT FULL OF HUSTLE AND BUSTLE, COLOUR, TEXTURE AND VARIOUS STUFF ARE THE ONES I FOUND TO BE INTERESTING AND EXCITING. A HERITAGE THAT SHOULD BE PRESERVE FOR AN IDEAL COMMUNAL SPACE.
TAN MING LONG
SIGN BOARD THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE BUSINESS WHICH HAD BROUGHT MUCH JOY TO THE SHELTERED CORRIDOR. TYPE OF BUSINESSES CAN BE EASILY IDENTIFIED AND SPOTED BY RECOGNIZING THE STUFF PLACED ALONG THE FIVE-FOOTWAY. AN EXTENDED SPACE FOR THE TRADERS FOR DISPLAYING MORE VARIETY OF PRODUCT TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS.
HANG OUT WITH HARMONY A SENSE OF HARMONY THAT TOUCH MY HEART WHEN I PASSED BY A FLORIST WHICH MANAGE BY INDIAN. WITHOUT ANY HATRED AND DISTURB, RED LANTERNS WITH CHINESE WORDS WHICH BELONGS TO THE FORMER OWNER ARE STILL HANGING WITH STRING FLOWERS AT THE FIVE-FOOT-WAY GRACEFULLY.
WAITING MOMENT AN OLD MAN SITTING AT THE CORRIDOR WHILE WAITING HIS NEW KEY MAKE BY A KEYMAKER. THIS SCENE REMIND ME OF MY CHILDHOOD THAT I WAS SITTING AT THE FIVE-FOOT-WAY, LOOKING THE PEOPLE WALKING BACK AND FORTH ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
LOOKING BACK A MAN TAKES A BREAK AND WANDER AT THE FIVE-FOOT-WAY AFTER A TENSE AND RESTLESS DAY OF WORK. THE OWNER OF TOONG BEE TEXTILES SDN BHD, WHO HAS BEEN LOOKING THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATION OF AGES FROM THE PAST TILL TODAY.
NEW FRIEND FOUND A BENCH AT THE FIVE-FOOT-WAY; A WONDERFUL SPACE OF MAKING NEW FRIENDS. TWO TRAVELLERS HAVING A JOYFUL CONVERSATION ABOUT THEIR TRAVELLING EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE A GUESTHOUSE. THE FIVE-FOOT-WAY IS A WELCOMING SPACE AND COMFORTABLE FOR ALL KIND OF PEOPLE DESPITE THEIR RACE, RELIGION OR BELIEF.
TELEPHONE CORRIDOR NOT AT THE TELEPHONE BOOTH, BUT AT THE FIVE-FOOT-WAY, CHATTING WITH FRIENDS BY A PUBLIC PHONE CALL. RECALL THE MOMENT WE HAD TOGETHER; WE EXPLORED EVERY SHOPS, BOUGHT SNACKS AND SWEETS, HAVING FUN AND RUNNING THROUGH ‘OBSTACLES’ ALONG MEMORY LANE – FIVE-FOOT-WAY.
BETWEEN TABLES A MOMENT THAT PASSING THROUGH A FIVE-FOOT-WAY WHICH CONTAINS WITH FOOD AROMA; ENJOYING THE OLD TASTE OF CANTONESE FOOD AT THE CORRIDOR OF KIEW YEE BARU RESTAURANT.
TRACE OF TIME CORROSION OR DECORATION? TRACE OF NATURE MARK THE AGES OF THE EARLY TRADITIONAL STYLE AND UNIQUE FEATURE OF SHOPHOUSE. I WOULD SAY IT IS THE BEAUTY OF TIME WHICH PHYSICALLY PERFORMED BY THE NATURAL AND BUILT ELEMENTS.
CULTURAL BELIEF THE SYMBOL OF CHINESE CULTURE, ALTAR WORSHIPED FOR HEAVEN OF CHINESE BELIEF PLACED ON THE COLUMN AT THE CORRIDOR. A TRADITIONAL BELIEF WHICH BLESSED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS AND LIVING WHICH IS STILL MAINTAIN TILL NOW.
DARK FALL WHEN SILENCE COMES TOGETHER WITH DARK FALL. STEPPING UP AND STEPPING DOWN, THE CORRIDER ARE FILLED WITH THE WALKING SOUNDS. OVER THE YEARS, THE REPAVING OF ROADS AND THE ADDITION OF SEWERS AND OTHER UTILITIES HAS RAISED THE ROAD SURFACE ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE FIVE-FOOT-WAY.
CULTURAL BELIEF VENDY WILLIAM
GATEWAY TO HEAVEN THE SRI MAHAMARIAMMAN TEMPLE KNOWN AS THE OLDEST HINDU TEMPLE IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA. THE MOST OUTSTANDING FEATURE IS THE IMPRESSIVE “5-TIERED GOPURAM” THAT SCULPTED WITH 228 DEPICTIONS OF HINDU GODS. THE ORIGINAL MEANING OF GOPURAM IS IMPERISHABLE GATEWAY. THE PURPOSE OF GOPURAM ITSELF IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE DEITIES.
UNITY IN DIVERSITY MOST OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT CHINESE TEMPLE IS ONLY FOR CHINESE PEOPLE. BUT ACTUALLY IS NOT, CHINESE TEMPLE IS OPEN FOR EVERYONE TO PRAY AND KEEP THE STRONG CONNECTION WITH THEIR GOD.
ANCIENT TRADITION CHINESE LANTERN HAS BEEN INTRODUCED SINCE HAN DYNASTY (206 BC- AD 25). THE LANTERN SYMBOLIZE THE PEOPLE LETTING GO OF THEIR PAST TO GET THE NEW ONES AND THE RED COLOUR TO SYMBOLIZE GOOD FORTUNE.
GIFT TO GODS FOR HINDUS, FLOWERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR WORSHIP, BECAUSE OF IT REPRESENTS NATURE OR “PRAKRITI”. PRAKRITI MEANS SUPPERIOR OR EXCELLENT.
THE GUARDIAN DRAGONS ARE LEGENDARY CREATURES IN CHINESE MYTHOLOGY. ACCORDING YIN-YANG TERMINOLOGY, DRAGONS REPRESENT YANG, WHILE CHINESE PHOENIX IS YIN AND BOTH OF THIS CREATURES ARE THE GUARDIAN TO MAKE THE WORLD BALANCE.
A BETTER TOMORROW CANDLES ARE USED IN MANY DIFFERENT FAITHS. IN HINDUISM, LIGHT A CANDLE MEANS RESPECTING GODS AND SYMBOLIZE THAT PEOPLE HOPE FOR ENLIGHTENMENT AND PROSPERITY.
MIND ENLIGHTENMENT STUPA HAS SYMBOLIC MEANINGS THAT REPRESENTS 5 ELEMENTS : EARTH, WATER, FIRE, WIND AND SPACE. IT ALSO KNOWN AS THE STATES OF MIND THAT REACH THE LEVEL OF MAXIMUM UNDERSTANDING, AWARENESS, WISDOM, AND KNOWLEDGE.
INCENSE BURNER KNOWN AS CENSER, WIDELY USED BY BUDDHIST CULTURES AS AN OFFERING (SMELL OF THE INCENSE) TO THE BUDDHA OR VARIOUS DEITIES AND PEOPLE CAN HOPE OF SOMETHING WHILE PRAYING IN EXCHANGE.
HONOR TO GODS ALL HINDU NEED TO TOUCH THE STEP IN THE ENTRANCE TO SHOW RESPECT BEFORE ENTERING THE SACRED PLACE.
MYTHICAL HOOVED MYTHOLOGY ANIMAL FROM ANCIENT TIMES. CHINESE PEOPLE BELIEF, “QILIN” IS A GOOD OMEN AND BRING PROPSPERITY AND SERENITY .
THE PLAY OF PEOPLE AND APERTURES WONG KAH VOON
THE BACKGROUND MUSIC, IT HITS ON THE STAGE WITH REPETITION OF SIMILAR VERSES, ITS SO STRIKING AND FULL OF SUSPENSE.
YOU ENTER THE WORLD ON THE ELEGANT STAGE, YOU DIDN’T REALIZED IT. THE SOLID AND VOID IN BETWEEN THE VERSES, THE CLEVER COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT SIMILAR ELEMENT IN IT MAKE YOU FEEL LOST.
IT’S AS IF SOMEONE DREW A LINE BETWEEN YOU AND THEM, THE CONTRAST IN STYLE YOU COULDN’T IGNORE. THEN YOU FIND OUT, THIS IS HOW THINGS WORK HERE.
JUST WHEN YOU WANT TO TURN AROUND AND LEAVE. HERE COMES A GIANT, ITS WRINKLES AND SCARS TELL ITS POWER AND AGE.
AND HERE YOU ARE JUST THE SAME, TRYING TO LISTEN BEFORE YOU GO. WELL, IT IS NOT DISSAPOINTING YOU, YOU SOON SEE THE RICHNESS OF ITS LIFE STORY.
IT IS AGING. SO SLOWLY, WE DON’T NOTICE IT. EVERY PUSH ON THE WINDOW, EVERYSTEP ON THE KAKILIMA IS TOO FAST AND PURPOSEFUL, WE LOSE THE CHANCE TO SEE THIS SLOW GRACE.
SO ACTUALLY ITS LANGUAGE IS SUBTLE ENOUGH TO PERSUAVE YOU TO STAY ON THE STAGE TO ENJOY THE CLIMAX AND THE LOOK FORWARD TO THE END.
BUT BE CAREFUL, IF YOU DIDN’T PAY ENOUGH ATTENTION, YOU MIGHT MISS IT AND ALL YOU EXPERIENCE IS MERELY A SHALLOW EXTRAVAGANT STAGE EXPERIENCE.
AND YOU WILL WALK DOWN THE STAGE WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING WHAT ARE YOU STEPPING ON; YOU’RE ABOUT TO MISS IT…
AND YOU WALK OUT OF THE AMAZING WORLD THAT IS TRULY WORTH NOTICING. YOU LOCK EVERY WINDOW, EVERY DOOR AND GATE, NEVER TOUCHING IT; NEVER KNOWING HOW BEAUTIFUL THE GRACEFUL AGING IS.
JALAN TUN H.S. LEE (TUN H.S. LEE STREET ; 敦李孝式街)
CULTURAL HARMONY JEREMY TAY EUJIN
JOSHUA TING SING RONG
TAN MING LONG
VENDY WILLIAM
WONG KAH VOON