Liew Kung Yu Cadangan-cadangan Untuk Negaraku Exhibition

The new photo works by Liew Kung Yu (the explanation from the exhibition brochure) are presenting to us his vision of what our nation could look like in the future with his proposals.

The photos captured by Liew Kung Yu had showed us many sculptures, monuments and other buildings that we didn’t saw it before. Example like those fruits statue or coconut shape building, we really do not know there are so many similar theme monuments in Malaysia. Especially the kids who are grow up in KL.

In the exhibition, there have four large-scale photos by Liew. There are Bandar Sri Tiang Kolom, Konkrit Jungle, Metropolis Warisan and Pantai Gelora Cahaya. From his works, it can show us Liew is a patriotic. Example like he chooses the nation flower to surround the photo frame.

The Bandar Sri Tiang Kolom, in this work it show lot of sculptures, houses and bulding. All of the buildings have the similar features, there got lot of “tiang”. Would he want to show about the traditional or the evolution of our country? Or he just wants to tell us the features of the building in Malaysia are tall? Or he wants to differentiate the level of the residents in Malaysia?

The Konkrit Jungle, this work means the concrete jungle. What concrete? The animal statues transform to be the apartment and shop. Would he propose to our country plan a homeland like his work? With this kind of home it will be fun and playful. Or he wants to show us after the jungle exploitation, we will lose lot of green plants and animals, so everything becomes fake?

The Metropolis Warisan, in this photo work we can saw all the famous building and famous transportation in Malaysia. All of the building and transportation wrap with the traditional batik. Our heritage not only the famous building likes KLCC or KLIA and not only the famous brand of transport likes Proton but also our traditional batik. Would he means that we can add in the traditional element into our country development?

The Pantai Gelora Cahaya, would he propose to our country should be promoted our own tourist point to ourselves and other foreign tourists? In this work, there has lot of the statues and buildings that we didn’t saw it before. Would Liew means, want to successful in our tourism, we should let our residents know the value of our own country, if not how to promote our country to the foreign tourists? Besides, in this work there has boat and the tricycle just look like pass a few eras. Example like the tricycle, when this kind of transportation was came in to our country? It created by the Malay or the Indian or the Chinese? This may trace back to the history many year ago.

In my opinion, the works that show by Liew, our country didn’t has something that strongly representation the cultural of Malaysia. But our country is rich of history from the different races and also the history of being ruled by different country. We also have different cultural from different races and different country. With all of these, we should protect, embellish and popularize the heritages in our country. Besides, we should improved our skills on the country development but not waste the money on those useless things because every things in our country represent our image and also represent the operation of our country.

"Big Durian" (cannot eat)

Q1. What scene in "The Big Durian" made an impression on you, and why?
The interview of a fat lady who don't want to accept the interview and keep running off from the camera with scolded the crews. This incident shows us the freedom of speech is not strong enough in our country, behind those freedom given by government it is still a lot of "act" to protect it. People have the right to talk and give speech but when touch to the sensitive point, the person who talk or give speech will get caught and jail. Is it fair enough? We need to responsible on our speech, when we say something fault or fake to the public then we should get punishment. But if we are saying the truth why we still get caught to the jail? Just because of that is the sensitive topic? In addition, the lack of freedom of speech also had showed in the documentary, it is the scene of the case about the stop publication of the newspaper. From all of this incident, the act is not appear to protect people, so people choose to keep their mouth shut to protect themselves.

Q2. What was rumored to be Pirate Adam's grouse (pain) / reason which lead to him running amuck(amok)?
The reason that lead Adam running amuck was because of the Johor Sultan had killed his brother who work in the golf club but the Sultan did not get any punishment after he murdered someone. The Sultan did not get caught because he is the royal member of Malaysia, at that period Sultan had the power to protect himself and he can escape the judgement from the court and law. Everyone who lose their family will also feel sad, Adam so. Adam lost his brother in this incident, he felt sad and the person who murded his brother did not get any punishment, he felt angry. I think this is the reason that make him become mad and lost control until running amuck.

Q3. A character from Sabah ends her narrative by noting the look on Pirate Adam's face. What was it that she saw and how does it contrast with her feelings?
The character from sabah had mentioned she went to Kuala Lumpur look for the better life but she felt disappointed when she lived at here. She ends her narrative by noting the look on Adam's face because she think Adam can spread his own feeling through killing people but even she wanted to shout out her feeling to other also cannot. That have many things she need to concern and she also need to protect herself and her life, she cannot afford losing anything.

Q4. From what historical vantage point is the director viewing the events of 1987? What is the 'present' of the documentary and what is it's mood?
The director used the events of 1987 to recall us about the government setting and the fighting agianst government around this few years. Those incidents had shown us the power misused by the government and royal members, and those incidents also had shown us the law appear not to protect the residents but the royal members and government themselves. He want to show us the unfair things and happens to all of the audience.