Step into a realm where the old world charm dances harmoniously with the vibrant tapestry of innovation as one of the oldest colonial architectures in Kuala Lumpur takes centre stage in a breathtaking projection mapping spectacle titled TERANG. From 20 to 29 October 2023, the facade of the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) is brought to life with 34 digital artworks, laced with the enchantment of light and music, as the night falls. Guided by the theme “ Warisan” (Heritage), the show brings together 13 artists hailing from Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, along with the creative contributions of 21 local and international university students.
TERANG is an initiative led by Filamen, a local new media art collective renowned for curating some of Malaysia’s most celebrated digital art exhibitions. Embodying the essence of the word, TERANG signifies brightness, an endeavour aspires to serve as a reminder to protect our nation’s rich history and identity, bringing the heritage architecture back into the limelight of the modern era, allowing the audience to become part of a dialogue between the past and present. Beyond the digital art spectacles, TERANG is a platform where a united art community comes together to re-imagine the boundless potential of digital art in cultural and space rejuvenation.
The 2023 edition of TERANG presents 34 luminous one-and-a-half-minute video mapping artworks, each beautifully conceptualised around the theme of “Warisan” to pay homage to the diverse yet intricate traditions and cultural roots of the participants’ home countries. Created by professional artists including Pavee from Thailand, Ape Plus Studio from Indonesia and OneShot Production from Malaysia as well as university students from Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore), Rangsit University International College, Thailand, University of Technology MARA (UiTM) and The One Academy from Malaysia, the multisensory works are unveiled against the timeless backdrop of MaTiC, a classic structure with roots stretching back to the year 1935. The TERANG projection mapping show is poised to captivate approximately 30,000 spectators spread across nine evening presentations.
“Malaysia is a treasure trove of beautiful buildings with historical and architectural significance. These distinctive heritage features are often overshadowed by the relentless march of urban development. We believe that TERANG harnesses the transformative capabilities that bring a different dimension of vitality and allure to these time-honoured architectures. If our audiences depart with a revival interest in the living tapestry of our shared heritage, we are halfway to accomplishing our mission”, said Abdul Shakir ‘Grasshopper’, organiser of TERANG and co-founder of Filamen.
The inaugural TERANG takes place at MaTiC, an 88-year old historic building with colonial architectural design located at one of the earliest and longest roads in Kuala Lumpur city. This architectural gem has witnessed the passage of time, serving as the war office of the British Army during World War II, the headquarters of the Japanese Imperial Army and hosted important events such as the first meeting of Parliament of Federation of Malaya in 1959 and installation ceremonies for several Yang DiPertuan Agong. The historic building was once the National Art Gallery of Malaysia from 1958 to 1984, and today houses the Malaysia Tourism Centre.
TERANG kicked off with an open call in August 2023, inviting the local and international artists, as well as the university students specialising in the arts, creative and new media programme to submit their artworks for the 9-day projection mapping exhibition. The works will then be judged by a distinguished panel of projection mapping experts across the Southeast Asian region with prizes to be awarded accordingly. The panel of judges comprises Jib from Thailand, Head of DecideKit and the second prize winner of 2019 1-minute Projection Mapping at Odawara Castle in Kanagawa, Adi Panuntun from Indonesia, CEO of Sembilan Matahari – an audiovisual and multimedia studio in Bandung, Indonesia; Fadjar Kurnia from Indonesia, Creative Director of The Fox the Folks and the Grand Prize Winner of 2021 1-minute Projection Mapping at Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery in Tokyo and Ts.Dr. Jazmi Jamal, Director of Future Creative School, National Academy of Arts Culture and Heritage (ASWARA).
A series of complementary digital and on-ground workshops and sharing sessions will be held to deepen the visitor’s connection with TERANG and the art of projection mapping. Working closely with ASWARA, TERANG by Filamen is one of the artistic highlights activated in conjunction with the SEA Futurist in Arts and Cultural Exchange 2023 (SEA Futurist 2023) to showcase the infinite potentials of preserving intangible cultural heritage through digitalisation. SEA Futurist 2023, powered by Future Creative School of ASWARA, is a signature programme
created to explore the fusion of arts, traditions and innovations with the creative technologists from Southeast Asia.
TERANG is organised by Filamen and Pixel World, co-organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, ASWARA, Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) and made possible by projection partner EPSON Malaysia, MyCreative Ventures (MyCV), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), AirAsia and RUBIX Communications.
TERANG is free and open to the public from 8:00pm to 11:00pm until 29 October 2023. Join us on a journey where history, art and innovation converge. For the latest updates about TERANG 2023, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
