EXCITEMENT is in the air at Kuala Lumpur's The Gardens Mall as curious onlookers jostle each other to take a closer look at the month-long Exploring Local Art miniatures exhibition held for National Day and Malaysia Day.
Featuring nine food-related dioramas celebrating Malaysia's racial diversity and nostalgia for bygone days, visitors are treated to familiar sights of the barbecue chicken wing vendor, mamak restaurant and olden-day mobile satay grill in miniature.
FOOD ART
Captivated by the attention to detail, visitors use their phones to capture images of the accurately coloured miniature food. While most are handmade, cutting-edge experimental 3D resin printing was used for a few items.
The traditional fishing village diorama was interesting for its life-like representation of the tranquil beauty of rural Malaysia, where the slow pace moves with the gentle rhythm of the tides. While paying tribute to hardworking coastal communities, the piece highlights the quiet resilience of those who call these picturesque places home.
The mouth-watering food-themed displays bring hunger pangs to the fore. Dinner comes in the form of a tantalising evening spread at one of Kuala Lumpur's top fine dining restaurants which boasts a sprawling rejuvenated dining hall and two newly renovated spacious private dining rooms that offer views of the Japanese garden.
During the meal, my thoughts returned to the dioramas of pre-war shophouses and my visit to Kuala Lumpur's heritage quarter earlier in the day.
Like the dioramas, my morning walkabout along Jalan Raja, Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Masjid India provided a vibrant snapshot of Malaysia's diverse heritage that encapsulates the harmony and unity that has long been the vital support pillar of our society.
CONVENIENT LOCATION
Getting to my destination is a piece of cake as I only need to take the LRT to the centre of KL from the St Giles Gardens Residences Kuala Lumpur in Mid Valley.
Taking centre stage is the majestic Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Having witnessed many of our nation's historic milestones, like Merdeka and Hari Malaysia, this century-old building came into existence when Selangor Resident William Edward Maxwell sought to construct an office building in the early 1890s to make Kuala Lumpur's known to the world.
That ambition resulted in the first major building to appear on the expanding Kuala Lumpur landscape. It was built in the then novel neo-Mughal style, complete with an imposing central clock tower that very much reflected London's Big Ben in Mughal design. The Sultan Abdul Samad Building was opened by Federated Malay States Resident-General Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham on April 4, 1897.
GOLDEN AGE
While admiring the facade of the building with Dataran Merdeka and the Royal Selangor Club in the background, it is easy to imagine how stunning the building must have looked when it hosted a grand dinner and ball on the first night of its opening. Curious onlookers lined Jalan Raja to watch in awe as its facade was lit up by gas burners, the first time this was used in Kuala Lumpur.
Two months later, the clock on the highest tower chimed for the first time to ring in Queen Victoria's Jubilee Parade, as well as herald Kuala Lumpur's entry into the ranks of the great capitals of the world.
Towards the end of the walkabout, shophouses in Jalan Melayu bring to mind the early 20th century rubber boom that led to a demand for commercial buildings. Medan Pasar came into existence when foreign agencies and financial institutions set up offices in Kuala Lumpur to fuel expansion drives that continued well into the 21st century.
The after-dinner stroll to enjoy the cityscape highlights how much Kuala Lumpur has progressed since the colonial days.
Malaysia is home to a multiracial, multicultural community living in mutual respect and cooperation. This serves as a beacon of hope for all to hold on to their treasured traditions while embracing the future.
Let us celebrate our enduring spirit of unity in diversity this Malaysia Day and cherish the cultural landscapes that have shaped our identity as one people.