A community story, old Shanghai memories add a festive feel at NAG

The artworks in Red Hong Yi's 'My Alleyway Memories (Once Upon A Longtang)' at the National Art Gallery were inspired by her time living in a longtang house in Shanghai, and created with burnt red calligraphy paper. Photo: The Star/Chan Tak Kong

Visitors can almost hear the laughter of children and smell the fish being hung out to air-dry in this quaint alleyway-inspired installation at the National Art Gallery (NAG) in Kuala Lumpur. There would be freshly-washed laundry fluttering in the breeze and once upon a time, such a place would be bustling with life.

Artist Red Hong Yi’s My Alleyway Memories: Once Upon A Longtang installation is quite the head-turner, with a 6m tall bamboo structure and eight hanging canvas artworks “painted” with burnt red calligraphy paper.