At GMBB’s foyer, an immersive light installation titled “Malam 7 Likur” bridges cherished kampung memories with contemporary digital art.
The Hari Raya Adilfitri-inspired work, a collaboration between digital art collective Filamen and light artist Jun Ong, is on view at the creative mall in Kuala Lumpur until April 27.
Known for large-scale interventions that engage architecture, Ong’s geometric forms anchor the display. The pentagonal structures were first presented for Hari Malaysia 2025, here, they are repurposed and reactivated.
“We felt there was a way to keep the installation from being decommissioned. We suggested storing it, with the idea of repurposing it for a future occasion. When GMBB invited us to activate their ground floor, we knew this artwork would be perfect. This marks a new chapter of collaboration for the two parties,“ says Filamen co-founder Abdul Shakir.
"We’ve worked together on separate projects before, but never a direct crossover. For 'Malam 7 Likur', we integrated projection mapping into the structures, which became our way of merging Jun’s physical forms with our digital expertise,” he adds.
The title, “Malam Tujuh Likur”, refers to the final seven nights of Ramadan – a period of heightened activity in kampung communities. As families prepare festive dishes such as rendang, lemang and dodol, often cooked at night to avoid the daytime heat, rows of oil lamps, or pelita, illuminate pathways, creating a warm, communal glow.
For Shakir, the Hari Raya Adilfitri theme is personal.
“Malam Tujuh Likur is a very personal childhood memory to me. Towards the end of Ramadan, my family would start putting out the pelita, and we would play with fireworks during those nights.
"I remember my parents mentioning that the tradition helped light up the village so people could move around more easily while preparing the food. It was a practical way to see, but it also created this magical feeling. I’ve seen pictures of huge celebrations in certain villages, and while I didn’t experience that scale as a child, that imagery always stuck with me,” he says.
In Kuala Lumpur, where open flames pose logistical challenges, the installation reinterprets pelita through contemporary means. Towering structures, adorned with motifs recalling traditional tiles and wau patterns, are animated by light-emitting diodes and projection mapping. Within a central mirrored pentagon, kaleidoscopic visuals shift and refract, evoking the flicker of flame without fire.
As projection mapping becomes increasingly accessible, such adaptation points to a broader trajectory for festive design.
“Light works have always been a part of celebrations for a lot of people. With a bit of curation and direction, you can turn a simple light into a beautiful installation," says Shakir.
"As for projection mapping, we now have easier access to affordable projectors and software – you can even do it with your phone. I believe this medium will become a normal part of not just festive seasons, but any event that aims to connect people between the digital and the physical world,” he concludes.
In May, Filamen will transform downtown Kuala Lumpur streets into a vibrant open-air canvas with a series of laneway projection activations for its “Warung Terang” project, part of KL Festival 2026.
