Liew (third from left) and other guests at the launch of the Lampoopalooza event.
IT was a night of dancing, cheers and merry making when the city lit up in radiant colours from light shows with people vibing to music and song being played in the background.
Throngs of locals and tourists got together for the Lampoopalooza event, a festival of artistic lights, at the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) building compound in downtown Kota Kinabalu on Feb 3.
Among some of the highlights were a laser light show that was projected on the STB building, reportedly the first time that laser mapping was done on a building in Kota Kinabalu.
Families with children, youths and senior citizens, came together to enjoy the event, held for the second time since its inception in 2019.
Looking at the success of this festival, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew has decided to make it into an annual event.
She said this is part of the STB’s efforts to come up with lively, fun and family-friendly events to attract more visitors and turn the city alive.
Describing the STB building as a historical and iconic site, she said the location is best for the Lampoopalooza event because it brings back memories of yesteryears, where people used to crowd the building when it served as the post office.
Liew said in 2018, the STB building – unique in design with its thin frame – became one of the 24 heritage sites in Sabah gazetted by the State Heritage Council under the State Heritage Enactment 2017.
Earlier, in her opening address, the minister said she was reminded of the rich history that led to Lampoopalooza.
“What started as a centennial celebration of the Sabah Tourism Board building in 2018 has evolved into a celebration of lights in 2019, and so, Lampoopalooza was born,” she said.
Liew said this year’s Lampoopalooza celebration was a fun fusion of art and light, music, food and family-friendly activities.
Food and fun aside, the festival is also a platform of change and by integrating art, light and sustainable technology, it aims to showcase the positive influence that collective creativity can have on communities, she said.
Explaining further, she said STB, in collaboration with upcycling innovator Japson Wong and the sustainable energy solutions specialist Tonibung, had embarked on a transformative project to extend the spirit of Lampoopalooza to benefit communities in need.
Liew said Wong’s artistic touch brought to life the lit-up water tanks at STB’s premises, powered by solar panels and expertly installed by Tonibung.
“I understand that these solar panels will be donated to Timpayasa in Ulu Papar, which will be sufficient to light up the village and power essential facilities there. The water tanks will also be donated to a few villages to be identified later by Tonibung,” she said.
The minister also highlighted the collaboration with two local artists, Azlan Dulikab and Rosmaini Sunarjo, whose magnificent works of art were displayed at the Glow Art exhibition.
The glow-in-the-dark artworks will be handed over to Sabah Art Gallery to be donated to a few rural schools of their choice.
