Heritage on display: Visitors examining a piece during the media preview of ‘Negaraku II’ at the Hin Bus Depot in George Town, Penang. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: As National Day approaches, a question often arises, particularly among the younger generations: what does it mean to be a Malaysian?
A month-long art exhibition in Penang, titled “Negaraku II” and held in Hin Bus Depot along Jalan Gurdwara, invites everyone to ponder that notion on a deeper level.
Curated by Ivan Gabriel, it features 35 works from the private collections of Bingley Sim and Ima Norbinsha, two passionate champions of socially conscious Malaysian contemporary art.
The show builds on the success of the first “Negaraku” exhibition at the same venue last August, which sparked discussions about nationhood, growth and direction.
This time, it shifts the focus to identity and belonging, widening its lens to include the diverse voices of citizens, migrants and everyone in between.
Klang Valley-based Sim said they wanted to highlight how Malaysia’s identity can be a constantly evolving mosaic of cultures and experiences.
“We wanted to create space for often-overlooked narratives and remind people that our national story is far from one-dimensional,” he shared in a media preview last Friday.
This is reflected in the diverse selection of works, which range from paintings to sculptures, photography, mixed media, woodcut prints and fabric pieces.
Ivan said they avoided using just portraits as representations of identity and instead chose to articulate it through stories about culture, pride, migration, food and shared aspirations.
As such, the exhibition and its accompanying book were organised into thematic chapters, allowing visitors to gain a multi-layered view while deriving their own meaning from the journey.
“Negaraku II is a call to re-examine what it means to belong. It’s about honouring every face and every untold story that breathes life into this land,” he said.
Sim believes visitors will find glimpses of harmony in every piece – be it a neighbour’s kindness, memories of a shared meal or the resilience of those who came from elsewhere and now call this land home.
Among the featured artists are Edroger Rosili, Mat Ali Mat Som, Nur Ameerah Nabihah, Pangrok Sulap, Ahman Fuad Osman, Safar Zin, Gan Tze Hooi and Ho Mei Kei.
“What’s important is that history is not forgotten. I would rather not collect art just for profit but to preserve pertinent narratives of our country,” he added.
The exhibition is free to the public and is open until Aug 31.
Viewing hours are noon to 7pm on weekdays and 11am to 7pm on weekends.
It will have its opening reception on Aug 9 at 8pm.
