A postcard image of an early 1990s underground gig poster for 'Banned In KL' at Voodoo Lounge in KL, designed by punk band Carburetor Dung's bassist Fendi (Effendee Mazlan). Photo: The Ricecooker Archives
It is not often that you come across a book with a name like this: Banned In KL, Astro Boy Rides The Wave To Sky Kingdom On A Grasshopper. It is a mouthful of a title, although it also goes by its alternative name, Malaysia In Fifteen Postcards, which essentially sums up what it is.
This “art book”, written by Ong Kar Jin, digital researcher, Simon Soon, academic researcher, and Lim Sheau Yun, architectural researcher, presents snippets of our country’s history, with images and accompanying text for every decade from the 1880s to present day. It has perforated pages, so each image can be torn out as a postcard.
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Malaysia In Fifteen Postcards
A postcard image of an early 1990s underground gig poster for 'Banned In KL' at Voodoo Lounge in KL, designed by punk band Carburetor Dung's bassist Fendi (Effendee Mazlan). Photo: The Ricecooker Archives
Malaya Ration Card (1953), courtesy of the Malaysia Design Archive. Photo: Handout
Wall’s ‘Astro Boy’ ice cream wrapper (circa 1980s), taken from a private collection. Photo: Handout
Hoo Fan Chon's 'Riding The Waves In Search Of The Great Bird' (2019). Photo: Handout
'Banned in KL, Astro Boy Rides the Wave to Sky Kingdom on A Grasshopper: Malaysia in Fifteen Postcards' book cover. Photo: Handout
Each historical image is printed on perforated pages that can be liberated and used as postcards or decorations; once torn, fold the book in and you have a tinier version of the book. Photo: Handout
A postcard image taken from the historic ‘Malaysians’ by Mohamed Hoessein Enas, published in 1963. Photo: Handout
