Terang 2023, put together by digital art collective Filamen, is a free admission event happening nightly (until Oct 29) at MaTIC, one of Kuala Lumpur's heritage buildings. Photo: Filamen
This week, the facade of the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) in the heart of Kuala Lumpur is being brought to life with 3D projection mapping, complete with the enchantment of light and music, as the night falls.
Terang 2023, which runs through Oct 29, is presenting 34 luminous one-and-a-half-minute video mapping works created by both international and local digital art practitioners inspired by the theme “Warisan” (Heritage).
From a traditional Chinese opera projection and a tribute the late filmmaker Yasmin Ahmad, right to tropical jungles, a roaring Harimau Malaya, Malay traditional clothing patterns and peacock weathers, Terang 2023 has MaTIC wrapped up in a variety of glowing images.
A 'Chinese Opera Odyssey' video lights up the facade of the MaTIC building in Kuala Lumpur. It is part of the Terang 2023 digital mapping project, which runs through Oct 29. Photo: Filamen
The show – free admission, 8pm-11pm – brings together 13 artists and collectives the region, including Pavee from Thailand, Ape Plus Studio from Indonesia and OneShot Production from Malaysia. University students from Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore), Rangsit University International College, Thailand, University of Technology MARA (UiTM) and The One Academy from Malaysia also contributed to the project.
The Terang 2023 art initiative is led by Filamen, a new media art collective established in 2018, renowned for curating some of Malaysia’s most celebrated digital art exhibitions.
A tribute to the late filmmaker Yasmin Ahmad is projected unto the MaTIC building. Photo: Filamen
“Malaysia is a treasure trove of beautiful buildings with historical and architectural significance. We believe that Terang harnesses the transformative capabilities that bring a different dimension of vitality and allure to these time-honoured architectures," says Abdul Shakir, the co-founder of Filamen.
"These distinctive heritage features are often overshadowed by the relentless march of urban development,” he adds.
Terang kicked off with an open call back in August, inviting local and international artists, as well as the university students specialising in the arts, creative and new media programme to submit their artworks.
A general view of the Terang 2023 digital art and video mapping project at MaTIC in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Filamen
At MaTIC, a series of complementary digital and on-ground workshops and sharing sessions will be held nightly to deepen the visitor’s connection with Terang and the art of projection mapping.
Working closely with Aswara (National Academy of Arts Culture and Heritage), Terang 2023 is also one of the artistic highlights activated in conjunction with the SEA Futurist In Arts And Cultural Exchange 2023 to showcase the infinite potential of preserving intangible cultural heritage through digitalisation.
The Terang 2023 project features a line-up of local and regional digital art practitioners. Photo: Filamen
MaTiC, an 88-year old historic building with colonial architectural design, is located on Jalan Ampang. This architectural gem has witnessed the passage of time, serving as the war office of the British Army and the Japanese Imperial Army headquarters during WWII.
It has also hosted important events such as the first meeting of Parliament of Federation of Malaya in 1959 and was once the National Art Gallery between 1958 and 1984.
Today, it houses the Malaysia Tourism Centre.
