Kwai Chai Hong in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown is getting ready to dazzle with 'Drama Queen', an installation that turns the spotlight on the grandeur of traditional Chinese opera. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani
As the Moon Cake Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival) approaches, Kwai Chai Hong in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown is gearing up for the celebration with Drama Queen, an installation that beautifully captures the splendour of traditional Chinese opera.
Kwai Chai Hong enlisted the talents of local artist Tan Sher Lynn, from the creative digital art studio FABU, to bring this new public installation to life.
Tan’s creation lets visitors explore a “phygital” experience – a blend of physical and digital art showcasing Chinese opera's aesthetics through the lens of new media, creating an interactive environment for visitors to experience and reflect on this cultural gem in the present day.
Crossing over Kwai Chai Hong’s iconic Red Bridge into the alley, visitors are welcomed by illuminated Flower Faces and are led to the installation's centrepiece – a minimalist tunnel structure inspired by a Chinese opera doyenne’s headdress.
Featuring three illuminated metallic arches woven together with red threads, In The Mind Of A Doyenne pulls you in with a ring of shiny gems, mysterious mist, and flashing lights.
During the Mid-Autumn season, visitors to Kwai Chai Hong will also get to see its signature murals come to life through augmented reality, such as 'Er Hu Uncle'. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani
Visitors can even create their own picture-perfect shadow play as their silhouettes are cast on the inner mesh layer and become part of the art piece.
Moving deeper into the alley, you’ll then encounter Tan’s Dancing Sleeves, showcasing the grace and elegance of Chinese opera performers as they perform in the full costume regalia of the extended sleeves.
“This part of the installation references the movement of ‘water sleeves’ in Chinese opera, in which fluid movements are not only evocative of water and wind, but also a poetic and ethereal form of expression,” says Tan.
The abstract visuals on the long flowing ‘sleeves’ presents the five main roles of Chinese opera: Sheng (male), Dan (female), Jing (painted face), Mo (older men), Chou (clown), which are enhanced with augmented reality (AR) when viewed through your mobile phone.
“Chinese opera is one of the treasures of our collective cultural heritage,” says Zeen Chang, managing partner of Bai Chuan Management, which oversees Kwai Chai Hong.
To complete the installation, Kwai Chai Hong will host a live performance series this month by the Kam Sin Kiew Art Crew, one of the last remaining Cantonese opera troupes in the country. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani
“Through the Drama Queen art installation, we have put a step forward to create curiosity amongst our audience and we hope everyone will do the same by joining our #LongLiveChineseOpera movement, raising awareness and participating in this intricate art form,” she adds.
The art installation is supported by Budget 2024 and facilitated by Think City and the Ministry of Finance as part of the Kreatif KL Festival, aimed at appreciating and preserving Malaysia's cultural heritage and art.
Journey into Chinese opera
The installation wouldn’t be complete without a live Chinese opera experience, so one of the last remaining Cantonese Chinese opera troupes, Kam Sin Kiew Art Crew, will grace Kwai Chai Hong with a performance to remember.
Led by Doyenne Kam Sin Kiew, the troupe will perform the scene “Fragrant Sacrifice” from the epic Chinese opera Princess Flower on Aug 24 and 31.
Additionally, visitors will get to see signature Kwai Chai Hong murals coming to life this Moon Cake season, as it is one of the participating locations for Malaysia’s first AR Festival.
The selected artworks include Little Girl Peering Out of the Window, Cabaret Girl By The Window, The Couple Wall, and Er Hu Uncle, which will spring to life through vibrant AR, transforming the street murals into engaging experiences.
The Augmented Reality Festival Kuala Lumpur 2024 will run from Aug 30 to Nov 30 2024, featuring AR artworks and installations throughout Kuala Lumpur.
The Drama Queen art installation will be at Kwai Chai Hong from Aug 16 to Sept 22 and is open to the public daily from 9am-12am (midnight).
