Galeri Rumah Lat is located at Jalan Bemban in Batu Gajah.
BATU Gajah does not usually register on the tourist radar but this might change with the launch of Galeri Rumah Lat (Lat’s House Gallery) that showcases the artworks of the iconic cartoonist.
Located in Jalan Bemban, a five-minute drive from Kellie’s Castle, the gallery was officially opened last month by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, who also bestowed the title of Seniman Diraja (Royal Artist) on the cartoonist, whose real name is Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid.
The Perak ruler also said Lat’s caricatures captured the realities of living in a multiracial society, including its harmonious aspects.
During the launch, Lat said that the idea to have the gallery came from Sultan Nazrin when he was Raja Muda.
Lat’s comic books, including international editions, on display.
While Ipoh had been proposed as a location, Lat chose Batu Gajah as it is located 30 minutes away from his village, Kampung Lalang in Kota Bharu, Batu Gajah.
Lat hopes the entry fee for the gallery, which is presently free, will be affordable.
“I had been looking forward to the gallery’s launch and now, it is exciting to see it open.
“I live in Ipoh and it’s just a 30-minute drive to the gallery.
Visitors can take photos of themselves with life-sized illustrations from Lat’s comics.
“I plan to bring my friends and I hope the gallery will have a lot of activities and programmes.”
The gallery comprises the main building, two exhibition areas, an audio-visual area, a souvenir shop and a replica of Lat’s childhood home.
At the main building, visitors can get a glimpse of Lat’s life including his journey to becoming the nation’s foremost cartoonist.
His work, including comic books, sketches of public figures, family photos and awards are also on display.
The gallery has become Batu Gajah’s must-visit tourist attraction.
Visitors can watch the animation of Lat’s classic Kampung Boy at the audio-visual area and take photos of themselves with illustrated backdrops that resemble scenery from Kampung Boy.
There’s also a souvenir shop at the main building where they can pick up merchandise such as T-shirts, mugs, tote bags, lanyards and umbrellas.
Near the main building is Malay Perak Limas House, a traditional structure with five roofs, that’s a replica of the home where Lat and his five siblings grew up.
Perak Limas House is a replica of the home Lat and his five siblings grew up in.
Upon entering the house, visitors get to explore a living room, bedroom and traditional kitchen with a wood stove.
Retiree Zaiton Alwi, of Batu Gajah, said: “I can’t help but feel proud that a ‘Batu Gajah product’ is being displayed in such a beautiful setting.
“The gallery is comfortable, air-conditioned and spacious so we can move around to see Lat’s artwork and take plenty of pictures.”
Mohamad Ridzuan Saad, a wedding planner from Sabak Bernam, said he had been eager to visit the gallery after seeing a video on social media.
Some of Lat’s photos at the gallery.
“When I watched the video, I was excited to see the place for myself.
“I am a fan of Kampung Boy and grew up watching the series. So, to finally be here and see the traditional house and Lat’s works, it feels like I am reliving my childhood.
“My favourite part of the gallery is the display of Lat’s motorcycle because it looks similar to the bike ridden by Opah (grandmother) in the Kampung Boy series,” said Mohd Ridzuan, who suggested that a cafe be added to the gallery for the convenience of visitors.
Lat’s best-loved characters have been cast in a pewter collection.
Perak Museum Board director Mohamad Amir Mohd Dahalan said for this year, they were targeting at least 60,000 visitors.
“Since the launch on July 8, we have received over 16,000 visitors from all over the country. We even had visitors from France.
“We have plenty of programmes scheduled, including a drawing workshop with Lat on Aug 31 and also the ‘Lat and Friends’ programme which will be either in November or December.”
Born in 1951, Lat gained his nickname from the Malay word bulat (round), which referred to his rounded cheeks.
At 11, he designed the cover of his school magazine Suara Pasir Puteh.
Lat chose Batu Gajah for the gallery’s location as it is only 30 minutes from his village in Kampung Lalang, Kota Bharu, Batu Gajah. — Filepic
His early works included Tiga Sekawan Menangkap Pencuri (Three Friends Catch Thieves) in 1964 and Karya Tua Keladi that was published in a Singaporean magazine called Majalah Filem in 1966.
He also had a comic series called Keluarga Mamat that was first published in 1968 and continued for 26 years in Berita Minggu.
In 1974, his comic Bersunat (Circumcision) was published in Hong Kong.
The publication led to him being appointed as a New Straits Times (NST) cartoonist where he had a special column called ‘Scenes of Malaysian Life’.
Lat also worked as a reporter at Berita Harian in 1970 and a crime desk reporter at NST in 1973.
In 2020, MPH Bookstore and Lat collaborated to produce the limited edition “Playtime With Lat” calendar 2021 which featured several of his beloved characters drawn in his trademark style.
The drawings included traditional Malaysian childhood games from the popular congkak, gasing, batu Seremban to playing with bamboo pop-guns and ice-cream stick helicopters.
Lat was also featured among the cartoonists in Direktori Kartunis Perak, a mapping and book project focusing on Perak-born cartoonist published by PORT (People of Remarkable Talents) in 2021.
Following the Japanese translation of Kampung Boy, which was featured at the Tokyo Book Fair in 2014, the comic won second place at Japan’s Gaiman Award for the overseas comic category that year.
The comic was translated by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Japanese language lecturer Hieda Natsue.
Galeri Rumah Lat is open daily, except Mondays, from 10am until 4pm.
Admission is free until the end of August.
