Monuments, Testimony & Memory

It had really triggered me of how to commemorate the dead through architecture.


I think local Malaysia is more likely to direct translating the history into a rememblance such as the National monument "Tugu Negara". The Monument was erected in honor of the the fallen heroes of the 1st and 2nd World Wars, as well as the Malayan Emergency from the years 1948 to 1960. It is located on a hill next to the Malaysian Parliament House. Perhaps it's not architecture, just a fine piece of art/sculpture. Ridiculously, the sculpture was casted in a foundry in Rome at a cost of RM600, 000. "You will see 7 bronze figures of soldiers, each of which symbolizes leadership, suffering, unity, vigilance, strength, courage and sacrifice. 5 of the figures represents the victorious allied forces while the other 2 figures that lie on the ground represents that of the defeated communist forces. Overall the monument depicts the victory of the forces of democracy, peace and freedom over that of the communist and evil. By the way, communism is outlawed in Malaysia." (sources from http://www.malaysian-explorer.com/tuguNegara.html) It does really remind our patriotism. It's a way to convey message, straight away.

Perhaps we should adopt Libeskind's intergration of architecture to reflect culture and history. Not talking about the details, let's interpret his masterpiece. I personally feel that Jewish Musuem is a modern building with simply geometrical design, in conjunction with the slanting narrow windows, nothing had really inspire me of its exterior look, without deep thought of architecture's concern. It simply amaze people with its differ look and unequal to surrounding. However, the internal space is the vital vein of the whole project. I love the Holocaust void, which the Menashe Kadishman's steel sculpture "Shalechet" covers the entire floor. I think there is a big different thing that Malaysia will not likely to do, is that, we are hardly to create something which is too artistic, art pieces that acquiring a deeper thought. Just like the fallen leaves. Undoubtedly, we have less creativity and we have living way too rigid. And the distorted space (slanting beam and narrow aisle for staircase) will be judged way too crazy of having such intergration in a musuem here locally. However, i would say it definately make people "WHOA" if this building is located here today. So how is it really conveying what the architect really want to say? Depends of one's perception, everyone should have feel different way while walking in this building. I would say Libeskind done a great job, had been proven while the hassles had been carried out by people, good or bad, had successfully arousing people for the reminiscences of the Jews in Germany and the repercussions of the Holocaust.

Now look on the National Musuem of us. I think it's the appropriate one if we wanted to make a comparison between two museums and architecture. Muzium Negara is a palatial structure built in the style of Rumah Gadang, an aspect of Minangkabau architecture. Its facade comprises elements of traditional Malay and modern features. See, another piece of "direct translating" architecture in Malaysia. And we're much displaying story and pictures, weapons for memorizing the heroes. Anyway i'm not depreciating our architecture. I believe we as local Malaysian see and receive things the simple way, we had born n live like that. But recent decades, we had much exposed to foreign architecture and being amazed, much of Y generation had belittled the local architecture, which is more native. This is very wrong.

If we're talking about how the heroes of Malaysia can be commemorated, for the past decades, current musuems, monuments, statues can still playing its role very well and splendid. But with the lapse of time, new generation had changed the way of thinking and culture as well. It's thus a challenge to patriotic architect who intend to hold the local culture meanwhile to be acceptable. How is it can be done? there must be a way XD I think it's a good idea to remain the building material such as timber, thatch or attap kind of thing to make a alteration on the native design, perhaps it will whoop up another new trend meanwhile sustain the culture base, why not? With not just displaying the pictures, gadgets or weapons, but intergrate in the building, i think this is best rememblance for our heroes.