This week has been rather exciting because we witnessed the beginning and end of the second installation of the Landscape Architecture International Dialogue or better known as “SPARK 2018” organised by the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM) which was held on the 24th and 25th of October 2018 at Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau, Malaysia. This is all leading up to the “Road to IFLA 2020” (International Federation of Landscape Architects) which is a world landscape architects summit happening in 2020 in Georgetown, Penang.
SCULPTUREATWORK’s Chief Creative Designer Mr Tang Mun Kian was invited to give a talk regarding the experience, challenges, outcomes and thought process in relation to “Marking Georgetown”. Marking Georgetown is a series of 52 wire sculptures located all across Georgetown, Penang. When George Town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in September 2009 (http://sculptureatwork.com/project/marking-george-town/), the Penang State Government launched a competition to ‘brand’ Georgetown to give the heritage zones a distinct identity and SCULPTUREATWORK’s Chief Creative Designer Mr Tang Mun Kian won with our winning proposal of “Voices from the People”.
Here at SCULPTUREATWORK, we are Design Solutionist. We aid the work of Landscape Architects in the form of documentation and conveying stories. Our commissioned sculptures document what the terrain once was and we tell a tale of history upon these public spaces for the public to gain insight of the spaces and land that their residing. This art initiative encourages learning without consciously making an effort to do so.
Landscape Architects curate public spaces for the public to gather and we curate commissioned sculptures for a place of consolidation and conversation for the public. Through our sculptures, it gives residents and travellers the opportunity to connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds. This exposure allows you to discover more perspectives which is an integral part in social inclusion. Interaction with new people, places and ideologies helps us appreciate what life looks like from different angles.
SPARK 2018 and Road to IFLA 2020 is a great initiative by the board of Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM) and International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA). It is a great platform for the coming generations of budding landscape architects, architects, designers, engineers, environmentalists, developers, policy makers and market leaders to be inspired and gain insight from the generation that is now in order to be equipped with the skillset and knowledge to curate our ever-evolving terrain into becoming the Utopia that humanity has always longed for.
SCULPTUREATWORK, delivering creative solutions for a better tomorrow.