Negaraku II Explores Malaysia’s Story Through Art In George Town

By Siti Azila Alias

GEORGE TOWN, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- As Malaysians proudly fly the Jalur Gemilang ahead of the National Day, the spirit of patriotism, unity and hope for the future is also finding its voice through art.

A year after unveiling negaraku, an exhibition honouring the nation’s journey from independence to its future possibilites, art collector Bingley Sim and his wife Ima Norbinsha return with negaraku II, a more expansive sequel that goes deeper into the complexities of Malaysian identity.

Running throughout the month (until Aug 31) at Hin Bus Depot, Jalan Gurdwara here, negaraku II showcases compelling works from the private collection of Sim, 62, and Ima, 63, two passionate champions of socially conscious Malaysian contemporary art.

Curated by Ivan Gabriel, the exhibition features 35 works from the couple’s private collection, with some presented as thematic sets, bringing the total number of individual pieces to about 60, divided into six chapters.

In an interview with Bernama, Sim explained that the first chapter titled ‘Pejuang-Pejuang’ (Warriors), begins with a 1511 masterpiece by Edroger Rosili depicting the Portuguese arrival, a reminder of a history Malaysians must not forget, as their ancestors lived under colonial rule for centuries.

He said the second chapter 'Malaysia, Truly Asia' takes inspiration from the well-known tourism slogan, highlighting the country’s rich cultural diversity while also addressing the underlying challenges that coexist with its beauty.

“Third chapter 'Pendatang?' (Immigrants?) is quite core in this show because this is something very close to curator Ivan. It explores the migrant roots of many Malaysians, in fact, many of our parents or grandparents, in my case, were actually a migrant and became an immigrant from China,” he said.

In Chapter 4 titled ‘Sama-sama’ (Together), Sim pointed out that it celebrates Malaysia’s food culture as a unifying bridge between communities, while highlighting historical connections beyond popular eateries.

Chapter 5, 'Impian - A Malaysian Dream', reflects Malaysia’s youthful ambition and growth through symbols such as portraits of former Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak, which evoke the Red Book and Green Book initiatives, representing rural development and national progress.

Finally, Chapter 6, 'Rakyat Hidup Bersatu dan Maju', offers a hopeful vision of unity and progress, serving as an inspiring conclusion to the exhibition.

“To put the work together is actually the achievement of the curator, how he arranged them, how he selected works from my art space, so I like to think that negaraku II is actually an installation by Ivan from mine and my wife’s collection,” Sim said.

Meanwhile, Ivan described negaraku II as a call to reflect on belonging and to honour the many faces and untold stories that give life to the nation.

“By organising the exhibition into thematic chapters, we wanted to guide visitors through stories that touch on pride, migration, food and shared aspirations while still leaving room for the public to bring their own meaning to the journey,” he said.

Beyond the artworks themselves, Ivan said negaraku II comes alive through a dynamic public programme that includes multilingual guided tours in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Sign Language, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background or ability, feels welcome.

Adding to the experience are live food demonstrations featuring traditional dishes such as roti jala and nasi ulam. 

The negaraku II exhibition is open to public until Aug 31, from 12pm to 7pm on weekdays and 11am to 7pm on weekends, with free entry for all visitors.

-- BERNAMA