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Fusing Art and Urban Architecture to Uplift the Community Life
Local Artist-architectural Designer Pamela Tan on how Art and Architecture can Ignite Conversations and Public Sentiment
Kuala Lumpur, 11 August 2023 – In line with Cosentino’s dedication to enrich the lives of the local community through architecture, Cosentino teamed up with Artist-architectural Designer Pamela Tan for a design talk titled “Bridging Communities through Public Art in Urban Architecture and Design”. The session aimed to inspire aspiring architects and interior designers how architecture can inspire art, shape public experiences, foster connections and evoke sentiments among the local community.
Hosted at the Cosentino Showroom, guests embarked on an exploration on how art inspired by the local heritage and cityscapes can become canvases for creative expression, enabling conversations among the public.
Pamela Tan, advocates that “there is no right or wrong in art and design”. Her artistic installations serve as captivating conversations as she observes the diverse perspectives from the public. A vivid instance is the "Sunny Side Up" project at a stairway of the MRT station situated at Kuala Lumpur's cultural enclave, Pasar Seni. Here, she injected vibrant, cheerful hues into the station's atmosphere, aim to uplift weary everyday commuters journeying home after strenuous workdays, amidst their bustling schedules.
Beyond aesthetics, Pamela’s commitment to stimulate conversations manifested in her “Dome of Disappearance” art installation that graced KL’s architectural heritage site, Masjid Jamek Lookout Point. This art installation encouraged the public to share their insights into vanishing facets of Kuala Lumpur. To encourage the public to express their thoughts, she collaborated with her partners to host community workshops such as “Realigning Self & City Workshop” and “A Plant with a Weave Workshop”. Through these workshops, the sentiments shared were then displayed on the art installation.
Pamela also aspires to nurture a sense of national pride while fanning discussions about Malaysia’s rich cultural diversity as exemplified by her previous installation called “Tatu." This creation delved into Malaysia's intricate diversity, evoking scenes of Malaysia’s Wayang Kulit. The design extracts from the cultures of main ethnic groups in Malaysia – Malay, Chinese, Indian and Dayak, representing the diversity of the Malaysian community. Another notable project was "Crimson Cloud," an artistic collaboration between Pamela and beauty brand Shiseido. This piece that was situated at Pavilion Bukit Bintang took design cues from the double-helix structure found within DNA that aimed to temporarily change the urban street surroundings in the heart of KL’s hub, Bukit Bintang, into a place of wonder and delight for visitors.
Engaging with Pamela for this design talk is only a glimpse into the expansive realm of architectural, interior and design prospect with Cosentino. To explore a myriad of innovative design, interior and architectural possibilities with Cosentino, visit the Cosentino Malaysia showroom, located at No. 1 Jalan TSB 8, Taman Industri Sungai Buloh, 47000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor or visit here.
