[PHOTOS] If You're A Yasmin Ahmad Fan, You Might Want To Head Over To Ipoh Soon
A newly-opened museum in Ipoh aims to keep the legendary filmmaker's legacy going and to inspire a new generation of local film directors.
By Samantha Khor — 06 Nov 2014, 01:45 PM — Updated about 10 years ago
It has been five years since the passing of Yasmin Ahmad, but her spirit and legacy lives on in the heartwarming films and TV commercials she has made in her lifetime
Her television commercials and films are well known in Malaysia for their humour, heart and love that crosses cross-cultural barriers, in particular her ads for Petronas, the national oil and gas company. Her works have won multiple awards both within Malaysia and internationally.
Some of Yasmin's work include the award-winning films Sepet and Gubra, as well as a series of TV ads made for Petronas in conjunction with Malaysian festivals and National Day, particularly the ever-popular Tan Hong Ming In Love
Welcoming its first visitors on 18 October this year, a commemorative museum has been established in celebration of the legendary director's works and legacy in the Yasmin At Kong Heng space in Ipoh, Perak
In an effort to keep legendary film director Yasmin Ahmad’s legacy alive and to inspire a new generation of local film directors, a group of friends and fans of Yasmin took on the idea of her mother, Hajjah Inom Binti Yon, to establish a gallery to celebrate Yasmin’s work and life.
With “Yasmin at Kong Heng”, Mak Inom hopes that multi-talented Yasmin’s knowledge in film, art, advertising, poetry, photography and her deeply insightful way of thinking would be passed on and continue to inspire new good works of love and kindness.
Ipoh was chosen to site the museum because Yasmin held a great love for the city and its people. Many of her films have also been shot in the city, including Sepet, Gubra, Muallaf and the Chinese New Year ad, One More Day
Organising committee chairman David Lok said, "Many, we feel, will be inspired by Yasmin’s films and memorabilia, which in turn will help grow Yasmin’s legacy of love and understanding that transcends religious and racial differences."
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Yasmin At Kong Heng intends to let visitors see life through Yasmin's eyes with ever-evolving content, featuring Yasmin's photography and filmography as well as creations devoted to her by other artists
The photographs of the current exhibition are by Stanley Wong from Hong Kong, who is famously known as anothermountainman. Fans of Yasmin would be glad to know that this is going to be an ever evolving gallery, as funds come in to curate more exhibits from her rich trove of print ads, radio commercials and poetry.
At the same time, different films and advertisements created by Yasmin will be screened alongside Wong’s exhibits to keep the exhibition interesting and fresh.
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The museum is also planning to create an augmented reality series incorporating the city's landmarks where Yasmin shot her films
Besides the space itself, there are also ongoing plans to create an ‘Augmented Reality’ series for the museum, using the city’s landmarks where Yasmin shot her movies — such as the state mosque, the Ipoh railway station, the Datuk Sagor food court and SMK St Michael’s Institution — featured in films like Muallaf (2008) and Talentime (2009). All the landmarks are near the museum.
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Also, if you happen to be in Ipoh on 15 November 2014, do stop by at the museum for the Yasmin Museum Festival for an exciting day of live music, poetry readings and more!
The Yasmin At Kong Heng space is located at 89-91, Old Block Apartments on Jalan Sultan Yussuf, 30000 Ipoh, Perak and is currently only open on weekends from 10am to 6pm
Admission for children under 12 is free, while entry for adults is subject to a minimum donation of RM3 for maintenance costs.
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