This article was published in Eksentrika, The Sun Daily, CJ.MY, and Newswav.
As Malaysia gears up to celebrate its forthcoming Merdeka and Malaysia Day, an artistic ode to national pride, "negaraku," takes centre stage. Curated by Ivan Gabriel of Hin Bus Depot from the RuMa Collection by Bingley Sim and his wife, Ima Norbinsha, this exhibition displays a rich collection of 26 meticulously chosen artworks from their 20-year aggregation of the RuMa collection. Sim, a banker by profession, and Ima are both esteemed budayawan in the Malaysian art scene.
“At one point, when we had decided on the pieces for the exhibition and were thinking about the title for the show, we considered several ideas, but none stood out. Just then, my daughter, Iza, joined the conversation and casually suggested, ‘Why not ‘negaraku’?”
“‘negaraku’ represents the country’s trials and tribulations, nation-building, and hope for a brighter future,” said Sim. “We are passionate about the collection being exhibited and the power it conveys, the feelings of ‘negaraku,’ the connection to the country, and the artworks to each other,” he added.
Sim, a Teochew originally from Penang, explained that RuMa is a contraction of Ruang Ima. “Ruang is the Malay word for space, and Ima is the name of my wife. Together, rumah also means house in Malay. That is why I named our collection ‘Ruma Collection’,” he said. He added that RuMa also referred to his former 2.5-storey terraced home of more than a decade until 2010 when it was turned into an art space. Sim and his wife, Ima, also regularly return to Penang as he always sees himself as a Penangite at heart.
In his opening speech at the launching of the “negaraku” exhibition last Friday (12 July), the affable art collector surprised everyone by singing the national anthem, befitting the theme of his exhibition. As he sang ‘Negaraku’ with pride, the visitors stood at attention, soaking in the evident patriotism and love for his country.
“I started buying art in 2004. After meeting Pakhruddin Sulaiman in December 2007, my interest in buying art began to reach a more serious level. It was only after I came across Bayu Utomo’s artwork that I became an art collector,” he said.
This piece of masterpiece was an 8ft black-coloured painting. Sim said, “I remember, it was right after the general election in 2008. I saw it, thought about it for a while, and then decided to buy it.”
It was a painting of a mask, a fighter pilot, and a cross depicting the election, commemorating the 2008 change of government in a few states: Penang, Selangor, and Kedah. Bayu Utomo Radjikin wanted to convey the feelings of division drawn in the aftermath of the election and titled it, “Kau Sekutu atau Seteru,” meaning “Either you are with me or against me.”
“This was the type of painting I wanted for my art collection. I wanted a painting which was philosophical, a painting that had a soul, a painting that could speak to me, and a painting that could give me pleasure just by looking at it.
“More importantly, artworks like ‘Kau Sekutu atau Seteru’ captured a historical moment which had a very significant impact on me. From that point on, I became an ‘art collector’.”
Among several other outstanding artworks were Stephen Menon's “The Journey: From Malaya to 1 Malaysia” (2013), a collection of quotes by Tunku Abdul Rahman; Gan Sze Hooi’s painting of the Pudu jail titled “Into the Jail” (2015); and Chang Yoong Chia’s trilogy, “Blue, Yellow, and Red” (2009), whose title features the colours of the Malaysian flag, even though the paintings are in grayscale.
Penang State Art Gallery chairman Lee Khai, who officiated the exhibition, credited Gabriel, for convincing Sim to showcase his art collection. “Unlike public institutions, private collectors have the agility to quickly acquire valuable works of art. However, many of these artworks end up locked away in private collections,” he said. He added that Sim and Ima’s art collection provides a stark and thought-provoking exploration of themes such as nationhood, nationalism, politics, and culture. Among them was Syahbandi Samat’s ‘Khabar Angin’ (2014), which depicts the cultural norm of lying.
Lee also commented on the final painting in the exhibition, Fadilah Karim’s ‘Bubblegum’ (2018), depicting an expectant woman with a look of anxiety. “It symbolises our nation's future – a new birth on the horizon, despite the current trepidation,” he said.
This exhibition delves into the trials and tribulations of nation-building and reflects the perpetual cycles of life found in Malaysia's complex socio-political landscape. It encompasses sculptures, canvases, and silk screen pieces, with each artwork narrating a compelling story of Malaysia's past, present, and aspirations for the future.
As Sim eloquently stated, "This is the story of Malaysia.
However, it invokes feelings. This exhibition is meant to remind and revitalise
where we come from and where we are going.
“The perpetuity of the cycles of life found in the racial harmony and ample natural resources of Malaysia inspire the collection’s staging—like a child’s life journey from birth to everything in between and then, an end.
“However, it all boils down to tanah tumpahnya darahku,” he said with a sense of nationalistic pride.
Gabriel, having known Sim for over a decade, said that curating this show took about a year. He also mentioned that the exhibition intentionally omitted labels to communicate a specific narrative of "negaraku," beginning with the Malaysian journey and progressing through themes of hope and uncertainty about our collective future. “Visitors can obtain an exhibition guide from the gallery, which serves as a map of this journey. It invites you to move from one work to another according to the guide, but it is merely a suggestion.
“As life is never so linear; I believe that visitors will find it interesting to experience the show through a varied lens and discover different perspectives,” he said. Trained in the performing arts, Gabriel is also an artist and a stage actor. Recently, he was cast to play the role of "Manju" in Fa Abdul’s latest production, Leela Jhansi.
“negaraku” will run from 13 July to 11 August 2024 at Hin Bus Depot on Jalan Gurdwara. It is supported by Yayasan Mr. D.I.Y., Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers and Swan Consultancy. Admission to "negaraku" is free, with proceeds from the sale of exclusive catalogues being donated to charity. “We have selected the House of Hope to be the recipient of our charitable donation,” said Sim.
These catalogues, which document the show and the stories
behind the pieces, are collector's items, featuring unique casings, numbering,
and autographs. This writer finds the exhibition a profound reflection of the
nation's journey.