Community Based Arts & Culture Workers in Malaysia
A Documentation Project and Resource Site
Lostgens'
Artist, Facilitator, Artist-Facilitator, Cultural worker, Project Manager/Coordinator/Administrator (Arts Collective)
Languages spoken:
Mandarin, English, Bahasa Malaysia
Based in Community:
No
Target age groups:
Children aged 12 and below
Children aged 13-17
Older generation/retirees
General
Ethnic Group:
Chinese
Mission/Personal Statement:
Lost Gens is an artist collective that organises fine arts activities as well as their work with communities. Their work with communities is focused on urban communities in the immediate and neighbouring vicinities of the Lost Gens base in Kuala Lumpur,
“(Most of) the old townships in Malaysia… face the problem of aging community and the migration of residents to city. This has a very close link to the economic activities and the people (especially the younger generation) who long for a more modern lifestyle, and (it’s also) related to development plans by the authority…. Some communities such as Bukit Cina and Pudu, the main issues are the losing of their own local culture and traditional trades; what we can do is merely document their history and through workshops, exhibition and related activities, highlight their historical value.…(In) Petaling Street and Kampung Berembang, the main issues were because of urban development and the loss of their community and home (and usually linked to business crony!). To intervene in this issue, the method that we used was to document the community history to raise the awareness within the community. At the same time, we also work closely with the local groups/organisations/ state representatives to hold demonstration/protest, raise media attention and pressure in hope that these actions could prolong the duration of staying in the community (and) avoid eviction.”
Community-based work interests:
Raise awareness
Cultural documentation
Art education
Types of community where work is conducted:
Urban, Urban village
Types of activity:
Organising events: Street fair, Festival, Showcase/performance/exhibition, Artist-in-residence programme
Public art and design: Wall murals, Outdoor sculpture/installation, Street furniture
Community interventions: Cleaning up and redesigning public spaces, Creation of shared spaces for creative/culture activity
Classes: Visual art, Design, Performance art
Workshops: Visual art, Craft, Design, Performance art, Traditional performing art, Research skills
Research & Documentation: Research and community story collection (documents, oral history, text, publication/old photographs) Documentation methods: video and audio recording, scanning, writing and shooting.
Contact Details:

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

+6019-6838 397
PROJECTS DATE SHORT DESCRIPTION
Project kampung seni
Dec 2006 -Dec 2007
Children’s drawing and performance workshop.
“ Penang clan jetties festival”
July 2009
Children’s workshop, Performance,installation festival.
http://bangunproject.wordpress.com/
“Pudu community art project”
May- October 2010
Community art project
http://puducommunityartproject.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PuduCAP
“Bukit cina community art project “
April – October 2011
Community art project
https://www.facebook.com/pages/三山九九-依井环山社区艺术计划-3399-Community-Art-Project/
Petaling street community art project
September 2011 -
Preservation cultural movement.
Resources & Additional Links
Printed collaterals: cultural map, coffee table book ,leaflet
Video: oral history interview video
Other: community building site models