Heritage buildings give us a better understanding of the present
BY NG PAU LING
pauline@thestar.com.my
Heritage buildings are some of the most precious assets to modern cities. They have withstood the test of time and are pieces of living history that allow us to look back at the past to have a better understanding of the present as we make decisions for the future.
To celebrate 2018, StarProperty.my collaborated with artist Ong Siew Guet to create a limited edition calendar featuring her exquisite artworks of historical buildings and sights found within Kuala Lumpur.
Ong's inspiration for art usually comes from everyday life.
“Each historical building has a story to tell. They have been there for decades, and have witnessed the growth and colourful past of a particular place.
“It reflects the origins of our culture and offers a glimpse as to how people lived in the old days,” said Ong.
She first started the collection in 2013, choosing a more meaningful and sentimental way to preserve the historical charm.
The first art piece for this series is an old shophouse in Petaling Street, and most of the scenes are located within the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
“In art, the theme is usually about life. I’ve been living here for years and I have an emotional connection to this place. The buildings in my artwork may be nothing fancy. It could be just an ordinary shop-lot located nearby.
Artist Ong Siew Guet
“Photography produces beautiful pictures too, but I would rather depict the scenes by hand. The composition of colours, control of the brush and paint, even my personal feelings and imagination are all part of the artistic expression.
“All these have added a warm and human touch to my artworks,” said Ong.
However, some of the buildings captured in Ong’s paintings exist only in living memory, such as the Lok Ann Hotel in Petaling Street which had to make way for new developments.
For Ong, it is inevitable that some of the old structures have to make way for progress, but she said there must be a balance between heritage preservation and the growth of a city.
“It’s always important to reflect the relationship between an individual, the building and their surrounding environment before we start a new journey.
“Demolishing older buildings is not the only solution. Perhaps an alternative is to restore and refurbish the sites to give them new life,” said Ong.
StarProperty.my Calendar 2018
Echoing the theme “The way home”, each page of the calendar showcases the artwork by Ong Siew Guet along with tips to help house hunters navigate the buying process smoothly and efficiently.
“Home is not just a physical space. It is a place where we gather and connect with each other because of love, and it is the warmest place in the world,” said Ong.
Win a StarProperty.my Calendar 2018!
Question: What is the theme for StarProperty.my calendar 2018?
Answer the question at bit.ly/SPcalendar-2018 to win a calendar.
