When in Melaka, you cannot help being aware of so much art, culture and kitsch in the city. It was reported in the newspapers recently that some street art in Melaka had been vandalised. These included the 'Eight running horses' mural and the Heeren House wall calligraphy. We found the former being 'cleaned' of this vandalism, but the latter still has the 'gangster graffiti' on it.
When you walk along the narrow streets of Jalan Hang Jebat, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Jalan Tokong, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, etc. there are many beautiful architectural details that you can observe on the buildings. Some facades sport beautiful hues of blues, greens, aquamarines, etc. Like the Straits Chinese Jewelry Museum below. Even Kim Eng, one of the museum guides, is a walking piece of art and culture in her pretty kebaya nyonya and sarong.
The Orang Utan House has quite a few branches selling their artsy-fartsy T-shirts. But naaah ... we have too, too many t-shirts at home to buy any. Instead I was more fascinated with the facades of their shop in Jalan Tukang Besi. The cute orang utan with a flower in its mouth and the green, green plants surrounding an entrance.
Kitsch in Melaka? You find it right smack on the most popular spot in Melaka city - the junk (pun intended) atop a platform of bric-a-bracs of pottery jars, etc. Quite an eyesore, if you ask me. Err... sorry Cheng Ho/Zheng He.
More kitsch? Outside the Mamee Museum you see this wrought iron sculpture, and inside you get to meet the huge blue Mamee monster.
I have always liked to watch visitors' reactions when they encounter this kitschy dinosaur in front of the Science Museum. Mostly the children put on acts of fighting and grappling with this 'monster' in their midst. Quite amusing, really.
But what could be more kitschy than this bronze statue of the upper torso of Mr Melaka/Malaysia/Asia /Universe aka the 'Father of bodybuilders in Malaysia' which adorns (??) the Taman Warisan Dunia; the small, beautiful park along Jalan Hang Jebat.
Then there are the ever popular but garishly and gaudily decorated beca/tricycles on the streets of Melaka. Art or kitsch? You decide. Peace to all!
Melaka 28-30 July 2014
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