Rahmat Bahgia

after years dedicating myself to various humanitarian missions, i decided to take a complete break from it ( maybe or partially taken a toll to my health ), it took me awhile to see where im going next. As i'm so used of seeing visuals consists of destruction, flood, mud, mineral waters and sick people - my mind peel the hidden meaning and lessons behind it. 

been called Abang Alonso

 

Sure the disaster was miserable and unspeakable - if we look again, we Malaysians bound together stronger when disaster happens. We turned united, the disaster call center ( which turn into our home base ) is filled with donations and yes food supplies. 

 

once a Bangladeshi with his motorbike came in to sell his ice-cream, together we purchase everything ( except him and his bike ). All the volunteers in the center took a break to finish their Cornetto. Packs of rice, sugar, tea, chicken ( etc ) piled up so high, coffee served 24/7, we are linked with laughter and true enough its hard to say goodbye when we finish the mission.

I met up with Nazura and together, she and her wonderful team tagged along for Rahmat Bahgia. Again Rahmat Bahgia is not an exhibition but simply cobbling and connect experiences of what it meant to be a Malaysian. 

Apa Khabar.

Rahmat Bahagia is made of multiple signs and text to encourage all of us to celebrate, reflect upon the what, where, who, when and how we associate, belong and relate on being a Malaysian.From soaps to sardines to Belachan, they are humble, plain, honorable, stoic, dependable, reliable, most importantly MADE IN MALAYSIA that never fail to serve us Malaysians.

Population of 33.57 million, the land that is free from any natural disasters, this blessed Peninsular seduced travelers from all over the world - colonial and foreign powers due with her strategic location and rich natural resources.

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What is  RAHMAT?

 The word rahmat is made of belas kasihan ( mercy ) , kurnia ( gift )  dan berkat ( blessings )

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What is Bahgia?

Kebahagiaan is Happiness. suatu keadaan perasaan aman damai serta gembira.

These two words contained in Negaraku lyric, where we never fail to sing every Monday morning and stand up when the song is played.

RAHMAT……………..BAHGIA…………..

We spend too much time lamenting, focusing and listing endless bad and averages, the imperfect and knowing what we don’t like. 

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Why?

Let us concentrate, seek and find and celebrate the RAHMAT AND the BAHGIA - most importantly reminding ourselves that we are at home.   

True enough, the whole month was magical as people ( makcik, pakcik, aunties ) coming in and instantly able to relate on what's going on, the story and best of all, sharing their own experience with their kids. The curated objects simply press the memory buttons, letting their guard down and instantly transported them into a familiar territories. 

They came out smiling ( instead of dahi berkerut )

when a group of university students from Tokyo knowing who is Mona Fandey

and someone is happy seeing his old acquaintance named Luna 

 

Cross generational narrative linked by stories. We activate back the oral culture. We simply offer the audience a chance, to revisit their first encounters, hugging back their old friends, rekindle their memories comfortably dormant in their subconscious and yes to remind that we are here, loving this land and best - call Malaysia our home. 

The conceptual territorial map,  where we simply let the adults to claim and proudly state where they come from. From an empty wall, slowly visitors come in and fill in the spaces.

magic happens when we ask the adults to be a kid

All these again, is to make the audience to bring a catharsis back home as they spend their petrol money, toll to visit the gallery. 

Honestly, we can achieve glorious this if we cut across language, race and religion. Try experience singing Negaraku with the rest of 10,000 Malaysians in a football stadium. Its magical.

This is my country and this is my home. 

Click below to listen our interview with BFM Station. 

https://www.bfm.my/podcast/bigger-picture/front-row/rahmat-bahgia

https://theobservatoryanderson78.blogspot.com/2020/12/a-place-called-home-from-oral-to.html