Visit a ‘micro’ Malaysia in all its glory at MinNature

One can only marvel at the degree of detail in this miniature rendition of a traditional ‘kampung’ kitchen at MinNature. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

KUALA LUMPUR:

Malaysia is a land of history, culture and tradition. Adding to this fascinating backdrop is the multiracial makeup of its people, each weaving their own religious beliefs and practices into the fabric of society.

If you’d like to see historical landmarks, art and culture as well as the immense variety of food available in Malaysia, you will find the miniature exhibits at MinNature rather thrilling.

Speaking with FMT Lifestyle recently, Chan Chee Wing, the executive director of MinNature said his team had no prior experience in making miniature models, and learnt everything from scratch.

MinNature houses numerous mini-sized exhibits of all things Malaysian. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

“All the exhibits here were made by our team of six master crafters, with each person in charge of a different aspect such as design, 3D printing, painting, clay molding and assembling.”

The 13,000 sq ft gallery was initially stationed in Subang Jaya before moving to its current location in Sungei Wang Plaza in 2019.

During a tour, Chan explained that seven of the gallery’s ten sections are dedicated to miniature exhibits.

The first section pays tribute to Malaysia’s wide and tantalising range of foods.

Anyone hungry for some Lok-Lok? (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

You’ll find your mouth watering at the sight of mini-sized, masterfully crafted models of nasi lemak, roti canai, cendol, rojak, char kuey teow and many more that look like the real thing.

Every detail of the food scenes depicted, be it a roadside stall or an indoor kitchen, is perfectly sculpted down to overflowing sauce pots, cutlery and serving dishes. Chan said tourists often ask him to recommend restaurants where they could sample the actual food they’ve seen in the gallery.

A Chinese Opera performance in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

The exhibits aren’t only pretty to look at. They are accompanied with educational notes that explain what materials were used to construct them as well as how long the entire process took. Also included is the cost of construction, as a friendly reminder for visitors to be mindful of the exhibits.

The next section features slice-of-life scenes – farmers working the field, an audience watching a Chinese Opera performance in Chinatown, and even an enactment of school kids crossing a rickety bridge above a crocodile-infested river.

You can also go on scavenger hunts here and try to spot certain characters inserted into some of the exhibits, and there’s lots of hidden Easter Eggs for keen-eyed visitors as well.

A miniature display of the country’s historic Merdeka Square. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

The section exhibiting the country’s famous landmarks is also interesting. It is here that you can see Merdeka Square, Batu Caves, Cameron Highlands, Fort Cornwallis, Thean Hou Temple and more.

Taking the experience up a notch are the regular light shows at the Merdeka Square and Kek Lok Si Temple exhibits – these are not to be missed.

Of course, no Malaysian gallery would be quite complete without highlighting the country’s multiracial people, each represented in their respective traditional costumes.

A replica of Hindu devotees smashing coconuts during Thaipusam in front of Batu Caves. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

“Some parents use this opportunity to teach their children the spelling of all the different races. It’s a fun learning experience.”

With technological advances, Chan said they are constantly looking for ways to improve on their older exhibits.

“We’re planning to introduce miniature versions of scenes from old workshops crafting traditional items like the keris, wayang kulit or music instruments next, as not many people know how they were made,” he said.

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