Held at Charlie’s Café and Bakery in Taman Bukit Desa here, the exhibition showcases 30 meticulously restored photographs from Sabah and Sarawak.
There are images of people decked out in traditional attire, celebrating special occasions, or simply taking a moment to pose for the camera.
Presented by Canvas Art Creative and supported by the tourism, arts and culture ministry, each image is accompanied by an explainer on why it’s special to the owner, giving visitors insights into their lives and culture.
“These photos represent a part of Malaysian history, which should be shared and passed down to the younger generations,” said Faye Lim, managing director of Canvas Art Creative. The business, which was founded by her late parents, has been restoring old photographs for over 20 years.
According to the 34-year-old, the restoration process can be tedious but it’s certainly worthwhile. “The photographs have been restored to their original glory and can hopefully bring back good memories,” she added.
While a café isn’t a conventional exhibition venue, the establishment’s cosy setting fits what these images offer: an intimate glimpse into the lives of everyday Malaysians.
One of the eatery’s founders, Desonny Daning Tuzan, contributed a photograph of him sitting atop a buffalo when he was young.
“It was taken in Papar, sometime in 1978. I was always fascinated with cowboys but we only had buffaloes. Apparently I insisted on riding it,” Desonny shared.
He recalls having to use a sack as a makeshift seat as the buffalo was covered with mud. “We didn’t have a digital camera or a mobile phone, so it was really precious that my parents managed to get this developed and kept it for me.
“This picture is worth more than gold or silver. Money will never be able to bring us back to that time – Borneo in the 1970s!”
Anne Antah, founder of textile company Chanteek Borneo, also contributed a photo of her husband, Andrew Durat. It was taken when he was two or three years old.
“I want my kids to know about our childhood. This was almost 50 years ago, and we didn’t have many photos taken, but we grew up beautifully,” she said.
Highlighting Andrew’s shorts in the photo, she said it was common back then for their mothers to sew simple clothing.
“Buying clothes from the shop or ‘tamu’, which is a market, was considered a luxury. Our parents usually bought them only during Christmas.”
For Lim, a photograph of a couple – including a man from Bario, Sarawak – is particularly striking. “I was there in 2017. I’ve heard about warriors who wore tiger-tooth ear ornaments. You don’t see that a lot now.
“I even came across some people with holes in their ears. Seeing the photo gives me a clearer vision of it,” she explained.
And it is hard for Lim to forget the warmth of Sabahans and Sarawakians. “I hope Malaysians from the peninsula will get to know them better,” she added.
Indeed, the exhibition offers the perfect opportunity to do just that – and don’t leave without trying the café’s famed chicken chop!
‘Stories Behind Old Photographs (Borneo Edition)’ [free admission]
When:
11am-3pm & 6pm-9pm (closed on Sunday)
until Oct 7
Where:
Charlie’s Café and Bakery
29, Jalan Bukit Desa 5,
Taman Bukit Desa, Kuala Lumpur
For location, click here.
- Visitors to Charlie’s Café and Bakery tomorrow (Sept 28) get to enjoy special activities including a show-and-tell session, nature art workshop, and food tasting.
- And on Oct 5, there will be a sharing session on ‘Preserving Culture through Digital Textile’ by Anne Antah, a Kadazan-language workshop, and many other activities.
For further details, check out Canvas Art Creative’s Instagram and website.