Project Future Malaysia aims to do just that by showcasing the literary and visual work of 10 local creatives.
Held at GMBB Mall last Saturday, the project is the brainchild of Kevin Bathman – who wears many hats as an independent curator, cultural activist, creative producer, and designer – and is supported by the Chevening Alumni Fund as well as the British High Commission Kuala Lumpur.
Besides the speculative-fiction literary genre, the project draws inspiration from the term “Afrofuturism”, a movement in literature, art and music involving futuristic or science-fiction themes that incorporate Black history and culture.
Malaysian writers, artists and creators were invited to submit their ideas in September as a way of reawakening the country’s creative spirit in the wake of the pandemic.
Of the finalists, Sharmilla Ganesan, Gema, Jaymee Goh, Ackash Kumar, and Kumerainthiren were selected for their short fiction and poetry, whereas Shamrizan Jamaludin, Max Loh, David Tneh, Yan Jing Tian, and Wong Xiu Wei were chosen for their visual-arts entries.
Radio presenter, writer and culture critic Sharmila’s work, “Sawda Chea Wants Everyone to Have Wawasan”, features an interview with a wayang-kulit artist that takes place 300 years in the future.
She explores how automation and artificial intelligence alter the nation’s capitalistic structure, as well as their impact on how race, labour, and the environment are perceived.
A couple of entries revolved around the rights and welfare of migrant workers. Gema’s poem “Orioles, 3am” is about his observations of Bangladeshi workers who work tirelessly under terrible conditions, despite being accused by certain Malaysians of stealing jobs.
Tneh, the dean of the faculty of creative industries at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, came up with watercolour interpretations of migrant-food culture based on his interview with 10 foreign workers.
Often viewed as the “other” and alienated from society, his works attempt to show how migrant workers actually share more similarities than differences with Malaysians, as represented by the common base ingredients and condiments of their national cuisines.
In her piece “Farid Out at Sea”, writer and editor Goh explores cities with architecture that is hostile to people with disabilities.
Meanwhile, writer and poet Ackash imagines a more climate-prepared Malaysia in his piece, “Banjir”; while Sabahan digital illustrator Shamrizan’s comic, “In the Eyes of a Vegetable Farmer”, depicts the positives and negatives of modernisation on the tourist town of Kundasang in Ranau, Sabah.
Elsewhere, Kumerainthiren’s piece “Jothi” tells the story of a nonagenarian Tamil trans woman who narrates the final day of her life, as well as the last rites of her own funeral.
With a background in human rights and humanitarian work, he explores the ugly realities that a transgender person in Malaysia has to go through, from experiencing various forms of violence to being denied their rights, which carries on even after death.
With regard to climate change, comic artist Loh’s “Intangible” shows what the future of Malaysian food culture and agriculture might look like, especially given the alarming rate of deforestation in the country.
Finally, designer Yan and English undergraduate Wong created an “Uncomfortable Malaysian Quiz” that explores what it truly means to be Malaysian beneath the surface.
They note a 2017 study that revealed Malaysians perceive a greater amount of discrimination against their own ethnic group despite not necessarily having experienced it personally in society.
With questions like “Is Malaysia an important part of who I am?”, the pair hopes the interactive quiz will inspire honest discourse that is crucial for the growth of the nation.
Everyone is encouraged to check out these thought-provoking works from Project Future Malaysia, which are full of heart, hope and empathy, and that will no doubt inspire one and all to create a better Malaysia.
View the works from all participants here, and get more information about Project Future Malaysia via its Facebook profile.