Kota Kinabalu: A new community art project will be launched in the near future to replace the Pillars of Sabah 3.0 initiative at the Art Space here, said Sabah Art Gallery, in response to complaints that the Pillars 3.0 artwork was erased without notice.
Dubbed as the WOW (Wonders of Wilderness) Project, its Curator Jennifer P Linggi said it will be led by Sabahan artists Japson Wong and Rosmaini Sinarjo.
“We are excited by this project as it will be the first big art installation project in Sabah.
“If any artists have an idea on how they would like to use the space, please send us your submissions,” Jennifer told Daily Express, Sunday.
She was asked to comment on a viral Facebook post by Pillars 3.0 contributing artist Rizo Leong who lamented that the gallery did not give prior notice to the artists before it was erased.
The post garnered over 2,900 shares and 550 comments at press time, sparking rage among netizens who also expressed their dissatisfaction regarding the abrupt removal of the artwork.
Rizo, in his post, said: “I am clear that this is a community space and managed by the Sabah Art Gallery. But why wasn’t a proper platform used to explain the matter to those involved? There’s no prior notice, it was just erased.”
Another contributing artist, Razie Alfadan, also commented on the matter in his Facebook post.
He said: “A notice of even a week would have been good, people could have visited a final time but instead it ended abruptly.
“I understand that it’s a public space and street art is a fleeting expression but I’m sure the organisers of Pillars of Sabah went through the correct way of doing this community project. They’re owed a proper closure, as do the artists.”
In light of the Pillars 3.0 hoo-ha, Jennifer assured that the Art Space will continue to uphold the artwork of local artists, saying it was only a public misconception that the pillars would no longer be a space for art.
“The Art Space in KK is a space where our artists are welcome to propose any ideas to the Sabah Art Gallery,” she said.
Pillars of Sabah is a community art project that features the works of local artists in celebration of Sabah’s rich natural and cultural identity, says the community on its website.
It occupies the ruins of the old, colonial Lands and Surveys building in the heart of Kota Kinabalu and utilises the site’s remnant pillars to exhibit the artwork – “each pillar featuring the unique artistic talent and style of a different artist, establishing the project’s format of 30 pillars, 30 artists.”
