Art, Nature and the City in Conversation

Ann Marie Chandy | 22 October 2025

The beautiful ‘ASEAN Integration Circle’ by Team Zaimmar C symbolises unity in diversity – a fusion of distinct ASEAN cultures, histories and identities bound together under one spirit of collaboration.

AT the heart of the KL Park Festival 2025, amidst lush greenery and curious onlookers, stands a collection of intriguing sculptures – each one breathing new life into the relationship between art, nature and urban living. Organised by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the biennial festival celebrates parks as the “green lungs and heartbeat of the city”, while the Environmental Arts Competition adds a layer of creative reflection to the mix.

The competition invited the public to create large-scale environmental art using natural materials, with works positioned on the ground, in the air, and in the water. The result was an enchanting trail of imagination that turned KL’s parkland into an open-air gallery of ideas and ideals.

Among those recognised with excellence awards from a total of 23 entries were The Nest (from UiTM Melaka), Serumpun Bersatu: Akar Berpadu (UiTM Kedah), Kuda Hitam (Bungakayu from Kedah), Rentak Serantau (Taylor’s University), Seribu Lapisan Padi (Ng Kai En, Graduate Architect), ASEAN Integration Circle (landscape architects Zaimmar Associates), and Ikan Busuk Dari Kepala (Malaysian Visual Artists Association, PeRUPA).

'Kuda Hitam' – a symbol of Nusantara strength – is a representation of regional unity, reflecting the determination of ASEAN nations to achieve success. The sculpture is composed of Mahogany and buttress wood all the way from Sintok, Kedah; river stones and recycled materials such as glass and plastic.

Roots of Unity

One particularly evocative sculpture, Serumpun Bersatu: Akar Berpadu (pic below), crafted by a team called Merbok from UiTM Kedah, draws its strength from both concept and material. Inspired by the pegaga plant which thrives abundantly across all 10 ASEAN nations and used for its healing Aproperties. “Just as pegaga heals the body, we can heal the environment through creativity and collaboration,” the artist statement notes.

“We’re absolutely overjoyed as this is our first time joining such an event and we managed to get an Excellence Award! We came all the way from the North, but it was truly worth the journey!” said Industrial Design lecturer Asrol Hasan.

Using repurposed nipa palm midrib sticks (lidi nipah) sourced from waste materials of the traditional nipah leaf cigarette-making community in Merbok, Kedah, the artists transformed what was once discarded into something enduring and beautiful. Each stick was meticulously woven into a leaf-like structure that mirrors sustainability.

The design features 10 leaf-shaped petals – each representing one of the 10 ASEAN nations – encircling a central elevated unit symbolising Malaysia as the host of ASEAN 2025. At its heart, five upright petals form the shape of a hibiscus, echoing the Rukun Negara’s five pillars.

Through this work, the artists remind us that true strength arises not from the individual – like a solitary stick – but from the collective root system of the pegaga, binding communities together in resilience and harmony.

What sets the 'Ikan Busuk Dari Kepala' work apart is its interaction with the public. Visitors are encouraged to touch, walk around and interpret the piece in their own way.

Equally compelling is Ikan Busuk Dari Kepala (The Fish Rots from the Head) by PeRUPA, a sculpture that has transformed a well-known proverb into a tangible artistic statement.

“The proverb is often used as a critique,” explained PeRUPA chairman Irwan Idris. “Our intention, however, wasn’t to criticise but to encourage reflection. We want people to think about responsibility and the role of good leadership in shaping a healthy social ecosystem.”

Crafted from natural materials like palm fronds, coconut leaves, bamboo, ketapang leaves, and coconuts, the sculpture stands as a symbolic union of nature and human society.

“These materials reflect the elements of earth and water,” shared project leader Abu Zaki Hadri. “They represent diversity and interconnectedness – the idea that everything in our ecosystem is linked, whether we’re talking about nature, communities, or nations.”

PeRUPA’s team was composed of seasoned artists and young interns from tertiary education institutions including UPSI, ASWARA, UiTM, and UIA, all contributing to the creative process. The collaboration embodied the gotong-royong spirit – collective effort and shared purpose – that defines Malaysian artistic culture.

“This project became more than just an artwork; it was a learning space,” said vice chairman Raduan Norudin. “Everyone – from students to professionals – brought their own perspective, enriching the narrative and strengthening the final outcome.”

But what truly sets the work apart is its interaction with the public. Visitors are encouraged to touch, walk around and interpret the piece in their own way.

“We believe art shouldn’t just be seen – it should be experienced,” Irwan added. “Through that interaction, people become part of the story. That’s when art transforms from something decorative into something transformative.”

PeRUPA hopes this form of public engagement will help environmental and social art flourish in Malaysia. As part of that mission, the association hosted plein air painting sessions around the sculpture to continue the dialogue between people, art and nature. You can even view some of these artworks in you step into the fishhead!

PeRUPA member Wan Borhanuddin sketching the sculpture while it was being built. – Photo: FB

Humble materials

The installation artwork titled The Nest is made from interwoven rattan and palm midribs (lidi) as its main materials. Inspired by the structures of bird or insect nests, this interactive sculpture explores the potential of an artwork conceptualised around the idea of a shelter – connecting nature and humankind through the natural charm of its materials.

The artwork was created by a four-member team from UiTM Melaka’s Faculty of Art and Design (FSSR) headed by Ridzuan Adli Azidin.

“Nests have always symbolised safety, belonging and continuity,” explained Dr Sharmiza Abu Hassan, one of the artists behind the work. “Through The Nest, we wanted to evoke that sense of refuge while encouraging people to reconnect with the organic simplicity of nature.”

The semi-spherical form, reminiscent of a cocoon, was constructed through interlaced lines of varying thickness and texture. Unlike the rigid structures common in industrial design, this organic installation highlights spontaneous flexibility – akin to how birds instinctively build their nests using materials of various shapes and textures found in nature.

As sunlight filters through the layered arrangement of rattan and lidi, the shaded space beneath becomes alive with soft, dappled light. Visitors are invited to step inside and rest on log-like stools, transforming the sculpture into a safe, eco-friendly and child-friendly space that encourages play, pause and reflection.

“The use of rattan and lidi mirrors everyday life in tropical ASEAN countries,” Dr Sharmiza added. “It also demonstrates how humble, biodegradable materials can inspire both beauty and environmental awareness.”

The KL Park Festival 2025’s Environmental Arts Competition proves that art doesn’t just belong in galleries – it belongs in the open, where roots, leaves and ideas intertwine.

In the gentle shade of the city’s parks, creativity finds its rhythm – and perhaps, a call for renewal – echoing the festival’s larger message: that when nature and art coexist, both the environment and the human spirit can truly thrive.

The KL Park Festival 2025 at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa is open to the public until Oct 26, 9am – 11pm daily. Admission is free.

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