The recent demolition of the Lunar Peaks, widely known as Puncak Pernama has received heated reactions from the public and the art community.
The sculpture was built in Jalan Sultan Sulaiman, Kuala Lumpur by the late National Laureate Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal in the year 1986, which was claimed to be a great work of art as described by The Star newspaper previously.
The uniquely designed sculpture with ascending/descending steps was made using ceramic glass. It was commissioned by the United Malayan Banking Corporation Finance in 1986 and was handed over to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in the same year.
In the year 1996, the ceramic glass was changed into stainless steel by DBKL without the consent of the artist which resulted in a legal proceeding. Syed Ahmad won the case and was awarded RM750,000 in compensation for violation of his moral rights.
It was recently learned that the stainless steel façade was removed, exposing the concrete underneath. The sculpture was left unmaintained until it was demolished recently.
When DBKL was contacted in regards to this, the sculpture’s poor condition was given as one of the reasons for the demolition. Moreover, the landmark has become a place frequented by drug addicts and the unmaintained drainage near the sculpture has turned it into a breeding ground for mosquitos.
This statement has angered the art fraternity in Malaysia as it was DBKL’s duty to maintain and preserve the sculpture in the first place.
According to the Geneva Convention on artist copyright, the artwork by any prominent artists recognized by the country is considered a national heritage. Hence, the artwork cannot be destroyed or defaced because that is the moral right of the artist.
“It was a shameful and heartless act by the city administrators whose job was to preserve such works of art,” said local art critic Ooi Kok Chuen.
The Association of Consulting Architects Malaysia (ACA:M) president Jasmeet Singh Sidhu also raised several questions in regards to the demolition of this national heritage such as…
“Who were the technical or art experts consulted before the decision to declare the structure ‘an eyesore’ was made?; was any other option such as the relocation and care of the sculpture by other authorities or NGOs considered?; why was the sculpture left to rot only to be bulldozed later?; were the dilapidation report or environmental impact assessment done beforehand?”
He further expressed his frustration as the authority has portrayed its ignorance on this. By right, a committee for the technical and art matters should be formed to determine its structural stability and artistic credibility.
“If a committee was set, the experts would have studied if it is a legitimate heritage piece and if it should be removed or perhaps an alternative site should be found,” he added.
The demolition of Puncak Purnama received numerous criticisms to-date as the artists and the public are upset with the authorities for failing to maintain and protect our heritage.
Images: Sourced from malaysiadateline.com and thestar.com.my
Mangalesri Chandrasekaran, Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email mangales@propertyguru.com.my
