A Merdeka Exhibition Honouring Culture, Memory & Artistic Voices
Exhibition Date: August 29th – October 31st, 2025
To commemorate Merdeka Day 2025, QING Gallery proudly presented “Negaraku: My Heritage, My Home, My Hope,” an exhibition that invited viewers to explore how heritage, identity and personal memory shape our understanding of independence. Featuring a compelling trio of Malaysian artists: Dato’ Gunabalan, Fauzi AB. Rahim and Ono Kang. The exhibition brought together diverse forms of contemporary expression, united in their commitment to reflection, truth and hope.
Across paintings and sculptures, “Negaraku” became a space where visitors were encouraged to pause, reconnect, and reconsider what independence means beyond celebration, as a lived journey, an evolving memory, and a collective responsibility.
Honouring Voices That Shape Our Cultural Tapestry
The exhibition reflected QING Gallery’s belief in unity through diversity, showcasing three artists whose practices span distinct cultural and artistic lineages. Together, their works formed a visual dialogue that underscored Malaysia’s plural identity, rooted in memory, shaped by struggle, and guided by aspirations for a shared future.
“Negaraku” became not just an exhibition, but a journey toward understanding what binds us, our stories, our languages, our voices.
ARTIST HIGHLIGHTS
Dato’ Gunabalan — Confronting Histories with Unflinching Expression
Dato’ Gunabalan’s layered visual language interrogated cultural tensions, inherited wisdom and socio-political memories. His works carried the weight of lived experiences, inviting viewers to reflect on how collective memory shapes who we are today. Through his lens, independence becomes not merely a milestone in the past, but an ever-relevant reminder of accountability, courage and truth.
Fauzi AB. Rahim — Finding Beauty Through Resistance and Endurance
Fauzi AB. Rahim approached memory through a gentle yet intentional visual vocabulary. His works resonated as quiet affirmations, that beauty itself can be an act of resistance, and that endurance is often the language of love. Through his pieces, visitors were reminded that the fight for identity is not just what we once stood against, but also what we now stand for.
Ono Kang — Sculpting Liberation from the Remains of the Everyday
Ono Kang transformed recycled materials into striking sculptural forms. His monumental presence invited audiences to confront liberation as something constantly reshaped by history, a declaration of identity, a reminder of resilience, and a call for renewed participation. His installations blurred the boundary between viewer and artwork, creating a shared space of remembrance and gratitude.
Thank You for Celebrating Merdeka With Us
We extend our warmest gratitude to all collectors, supporters and visitors who walked this journey with us. Your presence gave life to the stories held within each artwork, reminding us that memory endures only when shared.
As we continue championing cultural expression and contemporary voices, we look forward to welcoming you to our next exhibition — where heritage, imagination and creativity meet once again.
