MODERN MELAYU
a mural concept project by
SITI RAMIZAH BINTE RAMLAN
Modern Melayu
a mural concept project
to describe the transitioning from the past to the present that the Malay community in Singapore experiences. The best way to showcase this social topic is none other the the use of the richest heritage neighbourhood in Singapore; Kampong Glam. To talk about this social topic, street art has always been the voice for the already saturated neighbourhood.
JIWA MELAYU
Malay Music is one of the activities that ties up both the older and younger generations together from traditional, 60s Pop, 80s-90s Rock to Modern Pop and even HipHop.
Music has also affected the cultural changes the Malay community faces.
However, they still appreciate traditional or older music and at times incorporate it into modern music.
Thus, keeping the roots alive. #JIWAMELAYU
GADIS MELAYU
Malay Women in the current generation face generational misogynistic beliefs
and stereotypes on how a Malay Woman should be.
The quote “Gadis Melayu Terakhir” (trans. Last Malay Woman) refers to a standard stereotype of all Malay Women needing to be feminine, polite, soft-spoken and more traits that cage these women to keep their personalities low-profile.
However, the modern generation believes in self-expression yet at the same time keeping these cultural traditions as part of them. Women empowerment has helped Malay women step out of their comfort zones in terms of self-expression yet they still hold onto tradition and their roots as a Malay woman.
HUSTLE DEMI HASIL
Frontline workers like Food Delivery jobs or also dispatch jobs were one of the jobs Malay men willingly would work for since the early 80s as it is generationally a belief in our culture to provide assistance as a good deed.
The Phrase “buat baik dibalas baik”
(trans. “Do good & good will return”)
Rain or shine, they don’t mind working extra hard, just to support their families and help their community.
In modern times, brotherhood and encouragement of hard work “Hustle Demi Hasil” (trans. ”Work Hard for the sake of Money”) is prolonged within the Malay Community, and for the older generation, they believe that with good intentions and hard work, will end with good results.