Author - walterjohn

The 8’ x 48’ graphic mural, depicting KK city’s oldest landmark, the Atkinson Clock Tower, will be the highlight of the exhibition that will be placed in the atrium of the hotel.

The mural will be an artwork collage of various old photographs of Jesselton township combined to create an image of the clock tower. It will be the largest graphic bunting ever produced of the 107-year-old historical lock tower that has now become the most important historical marker for the city of Kota Kinabalu.

The Atkinson Clock Tower (ACT) exhibition will showcase the importance of the Atkinson Clock Tower as KK city’s historic landmark with old photos taken over the past 107 years of its existence by the past and present residents of Kota Kinabalu (then known as Jesselton).

Richard Nelson Sokial, a local heritage advocate who is assisting in curating the ACT exhibition together with Sabah Museum, praised the hotel management for its interest and support in promoting the event.

Sokial is also a member of the “Bonding with Gaya Street” organizing committee under the North Borneo History Enthusiasts (NBHE) group that is aiming to bring the local community together in rediscovering the history of KK city’s early town centered around the activities of Gaya Street — then known as Bond Street.

“The graphic mural of the Atkinson Clock Tower is a huge and generous gesture by Hotel Sixty3 in support of promoting our local history,” he said. Sokial is confident that with ongoing efforts to create awareness of the importance to preserve heritage in the city, more and more local business establishments are seeing the potential of heritage as a branding and tourism product by supporting the preservation of existing historical structures and their immediate surroundings.

Lisa Sabrina Ambrose, general manager of Hotel Sixty3, said the hotel is excited to be involved with a project that is so close to the heart of the Gaya Street community.

“We hope that this exhibition will encourage the public to learn more about the city, so that when they walk along Gaya Street they can retrace the history of Kota Kinabalu,” she said.

Formerly known as Nosmal Court, the premises of Hotel Sixty3 was renovated and completed early last year and is one of the few examples of architectural readaptation projects in Kota Kinabalu that have mostly kept the character of the original building’s modernist architecture from the early 1960s.

Apart from rare old photos and information about the Atkinson Clock Tower and heritage preservation efforts, a multimedia presentation will also be shown about the Atkinson Clock Tower as an effort by Sabah’s younger generation to preserve their local history.

In support of the Atkinson Clock Tower exhibition, Hotel Sixty3 will also display its own private collection of old photos taken during North Borneo’s colonial era along its hotel’s corridors.

The Atkinson Clock Tower exhibition will be held at the first floor atrium of Hotel Sixty3, located in front of the Sabah Tourism Corporation building on Gaya Street. It will be open from 8.30am to 6.30pm as part of the “Bonding with Gaya Street” event.

Early birds visiting the exhibition will also be able to redeem free cups of coffee sponsored by Cap Kuda Coffee Company at the first floor atrium. The coupons will be distributed along Gaya Street during the two-day event.

A coffeetable book titled “Colonial Towns in Sabah: West Coast” by PAM Sabah Chapter will also be on sale at the exhibition featuring 12 colonial townships in Sabah’s west coast.

Source: Borneo Post

"It also gives the younger generation an opportunity to gain an insight into the uniqueness of Gaya Street through exhibits which showcase its social history, lifestyle and culture, old buildings and shophouses, significant events and incidents, which have influenced the community along Gaya Street throughout the ages."

"I believe visitors will have the opportunity not only to see the natural beauty of the city, but also a chance of looking into the lifestyle pattern of its community as well as gather bits and pieces of its history as they go along the exhibits," he said at the Lintasan Deasoka in conjunction with the 12th City Day celebration.

Daily Express is a co-sponsor of the event. The first headquarters of Sabah Publishing House, the publishers of both the Daily Express and Overseas Chinese Daily News, were among the street's pioneer establishments.

Madingkir reminded patrons and business proprietors along Gaya Street to maintain the cleanliness of the city. He also suggested repainting and renovations to be done on buildings along the street, where necessary, in order to lift the image of the city as well as ensure the buildings are safe.

Earlier, Organising Chairperson Datin Fazar Arif said the focus was on Gaya Street because it is the origins of Jesselton and Kota Kinabalu.

Thus the project is named 'Bonding with Gaya Street'. Part of Gaya Street was also known as Bond Street in the old days.

"We are all very familiar with Gaya Street but we just don't look around, we tend to take it for granted. So this exhibition is about slowing down and noticing the details.

"Our objective is to celebrate community and celebrate community history which goes back to the beginnings of Gaya Street as we know."

She also credited the North Borneo History Enthusiasts (NBHE), a fairly random group of bloggers comprising Sabahans from all walks of life.

"It's not like we're learned academics but it's very much based on love of history and stories as well as collecting stories and old photos from people of Gaya Street."

She said the first shophouses were built along the area called Bond Street that would later be re-named Gaya Street. The event also saw the soft launching of the NBHE book titled "Bonding with Gaya Street".

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr. Yee Moh Chai , City Hall Director General Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, founder of the NBHE group, Justin Sunam Wong and Madingkir's wife Datin Florence Malangkig.

Source: Daily Express

“This includes historical aspects of a place, the uniqueness of ethnicities and sub-ethnic groups, various cultures, potential for tourism and other efforts and programmes which can generate income, strengthen cooperation and unity,” he said at the 2012 Tawau International Cultural Festival.

In his speech, which was read out by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin here last night, he commended the commitment of local authorities for an event which showcased the culture of 26 ethnicities in Tawau, including food, dance, traditional costumes and wedding customs.

“This festival is a good medium to foster ties between leaders and the community to uphold our cultural heritage, unite and strengthen understanding as well as respect among our community of various races, religion and cultures,” he said.

Musa said that in the regional context, the festival’s theme ‘Kebudayaan Untuk Kedamaian Serantau’ (Culture for Regional Peace), also played a big role in reviving the spirit of goodwill and togetherness among neighbouring countries.

Source: Bernama