The Telong Archive
(The Telong Archive is a Final Year Project done by Kong Qi Wei from Nanyang Technological University, School of Arts Design Media.)
The project seeks to document and preserve my mother's disappearing hometown in Malaysia called Telong, by building up an archive of collected artefacts, photos, and stories of this place and its people. The Telong Archive is made up of 3 components. A digital atlas to preserve and showcase the physical landscape, a book of memories that narrates the stories of Telong and its people, and the collection of voices and sounds of the people and environment.
Visit the website to find out more about the project.
Illustrated map of Telong.
Publication: Memories of Telong
The book jacket is the illustrated map of Telong, with arrows pointing out to the specific locations and the page number of the stories, thus acting as the content page. Different papers are used for the different chapters according to the narrative presented. A darker and sturdier paper would represent the history and stability of the said venue. A thin paper would represent the fragility of the physical space. A smooth clear paper would represent the clarity of the memory told on the page. The paper choices are to reflect the content of the stories.
Together with the photos and memorabilia inserted, the textural experience with the different papers, the publication seeks to connect the reader to Telong and build a relationship through the stories told. The reader also explores Telong through memories and stories instead of the physical space.
Exhibition Booth at the FYP Show.
Drawing inspiration from the explanations of intimate spaces described in the book by Gaston Bachelard, The poetics of space, I came up with the idea of having a physical archive for the graduation show exhibition.This would be represented with a wooden cabinet, with its drawers filled with recreated artefacts, photographs, and transcripts of conversations I had with the villagers. Like a cabinet of curiosities, the showcased items are a collection of souvenirs from our past, our treasured memories from a place we call home. Like how precious items are kept lovingly in wardrobes and shelves, away from the outside world, the memories of Telong are also tucked safely in the drawers of our mind.
