Grace in Transit - On the Radar

Grace in Transit
Ann Marie Chandy | 21 July 2025

HAVE you seen the sleeves dancing at Pasar Seni? If you’ve been rushing through the MRT station lately – eyes down, mind on your next meeting – you might have missed them. But pause for a moment, and you’ll notice something quite extraordinary.

Billowing fabric forms, caught mid-motion, hang across the bridge at MRT Pasar Seni Station. They appear to hover between past and present, hinting at a heritage that’s stood the test of time – yet brought to life in a fresh, modern way.

This is Dancing Sleeves, the latest installation from Think City’s Arts On The Move (AOTM) initiative, created by Malaysian artist and creative technologist Tan Sher Lynn, and on display until the end of October. Inspired by the graceful water sleeves of traditional Chinese opera costumes, the work reimagines their flowing movements through contemporary digital technology. Viewed through your phone, the augmented reality (AR) feature brings the sleeves to life, letting them ripple and twirl as if borne on a secret breeze.
“Even if just for a moment, we hope commuters slow down, take a breath and find a small moment of connection with the art amidst their daily rhythm.”
Tan Sher Lynn
“Each sleeve represents one of the five main opera roles – Sheng (male), Dan (female), Jing (painted face), Mo (older men), and Chou (clown),” Tan explains. “It captures the elegance and heritage of this timeless tradition while inviting people to interact and play.”

Originally created for Kwai Chai Hong’s Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations last year, Dancing Sleeves has been thoughtfully adapted for its new home in a transit space.

“Like a dancer in a new space, it moves differently – but tells the same story,” she reflects. “At Pasar Seni MRT, spatial and structural limitations shaped how the piece could live and move – but its soul remains intact. The flowing energy, the rhythm, the invitation to play – all still present.”

In some ways, it’s even more poignant here. Kwai Chai Hong, after all, is a destination: visitors go there expecting to discover art. At the MRT station, commuters are usually in a rush. And yet, that is where the quiet beauty lies.

“The response has been quieter compared to Kwai Chai Hong,” Tan admits. “But perhaps that’s where the beauty lies. Instead of expecting an audience, we’re offering a gentle surprise – an unexpected pause. Even if just for a moment, we hope commuters slow down, take a breath and find a small moment of connection with the art amidst their daily rhythm.”

Tan, who graduated in Fine Art Experimental Media from Prague City University and now works with creative studio FABU, is known for exploring identity and space through interactive and immersive media. Dancing Sleeves embodies her signature style: poetic yet playful, rooted in heritage yet daringly contemporary.
Bringing Culture to Transit Spaces
First launched in 2016 as a creative placemaking initiative, AOTM is all about infusing Malaysia’s transit spaces with culture and creativity. It is an ongoing collaboration between Think City and MRT Corp with support from the Ministry of Finance.

The idea is simple but profound: to turn our city’s underutilised spaces into vibrant, engaging public places – and to remind commuters that their daily journey can still hold moments of joy and reflection.

AOTM has featured an array of Malaysian artists over the years, from Pamela Tan to Bono Stellar, Wendy Teo, Jun Ong and more. Performances, workshops, art installations and even a public piano at Masjid Jamek Station have been part of the programme’s charm.

Sunnyside Up by Pamela Tan of Poh Sin Studio
The Forest by Wendy Teo Atelier
Fusion Wayang Kulit
ASK Dance Company
Akademi Dikir Barat Arjunasukma
Call To Prayer by Najib Ahmad Bamadhaj & Toko Art

After a pandemic pause, AOTM returned in 2023 with refreshed energy – and was even recognised with a Special Mention Award at the Malaysian Institute of Planners Planning Excellence Awards 2024, cited as a standout example of placemaking and public space activation.

Dato’ Hamdan Majeed, Managing Director of Think City, sees AOTM as a key part of revitalising Downtown Kuala Lumpur as a creative and cultural district.

“We want to make Downtown Kuala Lumpur the most accessible public place – the most connected part where anyone can come by public transport,” he said. “The celebration of arts in transit stations has been done successfully in cities like Singapore, London and New York – and we hope to continue that here.”
Heritage in Motion
There’s something particularly apt about Dancing Sleeves being part of this narrative. The water sleeves of Chinese opera are a centuries-old art form, used to convey emotion and tell stories on stage. Here, they continue to tell those stories – but in a way that speaks to a new generation, in a new kind of public theatre.

As Tan puts it: “It’s about offering a gentle surprise. A moment of wonder in the middle of your commute. A quiet reminder of heritage, translated into the language of today.”

So, the next time you pass through Pasar Seni MRT, put down your phone for a moment – or better yet, pick it up, scan the AR and watch the sleeves swirl. Take a breath. Pause. Let the heritage of the past and the innovation of the present meet you in that fleeting moment.

After all, isn’t that what a city’s soul is made of?

Dancing Sleeves is on display at MRT Pasar Seni Station until the end of October. For more on the Arts on the Move series, visit thinkcity.com.my.

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Berhenti! dan hayati transit anda
Ann Marie Chandy | 21 Julai 2025

PERNAHKAH anda melihat lengan baju menari di Pasar Seni? Jika anda sering berjalan tergesa-gesa di stesen MRT – mata menunduk, fikiran tertumpu pada mesyuarat seterusnya – anda mungkin terlepas pandang. Tetapi jika anda berhenti seketika, anda akan perasan sesuatu yang luar biasa.

Kain-kain yang beralun, seolah-olah terhenti di tengah gerakan, tergantung di jambatan dalam Stesen MRT Pasar Seni. Ia kelihatan melayang antara masa lalu dan masa kini, mengisyaratkan warisan yang telah bertahan sepanjang zaman – namun dihidupkan semula dengan cara yang segar dan moden.

Inilah Dancing Sleeves, instalasi seni terkini inisiatif Arts On The Move (AOTM) oleh Think City, hasil ciptaan artis dan teknologis kreatif Malaysia, Tan Sher Lynn, dan akan berada di hentian transit anda sehingga akhir Oktober ini. Diilhamkan oleh water sleeves yang anggun dalam kostum opera tradisional Cina, karya ini melakar semula pergerakan mengalirnya melalui teknologi digital kontemporari. Apabila anda melihat menggunakan telefon pula, karya ini seakan-akan bergerak hasil teknologi AR (augmented reality).
“Walaupun hanya untuk seketika, kami harap para penumpang dapat perlahankan langkah mereka, menarik nafas, dan berhubung dengan seni terutamanya, di ketika melalui rutin harian mereka.”
Tan Sher Lynn
“Setiap palang melambangkan salah satu daripada lima watak utama dalam opera - Sheng (lelaki), Dan (wanita), Jing (muka dicat), Mo (lelaki tua), dan Chou (badut),” terang Tan. “Ia menggambarkan keanggunan dan warisan sepanjang zaman sementara mengajak orang ramai untuk berinteraksi dan bermain.”

Karya ini pada asalnya dihasilkan buat Perayaan Kuih Bulan di Kwai Chai Hong pada tahun lalu, kini Dancing Sleeves telah ditempatkan di rumah baharunya iaitu di ruangan transit.

“Seperti penari di ruang baharu, pergerakan mereka berbeza, tetapi kisahnya tetap sama,” kenangnya. “Di MRT Pasar Seni, had ruang dan struktur telah membentuk kehadiran karya ini serta cara ia bergerak, namun jiwanya tetap kuat. Tenaga yang mengalir, ritma, dan jemputan untuk bermain – semuanya masih hadir."

Dari sudut yang berbeza, perasaannya lebih terasa di sini. Kwai Chai Hong, membawa anda ke destinasi: Pelancong ke sana untuk menghayati seni. Di stesen MRT pula, pengguna selalunya berpusu, namun di situlah terletaknya keindahan tersembunyi.

“Sambutannya kurang berbanding di Kwai Chai Hong,” kata Tan. “Terapi mungkin di situ ia sesuai di situ. Daripada mengharapkan penonton, kami menawarkan kejutan yang halus, hentian yang tak dijangka, walaupun untuk seketika. Kami mengharapkan agar penumpang perlahankan langkah, tarik nafas dan luangkan masa walau sesaat untuk menghayati seni dalam kesibukan hari mereka.”

Tan merupakan graduan Seni Halus (Media Eksperimen) dari Universiti Prague City, kini berkarya di Studio Kreatif FABU, dikenali kerana meneroka tema identiti dan ruang melalui media interaktif dan imersif. Dancing Sleeves memperlihatkan gaya yang puitis namun ceria, berakar pada warisan namun berani mengetengahkan seni kontemporari.
Membawa Budaya ke Ruang Transit
Dilancarkan buat pertama kalinya pada tahun 2016 sebagai inisiatif Creative Placemaking, AOTM bertujuan menyuntik elemen budaya dan kreatif ke dalam ruang transit di Malaysia. Ia merupakan kerjasama berterusan antara Think City dan MRT Corp dengan sokongan daripada Kementerian Kewangan.

Idea di sebaliknya mudah tetapi penuh makna: mengubah ruangan kota yang tidak dimanfaatkan menjadi tempat awam yang meriah dan menarik – serta mengingatkan para penumpang bahawa jalan harian mereka masih terselit detik-detik yang indah untuk direnung.

Sepanjang tahun ini, AOTM telah menampilkan pelbagai artis Malaysia seperti Pamela Tan, Bono Stellar, Wendy Teo, Jun Ong dan ramai lagi. Persembahan, bengkel, pemasangan seni, malah sebuah piano awam di Stesen Masjid Jamek – semuanya menjadi sebahagian daripada daya tarikan program ini.

Sunnyside Up oleh Pamela Tan dari Poh Sin Studio
The Forest oleh Wendy Teo Atelier
Fusion Wayang Kulit
ASK Dance Company
Akademi Dikir Barat Arjunasukma
Call To Prayer oleh Najib Ahmad Bamadhaj & Toko Art

Selepas pandemik, AOTM kembali pada tahun 2023 dengan semangat baharu – mereka turut menerima pengiktirafan melalui Anugerah Sebutan Khas di Malaysian Institute of Planners Planning Excellence Awards 2024, sebagai contoh cemerlang dalam placemaking dan pengaktifan ruang awam.

Dato’ Hamdan Majeed, Pengarah Urusan Think City, melihat AOTM sebagai komponen penting dalam usaha menghidupkan semula Downtown Kuala Lumpur sebagai sebuah daerah budaya dan kreatif.

“Kami mahu menjadikan Downtown Kuala Lumpur sebagai ruang awam yang paling mudah diakses – kawasan yang berhubung, di mana sesiapa sahaja boleh datang menggunakan pengangkutan awam,” katanya. “Perayaan seni di stesen transit telah berjaya dilaksanakan di bandar-bandar seperti Singapura, London dan New York – dan kami berharap untuk meneruskan usaha itu di sini.”
Warisan yang Bergerak
Dancing Sleeves sangat sesuai dijadikan sebahagian daripada naratif ini. Water Sleeves dalam opera Cina merupakan bentuk seni yang telah wujud selama berabad lamanya, yang mana ia digunakan untuk menyampaikan emosi dan bercerita di atas pentas. Di sinilah, kisah-kisah ini diteruskan – tetapi dalam cara yang berbicara kepada generasi baharu, di sebuah pentas awam yang berbeza.

Seperti yang dikatakan oleh Tan: “Ia tentang menghadiahkan satu kejutan yang lembut. Detik keajaiban di tengah perjalanan harian anda. Satu peringatan sunyi tentang warisan, yang diterjemahkan ke dalam bahasa hari ini.”

Jadi, jika anda melalui Stesen MRT Pasar Seni, letakkan telefon anda seketika – atau gunakan telefon, imbas AR tersebut dan saksikan lengan baju itu menari.
Tarik nafas. Berhenti sebentar. Biarkan warisan silam dan inovasi masa kini bertemu anda seketika, kerana bukankah itu jiwa sebenar sesebuah kota?

Dancing Sleeves dipamerkan di Stesen MRT Pasar Seni sehingga akhir Oktober. Untuk maklumat lanjut mengenai siri Arts on the Move, layari thinkcity.com.my.

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