A symbol of Malaysia's "awakening", the ‘Malaysian Spring' was an art installation project that had a life of its own during the 13th general election campaign.

The brainchild of prominent landscape architect Ng Sek San, little colourful flags sprouted all over the country in the run-up to polling day, as pro-Pakatan Rakyat individuals adopted the project as their own.

But Ng's bid to revive the 'Malaysian Spring' on a larger scale at a National Day-themed exhibition was almost snowed under when it was said to have been rejected by the co-organiser, Balai Seni Visual Negara (BSVN).

No longer part of the M50 artists, Ng said, his work will now be seen "outside" the gallery, in an apparent compromise, so as to avoid controversy.

sek san m50 malaysian spring flags 200813 Ng said the curator of Kuala Lumpur's trendy art space Map@Publika, where the 'M50' exhibition will take place next week, informed him that BSVN had earlier "banned" his work without even seeing it.

"I was told about four weeks ago. I thought it was not really final then, and that (curator) Nani Kahar could still negotiate. But the decision seems to be final now," Ng said, adding that no reason was given.

Although "not upset" with the decision, Ng said that he had initially planned to build a "much bigger" version of the ‘Malaysian Spring' for the exhibition.

The architect said that he was invited by Nani, who is also curator for the Publika gallery, as she felt his work fit the theme of the exhibition which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the formation of Malaysia.

He told Malaysiakini that BSVN could not have even looked at sketches of the planned exhibition.

"It's all in my head. I think BSVN has got ESP (extrasensory perception) and can read my mind," he quipped.

In a Twitter post about the matter, he joked: "I think I have arrived."

Compromise solution

However, when contacted, Nani said while there were initial issues with the artwork, Ng would be allowed to show the Malaysian Spring.

"Things are developing fast. He will be installing his work over the weekend.

"It's really premature now to say whether his work is rejected or banned by BSVN," she said in a text message to Malaysiakini.

She added that there were questions about the work earlier because "there was (the) issue of appropriateness since the minister might launch it".

The M50 show, meant to commemorate Malaysia Day, is co-organised by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.

Ng said that in the apparent compromise, his artwork will be set up outside Publika's White Box gallery to "pop up along the Art Row" (of the Publika shopping mall).

NONE "They have also left my name out from the list of participating artists for the M50 show. I really don't care. All I care is that I do the work and the public get to see it.

"Censorship in (the) arts and overzealous government servants trying to avoid imagined controversies suck," he said.

When contacted, BSVN's public relations department had referred Malaysiakini to the Map@Publika curators as the BSVN curator in charge of the M50 show was currently overseas.

Calls to the office number of BSVN's assistant curator for the project were not answered.