The Women’s Mosaic Wall, an initiative of ordinary citizens, will be launched at Karpal Singh Drive, Penang tomorrow morning in conjunction with International Women's Day which falls on March 8.
Completed in November 2017, the wall is a colourful and majestic collage of mosaic images of women made using broken coloured tiles.
Over 200 people crafted the pieces in a workshop held in Georgetown in conjunction with the 2015 International Women’s Day celebrations.
Spokesperson for the programme Chan Lean Heng said this wall is perhaps the first permanent public display of ordinary citizens’ art in Penang, and a future significant landmark.
"We are delighted that this endeavour has initiated the move to foster citizens’ creativity and to bring art out of galleries to public spaces," she told Malaysiakini.
The launch, which will run from 7.30am to 8.45am tomorrow, will feature various performances celebrating women and an uplifting dance routine by students from Uplands International School before the unique collective-participatory unveiling of the Women’s Mosaic Wall.
Chan said the performances are designed to foster a greater awareness and deeper appreciation of women's invisible contributions to their families and communities.
"Please note that there will be no stage, no chairs. With due respect, there will be no formalities, no protocol.
"Everyone participates as rakyat biasa to feel and experience our oneness in celebrating International Women’s Day," she added.
The launch is held in collaboration with Junior Chamber International (JCI) Pearl, which will also be holding their running event called “Run with Flying Colours” tomorrow.
Reflecting on women’s courage
International Women’s Day is also a time to reflect on the daily acts of courage, stoic determination and quiet resilience of ordinary women who have lived extraordinarily for their families, communities and countries, and worldwide, Chan said.
She noted that the Women’s Mosaic Wall’s launch, like the programme’s mosaic-crafting workshop in 2015, is voluntarily initiated and organised by ordinary citizens.
She said the group convinced people to support them in whatever way they can, starting with "just our hearts, heads, hands, time and a conviction" that they can make it happen.
Chan thanked various quarters who helped the initiative along the way including Penang International School (Uplands) and their dance teacher, Women’s Center for Change for the use of their training room and the Women’s Section of the Yeoh Association for the use of their venue.
Chan also mentioned Print Haus Studio for designing and sponsoring two banners; JCI Pearl, Penang for collaborating with their event tomorrow; and IJM Land, and its staff team for supporting the mosaic-crafting workshop and for the installation of the Women’s Mosaic Wall.
"We thank state executive councillor Chong Eng’s continuing interest and support especially in linking us to IJM Land and JCI Pearl, Penang, as well as her PA’s assistance and many others who have and will come forward to support this endeavour, especially the performance team who have contributed in kind and time," said Chan.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has," Chan added, quoting American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead.
