Spirit of Sumatra

THE EXHIBITION

Welcome to SPIRIT OF SUMATRA! Following the success from last year's BLUTOPIA, which won the 2024 Muse Design Awards' Gold Prize, ALAN is proud to present the all-new Spirit of Sumatra.

This experience invites visitors to explore 9 interactive artworks inspired by the 4 rare species. Highlights include the massive paper installation Sumatra Paper Forest and the intricate paper sculpture Helmeted Hornbill. Visitors can also immerse themselves in Spirit of Leuser, a mixed-reality installation showcasing the day-night cycles of nature, and step into the AI-powered interactive piece 97%, transforming into orangutans.  The installation Friska enables live conversations with the AI-generated orangutan, in English or Chinese. Dutch artist brought Gift of Nature to life through anamorphic wall art combined with augmented reality. The exhibition also features mixed-media murals and visual interaction installations, offering a deep dive into the heart of Sumatra's tropical rainforest through the lens of art.

Entrance

Alam Takambang Jadi Guru (The Wisdom of Wilderness) - The artwork reimagines Sumatra’s natural beauty in a mural, representations of flora, fauna, and cultural symbols, celebrating nature as an invaluable teacher and the vital balance between humans and the environment.

Zone 1

Spirit of Leuser - A mixed-reality experience invites you into this vibrant tropical forest, with beautifully crafted virtual scenes featuring diurnal and nocturnal animals, including the rare Sumatran rhino and majestic tiger.

Zone 2

Helmeted Hornbill - This life-sized paper sculpture of the helmeted hornbill is crafted from single sheets of paper. Each feather is precisely cut and layered with intricate detail. Measuring approximately 2 meters, it highlights the beauty of this endangered bird, reminding us that true beauty should not come at the cost of life.

97% - An AI-generated artwork that transforms your face into an orangutan, highlighting our striking similarity — 97% of human DNA matches that of orangutans. This small genetic difference creates a world of contrast yet reveals our shared connection.

Friska - Meet Friska, an AI-generated orangutan inspired by a real orangutan in her 60s from Suaq, Sumatra — one of the oldest in the wild. Her voice is crafted using recordings from a Sumatra-based orangutan conservationist, bringing Friska’s story to life in her own unique voice.

Zone 3

Gift of Nature - A 3D perspective mural artwork, that invites viewers to experience Sumatra’s rich biodiversity as a precious offering from nature. Through the use of immersive perspective and AR elements, the mural brings to life this surreal ecosystem, encouraging visitors to value and protect these natural wonders as essential gifts from nature.

Zone 4

The Void - This work raises questions about the complex relationship and tension between human economic development and nature conservation. In this all-white, empty, and silent space, visitors are invited to use the provided tools to explore and uncover what has taken place here.

Zone 5

The Sumatra Heritage Story - An illustration artwork depicting Gunung Leuser National Park, part of the UNESCO Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra. This artwork celebrates the beauty and complexity of Sumatra’s wilderness and highlights the importance of balancing conservation and human development.

Scenic Design

Paper Sumatra Forest - An immersive journey that transforms Sumatra’s lush rainforest into intricate paper art. Experience a world where vibrant colors and crafted plants celebrate the island's natural heritage, blending design with a commitment to sustainability.

The Creative Team

Campaign Director & Curator: Anita Lam

Artistic Director & Sound Designer: Jay Hofmann Forster

Creative Technology Director: Andy Stokes

Producer & Lighting Designer: Michael Lee

Researcher & Production Coordinator: Lamcat

Artists:

Frédéric Bussière, Leon Keer & Massina Spelbos, Lamcat from ALAN, Match Chen & Joyce Chong from KaCaMa Design Lab, Pauline Yau, Putud & Rara from TEMPA, Andy Stokes, Yoki Yao from The Collective

Photographer: Roni Wong