Play Any Way : An Exhibition of Traditional and Contemporary Toys & Games

Date : 18 May 2011.

Venue : Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah USM.

Organizer : Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah USM serta Sanggar Sains USM.

Officiated by : Vice Chancellor Y.Bhg. Prof. Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak.

 

INTRO

“ In a bid to revisit our folk toys and games, Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, Universiti Sains Malaysia will be organising an exhibition called ' PLAY ANY WAY ' that emphasises on the positive attributes of traditional toys and games. This exhibition is also co-sponsored by RICOH (M) Sdn Bhd which had previously published a book titled Games We Used To Make And Play under their Corporate Social Responsibility drive with Malaysia Institute of Management.

Besides exhibits, this exhibition will also include toy making workshops and playing of traditional games. We will also touch on issues related to the environment. We want the public to realize the importance of an eco-friendly society that respects the earth and environment. The artist for this exhibition, Syed Mohd Bakar would like to introduce the idea of ‘trashformation’ which is about making use of recycled and throwaway objects to create art pieces".


TOY STORY

Do children nowadays still play ‘teng-teng’, ‘guli’, ‘congkak’, ‘kalitoi’ or ‘galah panjang’, ‘konda-kondi’ or any other traditional games that our parents or some of us used to play? The answer might be, yes! …. in school, during recess time (simply because they are not allowed to bring their PSP or any electronic games). However, try taking a slow drive around the housing estates or the playground in the urban areas or even around any kampong in the country. Do you see kids playing police and thief or ‘sepak bulu ayam’ or ‘pukul berapa datuk harimau’? Chances are, apart from inside the school compound, you can hardly see these outdoor activities being played. It is very likely that most of the children are inside the house playing with dad’s iPad, mom’s iPhone, listening to iPod, playing computer games, PSP or simply watching tv and dvd.

We (children and grown-ups alike) are becoming too dependant on the electronic and digital technology. A very techy person might even think that life would be meaningless without these technologies. We also tend to associate fun activities with latest technologies.

Have we adults, forgotten the joy and the fun we had while playing ‘ceper’? This simple toy made of used aluminum bottle cap has managed to make us laugh and enjoy our childhood. Through these yesteryears games, we learned a very important skill in life….social skill. We learned how to interact with our peers. We played ‘sports’, we laughed, we fought with each other and we tolerated one another. We had real interaction with real people!

In this age of electronic games and hi-tech toys, we often forget that it is usually the simplest of inventions that can entertain a child for hours. Folk-toys are simple, yet often very ingenious in design and operation. Most were invented or modified and made by men and women with scant knowledge of the science involved and with few tools, little space and precious little money, to touch a child’s imagination and fancy.

Come and join us at the exhibition! We will take parents down memory lane and we will let children discover the world of “non-wired” games.

ABOUT SYED MOHD BAKAR SYED MOHD SALIM

Born in Taiping in 1936, Syed grew up in a friendly and peaceful neighbourhood. The Japanese occupation turned everything upside-down. Poverty and fear gave rise to unconventional characters. “We were poor but not underprivileged”, he said. “We had all the books we wanted to read and tools to make things with.”

His best years were in the Malay College Kuala Kangsar where he taught mainly art and a little bit of this and that. There was amazing camaraderie in that place. He calls himself a painter simply because painting is what he does all the time. He claims that after all theses years, he is still unable to produce a nice straight brush line. He also collects used toys and makes playthings as gifts for anyone who drops in and says “I like that one”. “This has been for me a complete reeducation”, is how he describes his years in Universiti Sains Malaysia . “I owe a considerable debt to the Vice Chancellor for bringing me here. What of the future? I will paint and continue to make toys, maybe for one or two orphanages. I certainly will be doing something. I’ve never had the experience of not being very busy”