Asean Park's Metal Sculpture: A Cultural Icon In Brunei

The ASEAN Sculpture Garden in Brunei, located within the Damuan Park, showcases metal sculptures created by artists from the original six ASEAN member countries: Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. The sculptures, ranging from 3 to 6.5 meters in height, were crafted with a theme of Harmony in Diversity, symbolizing ASEAN solidarity and the aspirations of its member countries. Brunei has a rich history of metal craftsmanship, and the establishment of the Brunei Arts and Handicraft Training Center in 1975 further promoted and preserved this traditional art form.

The history of the ASEAN Sculpture Garden

The ASEAN Sculpture Garden, also known as the ASEAN Square, is located within Damuan Park in Brunei's capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. The garden features sculptures from the original six ASEAN member countries: Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. Each country's sculptor created a piece reflecting the theme of "Harmony in Diversity," symbolizing ASEAN solidarity and the member countries' aspirations for love, peace, freedom, and mutual respect. Standing between 3 and 6.5 meters tall, these sculptures were crafted from various materials, including wood, marble, iron, and bamboo.

The ASEAN Square Sculpture Symposium, held in 1981 in Singapore, marked the beginning of this artistic endeavour. The Fourth ASEAN Square Sculpture Symposium, from January 11 to February 24, 1986, saw the creation of the sculptures destined for the ASEAN Sculpture Garden. During this symposium, each sculptor was assisted by four students from the Jefri Bolkiah College of Engineering and the Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College. The sculptures were then unveiled to the public on December 12, 1987, in a ceremony officiated by the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports.

The sculptures themselves showcase a diverse range of concepts and artistic expressions. Brunei's sculpture, titled "The World of ASEAN," depicts the formation and growth of ASEAN, with each unit's direction reflecting the internal diversity of its member countries. Indonesia's contribution, "The Goals of ASEAN," symbolises the unity and future cooperation between ASEAN nations, represented by a tree with six fruits. Malaysia's "The Emerging Kubah (Domes)" explores the harmonious relationship between two symmetrical halves of nature. The Philippines' "Brunei Entelechy" is an abstract expressionist piece facing the sunrise and the Royal Palace, adapting the motif of the Muslim crescent moon to signify tradition. Singapore's "United Profile" stands as a freestanding sculpture, with six forms representing the growth and unity of the ASEAN members, while Thailand's "Movement" reflects the concept of "Harmony in Diversity" through the use of geometric and organic elements.

The ASEAN Sculpture Garden serves as a testament to the artistic talents and aspirations of the ASEAN member countries, promoting cultural exchange and a shared vision of harmony and mutual understanding.

The sculptures' themes and concepts

The ASEAN Sculpture Garden in Brunei was created in 1986 and is located within the Damuan Park, about 5 kilometres from the city centre. The garden features six sculptures, each created by artists from the original six ASEAN member countries: Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. The sculptures stand between 3 and 6.5 metres tall and are made from a variety of materials, including metal, wood, marble, and bamboo.

The overall theme of the sculptures is "Harmony in Diversity", symbolising ASEAN solidarity and the aspirations of its member countries: love, peace, freedom, and mutual respect. Each sculpture interprets this theme through the lens of the artist's home country.

The sculpture from Brunei, titled "The World of ASEAN", was created by 42-year-old Mr Haji Marsidi Haji Akip. His concept revolves around the formation of ASEAN, with a square shape representing a country, and the grouping of neighbouring countries forming an organisation. The different directions of the units within the structure symbolise the internal diversity of political, cultural, social, and economic aspects of each member country.

Indonesia's sculpture, "The Goals of ASEAN", was crafted by 50-year-old freelance sculptor Mr Husna. His work depicts a tree with six fruits on a square base, symbolising the future growth of cooperation between ASEAN countries and their shared goal of achieving peace, harmony, and mutual understanding.

Malaysia's contribution, "The Emerging Kubah (Domes)", was created by Mr Latif Mohiddin, a 57-year-old sculptor, painter, and poet. His sculpture aims to achieve harmony between two symmetrical halves of nature, drawing parallels with various elements, including leaves, Malay arts and crafts, Islamic geometrical design, and the growth of a new nation.

The Philippines' sculpture, "Brunei Entelechy", was the work of 53-year-old sculptor, painter, and art jeweller Mr Eduardo Castrillo. His abstract expressionist piece faces the sunrise and the Royal Palace as a gesture of tribute. It adapts the motif of the Muslim crescent moon, extending it into swirling forms that symbolise atomic energy and the impetus of modern development, reflecting the harmony of a nation among nations.

Singapore's "United Profile", crafted by 53-year-old sculptor and designer Mr Michael Ong Chu Keng, stands upright like a growing tree. It features six forms representing the six ASEAN member countries, with Brunei at the top, shaped like a crown, indicating royalty and overlooking the royal palace.

Lastly, Thailand's sculpture, "Movement", was created by 43-year-old teacher Mr Saravudth Duangjumpa. This piece reflects the concept of "Harmony in Diversity" by using geometric and organic elements to symbolise the activities and encouragement of ASEAN. The composition of the masses in the sculpture reflects the nature of mankind, conveying that we should not remain isolated.

The ASEAN Square Sculpture Symposium

The sculptures are created around a specific theme, with the fourth symposium in 1986 focusing on the concept of "Harmony in Diversity". This theme symbolises ASEAN solidarity and the aspirations of its member countries: love, peace, freedom, and mutual respect.

The ASEAN Square in Brunei Darussalam, located within the Persiaran Damuan (Damuan Recreational Park), displays sculptures from the original six ASEAN member countries: Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. Each country's sculptor was assisted by students from the Jefri Bolkiah College of Engineering and the Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College. The sculptures were completed during the fourth symposium and range in height from 3 metres to nearly 6.5 metres, with the heaviest weighing several tons.

The Brunei sculpture, "The World of ASEAN", was created by 42-year-old Mr Haji Marsidi Haji Akip. His concept revolves around the formation of ASEAN and the idea of regional grouping, with the structure arranged in a semi-circle to represent the various stages of ASEAN's growth.

The Indonesian sculpture, "The Goals of ASEAN", was crafted by 50-year-old freelance sculptor Mr Husna. His work symbolises the unity of ASEAN, depicting a tree with six fruits on a square base, representing the future growth of cooperation between the ASEAN countries.

Mr Latif Mohiddin, a 57-year-old Malaysian sculptor, painter, and poet, titled his work "The Emerging Kubah (Domes)". His concept explores the harmonious relationship between two symmetrical halves of nature, drawing inspiration from Malay arts and crafts, Islamic geometrical design, and the growth of a new nation.

The Philippines sculptor, "Brunei Entelechy", was created by 53-year-old sculptor, painter, and art jeweller Mr Eduardo Castrillo. His abstract expressionist style sculpture faces the sunrise and the Royal Palace as a gesture of tribute. The Muslim crescent moon motif signifies tradition, while swirling forms symbolise atomic energy and the impetus of modern development, reflecting the harmony of Brunei within ASEAN.

Singapore's contribution, "United Profile", was crafted by 53-year-old sculptor and designer Mr Michael Ong Chu Keng. This freestanding sculpture symbolises the growth and unity of the ASEAN member countries, with Brunei at the top, shaped like a crown, indicating royalty and overlooking the royal palace.

Lastly, Thailand's sculpture, "Movement", was created by 43-year-old teacher Mr Saravudth Duangjumpa. His work reflects the concept of "Harmony in Diversity" by using different geometric and organic elements to symbolise ASEAN activities and the feeling of encouragement.

The artists and their creative process

The ASEAN Sculpture Garden in Brunei is home to sculptures from each of the original six ASEAN member countries: Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. The garden was created in 1986 and is located within the Damuan Park, about 5 kilometres from the city centre. The sculptures, created with the theme of "Harmony in Diversity", symbolise ASEAN solidarity and the aspirations of its member countries: love, peace, freedom, and mutual respect.

The creative process behind each sculpture is unique to its artist and their country of origin. Brunei's sculpture, titled "The World of ASEAN", was created by 42-year-old Mr Haji Marsidi Haji Akip. His concept revolves around the formation of ASEAN, with a square shape representing a country and the organisation's growth and spread in the region. The inward and outward directions of each unit depict the internal diversity of political, cultural, social, and economic aspects of each ASEAN member country.

Indonesia's sculpture, "The Goals of ASEAN", was crafted by 50-year-old freelance sculptor Mr Husna. His work symbolises the unity of ASEAN, depicting it as a tree with six fruits on a square base, representing the future growth of cooperation between the countries in building peace and mutual understanding.

Malaysia's contribution, "The Emerging Kubah (Domes)", was created by Mr Latif Mohiddin, a 57-year-old sculptor, painter, and poet. His sculpture symbolises the harmonious relationship between two symmetrical halves of nature, drawing parallels with various aspects of Malay arts, crafts, and society.

The Philippines' sculptor, Mr Eduardo Castrillo, a 53-year-old sculptor, painter, and art jeweller, titled his work "Brunei Entelechy". His abstract expressionist style adapts the motif of the Muslim crescent moon to signify tradition, extending it into a continuum of swirling forms that symbolise atomic energy and the impetus of modern development, reflecting the harmony of Brunei within ASEAN.

Singapore's "United Profile" was crafted by 53-year-old sculptor and designer Mr Michael Ong Chu Keng. His freestanding sculpture, like a vertically upright growing tree, represents the six ASEAN member countries' growth and unity. Brunei, being the latest addition to ASEAN, is signified by a crown-like shape at the top, indicating royalty with its backdrop of the royal palace.

Lastly, Thailand's "Movement", by 43-year-old teacher Mr Saravudth Duangjumpa, reflects the concept of "Harmony in Diversity" through the use of geometric and organic elements. The composition of the sculpture symbolises ASEAN activities and the feeling of encouragement, reflecting the nature of mankind that should not be isolated.

The sculptures' locations and accessibility

The ASEAN Sculpture Garden is located within the Damuan Park in Brunei, about 5 kilometres from the city centre. The park is enclosed within the Persiaran Damuan, a one-kilometre-long stretch of land between the Bandar Seri Begawan-Tutong Road and the Damuan River. It is accessible by road and is approximately 4.5 kilometres from the heart of the capital.

The garden features sculptures from the original six ASEAN member countries: Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. Each country is represented by the work of a sculptor, created during the Fourth ASEAN Square Sculpture Symposium in 1986. The sculptures range in height from 3 metres to nearly 6.5 metres, with the heaviest weighing several tons. They are crafted from various materials, including metal, wood, marble, iron, and bamboo.

The ASEAN Sculpture Garden in Brunei is one of several such gardens in ASEAN member countries. Other locations include Jakarta, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. These gardens showcase the artistic talent and cultural diversity of the region.

The sculptures in the ASEAN Sculpture Garden in Brunei embody the theme of "Harmony in Diversity," symbolising ASEAN solidarity and the aspirations of its member countries for love, peace, freedom, and mutual respect. They reflect the abstract messages, creativity, and skill of the sculptors, making them a significant attraction for both locals and visitors interested in art and culture.

In addition to the ASEAN Sculpture Garden, Brunei also has other cultural institutions that showcase the country's artistic heritage, such as the Royal Regalia Building, Brunei History Centre, and the Arts and Handicraft Centre.

Frequently asked questions