Merdeka Day, a celebration marking the independence of Malaya from the British in August 31, 1957. Every year, the government appoints a theme for each year; this tradition reinforces national unity and nation building. In Minster Kuik’s show, Merdeka, the Lonesome Club, the artist traces through the history of Merdeka day in an attempt to understand how Malaysian minorities cross invisible boundaries that presents itself in the country’s societal landscape as years pass. "By mapping the Merdeka themes with the Prime Ministers of successive tenures, we can easily trace a vivid outline of the course of Malaysian history under its leaders who embody different political ambitions and figures of Father,” Kuik states When the past, present and future of the nation are deeply intertwined and rooted in the national narratives, how is it possible for the individual from any other ethnic or societal minorities to transcend the barrier?”
