Hainan Boatbuilder of Pangkor Island
A project of the Centre for Research-Creation in Digital Media at Sunway University, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Harbour view (2019-06-05) by CRDCMCentre for Research-Creation in Digital Media (CRCDM)
This research-creation project was undertaken to digitally capture, archive and preserve the livelihood of the Hainan Boatbuilder of Pangkor Island, Perak, Malaysia. It has four parts.
Uncle Goh Working (2019-06-11) by CRCDMCentre for Research-Creation in Digital Media (CRCDM)
Mr Goh, master Hainan boatbuilder (in the striped shirt) is the only Hainan boatbuilder on the island and he has been in the industry for over 40 years.
Boats in the Workshop (2019-06-11) by CRCDMCentre for Research-Creation in Digital Media (CRCDM)
The Hainan Boatbuilder project brings to light a deeply personal story of a fading Malaysian heritage and re-presents it for a contemporary audience to experience.
Basic Sketch (2019-06-05) by CRCDMCentre for Research-Creation in Digital Media (CRCDM)
The traditional boatbuilders do not have a specific blueprints for each boat. They take up to four months to construct by hand. Currently there are only five such teams left on Pangkor Island.
Basic Drawing (2019-06-05) by CRCDMCentre for Research-Creation in Digital Media (CRCDM)
Mr Goh's basic boat plan.
Uncle Goh Boatbuilding Workshop (2014-03-17) by CRCDMCentre for Research-Creation in Digital Media (CRCDM)
Simple tools collected in the workshop.
Tool shed (2014-04-10) by CRCDMCentre for Research-Creation in Digital Media (CRCDM)
Explore the 360 video tour of the workshop. The sound is live from the workshop. Be sure to look "all around" you.
Workshop from the sea (2019-06-05) by CRDCMCentre for Research-Creation in Digital Media (CRCDM)
The traditional craft of building a large wooden fishing boat comprises both intangible and tangible forms of heritage that could disappear due to contemporary issues.
Uncle Goh at Workshop (2014-03-17) by CRCDMCentre for Research-Creation in Digital Media (CRCDM)
This exhibition and the research-creation project that contributed to it is dedicated to Mr. Goh and his team of craftsmen on Pangkor Island, Malaysia.
Five capture trips were completed to document the whole building process of the fishing boat, over the span of one and a half years. A total of two hours of interviews were completed with the master boatbuilder Mr. Goh Boon Kong. Two senior craftsmen were interviewed in a total of one hour each. A set of openended questions were given to the translator who spoke at length with the interviewees.
Audiovisual data was captured extensively to document the stage-by-stage workflow including the wood delivery to the workshop, the prayer rituals held and the final boat launching process. This was done using a Full HD and a 4K mirrorless camera, a GoPro Hero action camera and an aerial drone. A 360-degree camera was also used to capture the environment and the workshop, to provide a virtual audience experience.
The data was further used to produce a twenty-four minute video documentary that unfolds the personal story of this unique boatbuilder of Pangkor Island. It premiered at the Canada- China International Film Festival, Montreal Canada, September 2016.
This project was created by the the team at the Centre for Research-Creation in Digital Media (CRCDM) in the School of Arts in Sunway University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Produced and directed by Prof Harold Thwaites and Delas Santano
