KUALA LUMPUR – A bust of Tunku Abdul Rahman, created by renowned sculptor Tan Sri Felix de Weldon, who also created the National Monument “Tugu Negara” and several other renowned sculptures and monuments that capture national identities, historical memories, and luminaries in several countries, has been consigned to be sold.
The bust, identical to the one at Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur, which is brought out only when the House is in session, is now on display at KL Lifestyle Art Space (KLAS) Framing and Art Gallery on Jalan Bukit 11/2, Petaling Jaya, before a viewing is held to sell the sculpture, which is a part of the country’s history and heritage.
KLAS chief executive Datuk Gary Thanasan said the patina-painted plaster bust of Malaysia’s first prime minister was received on consignment. There are no details of the consignor and the story behind the work, which was part of an estate’s private collection in Washington DC.
“Our primary objective is to connect with Malaysian corporations and institutions to which this bust might benefit or be of interest,” he said, adding that a viewing will be held for institutions, corporations, and individuals to examine the piece.
Ultimately, if there is no interest locally, then the bust will be sent to Singapore, which has a shared history with Malaysia, for potential buyers to view.
Felix’s most notable work in Malaysia is the Tugu Negara. This national monument is meant to be a poignant reminder and memorial for soldiers and citizens who sacrificed their lives for the country, especially fallen heroes in World War II and during the Malayan Emergency. It also honours the contributions of Malaysia’s diverse ethnic communities who joined forces to achieve freedom and independence.
Tunku commissioned Felix to build the monument as the former was impressed with the realism and intricate details captured by the sculptor in his work on the United States Marine Corps War Memorial.
Also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, the sculpture captured the perseverance and determination of the troops involved in the crucial three-day WWII battle on the Japanese Island of Iwo Jima.
Felix put much effort into the intricate detailing for the uniforms and weaponry of the seven bronze soldier figures on the Tugu Negara. This was done based on pictures obtained from a photoshoot with 24 soldiers and police officers of various racial backgrounds in their jungle patrol uniforms – specifically to capture the right expressions for the monument.
The figures that make up the 15-m tall sculpture were cast in a foundry in Rome and shipped to Kuala Lumpur in June 1965.
Speaking at the launch of the Tugu Negara exhibition held late last year, Felix’s son Daniel de Weldon shared how the war monuments that his father built were poignant, as the sculptor had lost both his home and parents, who were executed at a war camp when the Nazis invaded Europe.
An instant connection and lifelong friendship blossomed between Tunku and Felix as they empathised and felt a deep connection to war casualties and veterans, having survived two world wars, Daniel reportedly said, adding that his father also served in the US Navy for two years during WWII.
Inaugurated in February 1966, the Tugu Negara site in Perdana Botanical Gardens off Jalan Parliament in Kuala Lumpur used to host the ceremonial laying of wreaths to remember fallen heroes every July 31, in conjunction with Warriors’ Day, until the year 2010 after the National Fatwa Council declared that this practice was against Islam, as it was seen as idol worship of statues.
Felix, who died in 2003 at the age of 96 in Washington DC, also created the statue of Tunku now located in front of Parliament, in addition to the two known busts of the country’s first prime minister. – September 16, 2023