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Papan Petanda at the National Art Gallery


Performed during the duration of the art show 'Seni Kenduri' at The National Art Gallery


The artist, performs as a living papan tanda kenduri ( a culturally known signage placed around corners of roads to spread word or direct wedding attendees of matrimonial ceremonies) for attendees and passerby's to be directed to the Seni Kenduri site.


The artist, Dhani fashions herself with bunga manggar (a traditional colorful decorative prop accompanied with the signage) and doorgift bunga telur-like ornaments of ribbons and thank you notes with the bad graphic design bit that is sincerely Malaysian-Esque.


Papan Petanda which means "signage with an omen" plays with personifying the idea of the weight in visibility of a woman -


Papan Petanda


an ad, her appearance,

a present, an omen,

a direction understood in your favor,

a misdirection or redirection,

an image to be devoured,

a muse, a decorative ornamental existence,

here to serve, like sponsored content,

running down to the ideas of a young woman,

sit still look pretty girl,

one that never understood its function or conventions,

the ways the world holds against and for a young woman



Utilizing items from local Haberdashery stores, items that embody the nostalgic aesthetic within Malaysian context.
Utilizing items from local Haberdashery stores, items that embody the nostalgic aesthetic within Malaysian context.


A visual commentary of how the treatment is given towards women who face growing with the natural lack of acknowledgment of the weight assigned in their optics and politics related to their gender, conventions surrounding it, and a protect to how the world simplifies women.


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© 2025 by Dhan Illiani Yusof

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