When I first going into the venue of the PAM talk, the word acquire and understand was display on the screen of black box. Then my mind started to ponder around and thinking what was the meaning it? Why do we need to we need to understanding something while we already acquire it? But once Mr Hatta show his artwork which are those papier mache bowl to us, the burning question in my head has been richly answered.

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Wabi-sabi,the art imperfection, which we finding perfecting in imperfection. This term is hard to explain and translate, but there’s no reason to give up. Imperfections are not from sloppiness but the nature of the materials and process, or the use of the object itself. To do such an act, ones must keep on progress and attempt to gain knowledge and reveal the hidden meaning behind.

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For Mr Hatta case, he continues making the bowl in different material, different form, different method, this process can be a rich source of inspiration for an artist and keep on looking for new possibilities in architecture. The most memorable slide which catch my attention throughout the talk was Hatta’s art painting. In his word, aesthetic can be ugly at the same time. There are always vary perspectives to view an art piece. Just then the meaning of what had been said burst upon me. Never hard to realise that actually western beauty is radiance and broadness while eastern beauty is more low-profile but with connotation. And apart from art, my mind was more emphasize on human aspect. Wabi-sabi is also a philosophy for people, than just a style of objects.

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From the simple gesture and the speaker’s tone of voice, the listener gleans the whole meaning easily. This is just like how Mr Hatta design the layout and display in Museum Sultan Abu Bakar. He mentioned that his intention is to creates NOTHING .Therefore in my understanding, the overall layout of museum was clean and clear, as we could observe in the photo, most of the materials use are purposed to create the feeling of spaceless and timeless frame. It somehow made the whole exhibition simple and easy but allow rich and diverse communication to visitors. Nothing is created but overall feeling was spoken and expressed, perhaps this is the charisma carried within Hatta himself and his design.

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Another impressive phrase was when Hatta used his words to explain the word “contemporary movement”. In today architecture world, there are numerous style and it’s difficult for us to really definite the meaning of “contemporary”. Hatta further express it by his building –Sailama. The attempt of simple and nature material, space slicing & planning throughout the building, uses of pond to replace the car porch at the front yard with his intention, pivot door instead of casement door, all of these elements made up into Hatta own architectural style and it’s further strengthen by his wabi-sabi principles.

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"ACQUIRE, understanding, is the idea of relating senses to objects and spaces towards a consciousness allowing greater insights into art, object, form and space.”-Mohd Hatta Ismail.

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