The Seri Negara Exhibition

Design support for WHW & Associates

In 2025, I had the privilege of being part of a large consortium of designers, curators, historians, technicians, and builders tasked with curating and creating the rejuvenated Seri Negara experience.

For over a century, this graceful building stood as a silent witness to our nation’s defining moments. Built in 1913 as a colonial guest house, it has now been meticulously restored through the Warisan KL initiative to honour its pivotal role in Malaysia’s birth. It was within these rooms that the Malay Rulers and British officials negotiated the path to sovereignty, culminating in the signing of the 1957 Federation of Malaya Agreement.

 

After decades spent as a hotel and various other functions, the restoration by Khazanah Nasional has returned the building to its original character, reopening it as a cultural site where five curated galleries now document the journey from colonial rule to independence.​

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The complete Seri Negara experience was made possible by a vast and diverse team, from architects to animators, from writers to plasterers. ​And for sure, a project of this scale will not be without its challenges. So more than anything, my post here honours my fellow team members. I have rarely worked with a group of people so relentlessly dedicated. Through long nights, tough conversations, and setbacks, no one quit. There were moments I truly wondered if PMX would end up inaugurating an unfinished exhibition. But with literally minutes to spare before the his limo rolled up the drive, the final piece clicked into place... we made it.

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The photos below highlight some of the sections I worked on, including some early ideas.