Under the Shadows of Merdeka Photography Exhibition

Malaysia gained its independence in 1957. Fast forward 67 years and Menara Merdeka 118, the second tallest building in the world, stands proudly in the centre of Kuala Lumpur.

Needless to say, progress and change in the capital have been rapid. The cityscape is filled with modern infrastructure and skyscrapers, yet historical, traditional and cultural characteristics persevere.

‘Under the Shadows of Merdeka’ is a visual documentation of the precincts surrounding Menara Merdeka 118. In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, people, places and moments are captured in black & white by photographers Azul Adnan and Grace Ho Pui Wan. These photos set out to preserve both the old and the new, showing how the city has developed since Malaysia’s independence.

This project was under the Merdeka 118 Community Grants Programme Cycle 2 by Think City and PNB Merdeka Ventures. It involved Azul and Grace photographing the areas around Merdeka 118, conducting photography workshops for schools, exhibiting the images and publishing a photo book in December 2024.

This exhibition, held at the South Lobby of Menara Merdeka 118, will be the third time some of these photos are displayed to the public, the first being inside Stadium Merdeka (2024) and the second being at GMBB (2025). There will be some newer images that will be exhibited for the first time.