CAPITALISM AND CITIES IN TRANSITION
This brief photographic survey using the mobile phone documents the recent rise in interest and activity of capitalism in the Chow Kit neighbourhood. This work focuses on a few areas; one being the activity of targeted advertising on low-wage earners and the migrant community, and how unregulated advertising in this area transforms the architecture and cityscape of this locality.
Another aspect of this survey looks at a more destructive encroachment of the capitalist enterprise in the form of redevelopment through private initiatives which results in the privatisation of public space and the community’s loss of space, agency and ability to conduct business, trade and seek a livelihood in Chow Kit.
As capitalist appetites grows in Kuala Lumpur, expansion is at the heart of its interest. Chow Kit sits between the grand projects of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), the recent development on Jalan Putra and urban housing development plans which is pushing out of Mont Kiara and Duta into Segambut and Sentul.
Chow Kit’s existence as a cosmopolitan locality which has a rich migrant heritage that has thrived culturally, economically and historically through small businesses and trade is now coming under serious threat.
Chow Kit Baru. A new facade for an old neighbourhood.
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The Crossroads Hotel which stands at the hot-spot of public movement - at the northern tip of the Chow Kit area and the Kuala Lumpur general hospital. A few years ago the building was painted over to reflect the corporate colours of a telecommunications giant. The advertising on this building specifically targets low-wage earners and the migrant community in this locality.
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Shoddy construction practices encroaching onto public sidewalks pose a problem for the community who use this strip to transport goods to and from the market.
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A newly completed development project pushes into the local community of Chow Kit. Redevelopment is eminent for Chow Kit, with its close proximity to the centre of the city, the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) and development from the north, by way of Mont Kiara and Duta pushing south into Jalan Putra and Chow Kit.
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Hints of small businesses closed in the back alleys of Chow Kit.
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Surveillance becomes a more prolific occurrence underlines the distrust between new businesses moving in and the local community.
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This is the final frontier: The sliver of land in the south of Chow Kit which separates the march of the capitalist enterprise toward the last vestiges of the local community.
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Many Javanese settlers moved into Chow Kit between the 1800s up to the 1960s and have made it their homes. This is one such house at the Javanese village. In recent times Chow Kit has seen an influx of many African communities to its neighbourhood.
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The Tatt Khalsa Diwan is one of three major Sikh temples in Chow Kit
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A cut-out of Dato' Seri Dr. Hajjah Vida or better known as Dato' Vida stands across from the Chow Kit market. This business magnate has been at the centre of numerous false claims around the validity of her health and beauty products. Her recent foray into crypto currency is riddled with issues and has come under severe fire from the blockchain and crypto community. Her brands and businesses largely target communities with poor social mobility.
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