The document discusses how imagination and reality can differ, using the examples of Hypatia and Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur. In Hypatia, the traveler found that what was described to him no longer existed when he visited. Similarly, Bukit Bintang in KL is losing its original colorful essence as more development occurs and foreign workers replace local culture. As KL portrays an organized image, people remember the past vibrancy which is being replaced by repetitive new buildings that demolish heritage structures. This rapid development risks turning the city into an apocalyptic dystopia rather than the imagined utopian future, as the city loses its identity and color.

1. Bukit Bintang & Hypatia
Theme: Imagination is not equivalent to Reality
Interpretation of Hypatia:
Words told that Hypatia was a beautiful city, and the traveler knows it well, but things changed in time.
The traveler thought he would still able to find what he sought and indulge in Hypatia, where nature was
at its best and beauties were to be founded ahead. What awaits him were all gone when he visited and
this completely torn him down with what he expected, so much that he had to seek people from the
above for justice because what he seen were not he was told. Quoted in the paragraph, “Signs form a
language, but not the one you think you know.” Traveler had to free himself from the images which was
shown and announced to him in the past, only then he would understand the language of Hypatia. He
knows what he sought in this city has no longer exist. He left with great disappointment and his only
desire was to leave this city.
Interpretation of KL:
Same scenario depicted by the I.Calvino are happening in KL as well, taking its steps and slowly
shadowing the essence of the colorful Bukit Bintang. And as mention in Hypatia, ” , “Signs form a
language, but not the one you think you know.” This is relates to the idol chosen, Raphael who
suggested Platonism which to connect people to see only physical objects, but these physical objects do
not tell the intended interpretation of themselves. As many has publicized Bukit Bintang as part of a
prosperous metropolis due to its fast-developing township, diversity of multi-racial society, colorful
cultures and built structures that suggest activities has brought hassle into the place. More and more
development is done to give Bukit Bintang a brand new image in order to stay up trended and attracts
more people. The Bukit Bintang might look well developed, but slowly it deteriorate and take away the
true image and the real essence of the city.
KL is trying to portrait its best image of an organized and civilized city, but people living in this city still
remember the past where reminiscence echoes how colorful KL once was. New buildings are
constructed repetitively and replace the originality and the spirit of the space. The heritage buildings
were torn down and it was said to create spaces for better development. The demolishment and
reconstruction repeats with no control. The overwhelming structures become clusters of sky reaching
vertical giants, building up the walls and barriers the lights. The folks lost their direction in this labyrinth
of duplicated concretes and mirrors, and at the same time they are trying to find their way home in this
fast pacing city. Local cultures and business were replaced by foreigner workers. People lost the desire
to stay in this soulless city and started moving out of this city. The city’s image is being replaced and
losing it identity. How is it called a better image with all these scenes mentioned above? Imagine in a
century to come, the streets become invisible blinded by the built structures in repetition, covered by
overlapping layers of new signages and turning city into an apocalypse playground. In the search of a
utopian future, the devastation comes in the way and draws the city towards a dystopia instead. The
once colorful KL weeps in the noise of the busy voids. It becomes like what happened to the traveller,
where all these imagination of a better place in the past can be no longer found in the future.
LIM JIAN JUN 0316867