1600 Pandas World Tour

It might be the end of the 1600 Pandas World Tour which have been traveling since 2008. It is a collaboration between WWF and French artist Paulo Grangeon where more than 100 exhibitions were held across various countries such as France, The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Taiwan and Hong Kong. With the theme of Initiating the Culture of Creative Conservation, a journey around the world to promote the message of panda conservation and sustainable development started 5 years ago in France.

The giant panda, also known as panda bear is a bear native to south central China and recognised as China's national treasure. It is easily recognised by the large, distinctive black patches around its eyes, over the ears, and across its round body.

in Putrajaya Square

Putrajaya Flash Mob

infront of the Putrajaya Perdana

Malaysia is the 3rd Asian country stop for the pandas tour from 21 December 2014 and ends on 25 January 2015. Paulo Grangeon, an enthusiastic French sculptor with more than 30 years of experience, created the 1,600 papier mache pandas in various poses, emotions and sizes using recycled paper, as a symbolic representation of the amount of pandas left in the wild. If I'm not forgotten, simple a papier-mâché panda will spend almost six month or nearly a year to be finish.

Paulo Grangeon is an enthusiastic French sculptor who has been active in his craft for more than 30 years. He, his wooden sculptures and stage designs have graced numerous countries in Europe and America, and eventually, around the world; Paulo was later recruited as a wood designer by an international brand, where he worked for almost 20 years. In 1997, Paulo was mesmerized by the Thai craft of papier-mâché and started his own ceramics and papier-mâché workshop in France, “Matiere Premiere”. He then frequented Thailand to further study the art. In 2008, Paulo was invited by the World Wildlife Fund to create the “1600 Panda” world tour. To date, he’s made more than ten thousand papier-mâché pandas in Thailand. Aside from pandas, Paulo is no stranger to other animals: in 2009 alone, he molded 120 papier-mâché whales for the Overseas Ministry of France and 200 papiermâché black bears for Taiwan.

1600 Pandas Malaysia

Before that, I have notices about the 1600 Pandas World Tour is happening in Hong Kong. It wasn't that hit when it promoting in Malaysia until everyone share the world tour news in Facebook and flash mob pictures with the 1600 Pandas. Generally, everyone started to participate the 15 flash mob in Malaysia. 

1600 Pandas World Tour in Tian Tan Buddha, Hong Kong

The 1600 Pandas Malaysia Tour aims to bring awareness to the locals on the importance of panda conservation, symbolically encouraging Malaysians to be more aware of our natural environment and the need to conserve it. Funds raised from the 1,600 Pandas Malaysia Tour will be channeled to support WWF-Malaysia’s conservation efforts. In the end of the Malaysia tour, they collected RM240,000 funds to World Wildlife Fund. 

World Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) was established in Malaysia in 1972. It currently runs more than 90 projects covering a diverse range of environmental conservation and protection work, from saving endangered species such as tigers and turtles to protect our highland forests, rivers and seas. The national conservation organization also undertakes environmental education and advocacy work to achieve its conservation goals. Its mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the nation’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

The 1600 Pandas Malaysia Tour last exhibit in the Publika for 2 weeks. Publika is an upscale neighbourhood shopping mall located in Solaris Dutamas that aimed at a young expatriate clientele, the creative and artsy complex has a number of high-end clothing boutiques, novelty stores and F&B venues. It routinely organises events to draw in a crowd or even to raise awareness on certain issues like Publika Earth Hour on 31st March 2012. More creative and arts events will held here compare to the others places in The Golden Triangle, KL.

1600 Pandas Zone Poster

the exhibition

If you have visits the 1600 Pandas in Publika, do you spot some special panda arrangements and their program?

chit-chatting

kissing

take me home

no climbing

Warning! No Entry.

As the pandas said: we are being protected, so the organizer set the barricade to avoid hugging them. But, you are possible to pay RM 10 for a photo with them by queuing up on the other side. Even you can adopt the baby pandas back home with RM 150 and continue to cultivate environment conservation..

we are protected with barricade

the only choices to take picture with them

There are not only an exhibition but display some pandas with Malaysian culture knowledge.

Special Edition Panda - Wau

A wau is a traditional kite that is very popular especially in the state of Kelantan, East Coast Malaysia. It traditionally flown after the rice harvest season and this giant kite is often seen as big as human size, measuring about 3.5 meters from head to tail.

It is called Wau because of its shape is similar to the Arabic letter “( ﯡ )”, which pronounced as “Wow”. With its vibrant colour and the patterns based on mostly local flora and fauna, these kites are truly splendid sight.

Panda Wau represents gentle and perseverance. We can still enjoy the beauty of a stray birds flying through sky and swimming fish in our river or sea today, but we are not sure that one day the blue sky may covered by dark smokes and clear water turn into wastewater. (1600 Pandas MY)

Special Edition Panda - Congkak

Congkak is one of our traditional games and played by women since ancient time. The game only required of few holes dug on land surface and tamarind seeds or rubber tree seeds.

Today, congkak game can be played on a solid wood block in oval shape with 2 rows that consist either of 5, 7 or 9 holes and larger holes at both ends called “Home”. It can be played with shells, marbles, pebbles, tamarind seeds or rubber tree seeds.

The Special Edition Panda - Congkak represents wisdom and friendship. Human these days always proclaimed themselves as the leader of all living things and attempt to tame every single creature on planet or even try to take control of the mother nature; but they always appears their weaknesses and ignorance when facing nature wellbeing.

Animals are known as human best friend and we need to coexist with these creatures since it is the best way to achieve sustainability of our planet earth. (1600 Pandas MY)

Special Edition Panda - Badminton

Badminton is Malaysia’s most successful sport category in the world. The success of a sport depends on the country’s training as well as individual’s determination and willpower, both are equally essential. Malaysian players make their country well-known through badminton.

The Badminton Edition represents the spirit of perseverance and endurance; there are always challenges and setbacks on the journey of environmental caring and perseverance, determination as well as willpower are definitely needed to continue these efforts.

If we do not show our responsibility and concern now, it will be too late for us in future, even if we work out on it later, it might be too late for everyone to take part in conservation and sustainability of nature and wildlife. (1600 Pandas MY)

On the other side, they are various of merchandise selling with the panda design such as t-shirt, mug, umbrella, towel, etc.

Merchandize Zone

Lastly, the hug hug zone where you can take picture with the papier-mâché panda for free.

Hug Hug Zone

With love, 

Yvette