Sightings is a series of posts based on curious specimens of visual culture collected around Malaysia.  If you see any worthy examples, email us at arteri DOT malaysia AT gmail DOT com.

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Description: A graffiti tag comprising of the letters “R” and “S”, in red and yellow spray-paint, with black spray-paint lining. A bit to the left are the words “radically” and “saved” – with the former vertical intersecting the latter at the letter “A”, forming a lopsided crucifix.

Location: An alley between Jalan Telawi and Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru.

Notes:

Found about half a block away from nearest congregation (Bangsar Gospel Centre; Sunday service is at 9am, with Young Adults meeting on Thursday evenings), it is impossible to divine (heh heh) for certain whether this modest tableau intentionally references Christianity, as its author(s) remain anonymous.

However, that cross, as well as the use of the adjective “radically”, is a dead giveaway – born-agains love to advertise themselves as bucking the trend. To seem up-to-date, contemporary Christianity has tended to co-opt popular trends – just consider the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) genre’s history, with its assimilation of rock and hip-hop.

Christian graffiti is a no-brainer. This particular example is not that aesthetically pleasing – but, considering how vitriolic some public proclamations of faith have been lately, it’s a case of no harm, no foul.

(ZS)