GEORGE TOWN, Oct 30 — Early this year, two rain trees were transplanted in the grounds of Hin Bus Depot by arborist Hasim Ismail.
The trees were from 12 trees saved from being chopped down due to development through a joint effort by Moonshop Gallery’s Vin Chee and Hasim.
The trees were earmarked to be chopped down to give way to a development project, Penang World City Tropicana Bay.
After transplanting the two trees in Hin Bus Depot, 10 more were transplanted as part of the landscape design for the World City project.
As Chee and Hasim worked together in various arboriculture projects, they discussed the possibility of putting together an arboriculture exhibition to highlight the beauty of plants even in the middle of the city.
Unfortunately, Hasim passed away at the age of 55 years old in March before they could come up with a platform and idea for an exhibition.
“Hasim and I would always talk about putting together an exhibition to showcase plants and trees but we never got around to planning for it when he passed away,” Chee said.
After Hasim’s death, Chee decided to honour the memory of the arborist by organising an arborist and art exhibition.
The resulting exhibition is a showcase of arboriculture, terrariums, forests in bottles and a tribute to Hasim.
The exhibition was held at Hin Bus Depot where the two trees Hasim had transplanted are thriving and providing shade in the gardens and it was aptly titled, “Hasim”.
There are six sections to the exhibition starting with a whole section on the art of arboriculture and stories on arborists including the story of Hasim.
Arborist is the term used for a professional tree “doctor” who is trained in the science of planting, caring and maintaining trees.
An arborist cares for the health of trees and the scope of work includes transplanting, pruning, protecting and ensuring the safety of everyone including the trees in the process of transplanting or pruning.
The most impressive exhibit is a large glass house or a giant terrarium filled with plants, insects, butterflies and a chair for visitors to sit and be surrounded by a forest within a glass enclosure.
Along the walls within the exhibition space of Hin Bus Depot was an ornamental tropical living wall of plants on wooden frames accompanied by smaller frames of butterflies and insects.
On another wall is a collection of miniature forests in bottles of various shapes and sizes.
A long table was set up for the “Alice in Wonderland” exhibit, again it is a showcase of plants thriving within terrariums, bottles and different types of pots alongside some framed specimens of insects and butterflies.
Finally, outside is the “Playground”, a wooden house and slide located right next to the rain tree that was transplanted by Hasim.
Throughout the exhibition, events featuring nature and trees such as a workshop on making forests in a bottle and tree climbing were held.
This Saturday, November 4, a talk on the profession of an arborist will be held to be followed by workshops on forest in a bottle and moon forest.
On Sunday, November 5, there will be a charity movie screening to be followed by workshops on forest in a bottle and tree climbing.
The art exhibition is curated by Moonshop Gallery in collaboration with Mutiara Alam Sdn Bhd, The Habitat Penang Hill, Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm, Dan Cafe, M’atural and Thum Chia Chieh.
Prima Sport & Play sponsored the playground while Hin Bus Depot was the venue sponsor.
The exhibition is free for public from 12pm to 8pm daily until November 5.
