THE SYMBOLIC MESSASGE OF ‘KILANG RACUN’: DIGITAL PRINT INTEGRATED WITH AUGMENTED REALITY

Abstract

The study analysed Kilang Racun (Poison Factory) by Malaysian artist Haris Abadi, a digital print on canvas integrated with Augmented Reality (AR), with particular focus on its symbolic messages and cultural meanings within the context of Malaysian contemporary art. Situated within the discourse of new media art, the research examines how the artwork negotiates the intersections of technology, tradition, and socio economic critique. Employing a qualitative art analysis methodology grounded in semiotic interpretation, the study draws upon the theoretical frameworks of Charles Sanders Peirce and Roland Barthes to decode layers of meaning embedded in visual symbols such as the poisoned apple, industrial machinery, cartoon figures, and theatrical curtains. These elements are interpreted as metaphoric critiques of capitalism, consumer culture, environmental degradation, and the spectacle of mass media. The integration of AR extends the symbolic narrative by transforming the static composition into an interactive and immersive experience, reinforcing Jean Baudrillard’s notion of hyperreality in which mediated images supplant lived reality. Simultaneously, the performative activation of the artwork through AR echoes the visual dramaturgy of wayang kulit, recontextualising Malay cosmological and theatrical traditions within a digital framework. The findings reveal that Kilang Racun reappropriates indigenous symbolic systems to articulate a critical commentary on global capitalism and digital ideology. Ultimately, the study demonstrates how Malaysian new media art functions as a hybrid platform that fuses technological innovation, cultural memory, and social critique, contributing to broader discussions on mediated realities and contemporary artistic expression.