Floating Xmas crib inspired by ‘Avatar’
IPOH: Inspired by the movie Avatar, architect L. Victor Arulandu has created the biggest floating Christmas crib in the country.
His record-breaking effort, which depicts the Nativity scene, was recognised and certified by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR).
Arulandu, 39, said it took him about two weeks to come up with the idea and two months to complete the project for Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Canning Garden.
Church priest Rev Father Patrick Masang wanted a nativity scene that floats.
“I had to rack my brain and the ‘floating mountains’ scene from the movie came to my mind,” he said after receiving the certificate from MBOR marketing solutions manager Aaron Bong at the church yesterday.
With the help of his wife, S. Lina, 36, the couple burned the midnight oil and completed the masterpiece on Dec 18.
Arulandu said he has been setting up Christmas cribs for the church for the past 10 years.
The crib has a dimension of 3.9m in width, 2.9m in height and 3.4m in depth.
It consists of 12 floating islands with the Nativity scene, the Three Wise Men and several buildings.
The father of three said the main challenge for the artwork was during the hanging of the ‘floating islands’.
“We had to make sure everything was hanging properly and stable.
“Viewed from a certain angle, all
the objects will come together as one art piece,” he said, adding that the materials included papers, polystyrene, artificial grass and stones.
“The statues, made from canvas, are specially imported from Germany. The entire project costs about RM1,500,” he said.
Arulandu said the crib would be displayed at the church until the second week of January.
“After dismantling it, we will try to preserve the pieces and put it up again next year.
“I planned to expand it further by putting up more objects,” he added.
Bong said it was the first ever record-breaking Christmas crib in the country.
“There have been record-breaking Christmas trees but this is the only record-breaking Christmas crib.