OPPO celebrates Malaysian culture and tradition with #OPPOMalaysiaThroughTheLens Campaign

OPPO preserves Malaysian culture in a photography and videography series as part of the #OPPOMalaysiaThroughTheLens campaign.

The tech giant partners with the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO (MNCU) and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture (MOTAC) to spotlight Malaysian culture through mobile imaging and AI with its new OPPO Reno series.

“As a brand that firmly believes in the role of technology to better people’s lives, we are excited to collaborate with the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO (MNCU) and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture (MOTAC) to weave stories of Malaysia’s rich culture. We aim to preserve these stories for future generations while telling them through the lens and perspective of mobile imaging,” says OPPO Malaysia Chief Marketing Officer Monica Chin. “We hope that with the AI innovation present in our smartphones, users can reshape their experience and unleash their boundless creativity, capturing these cultural moments through their lens.”

The preservation of  culture through tech

The #OPPOMalaysiaThroughTheLens campaign features five different Malaysian cultural art forms using the OPPO Reno series in both photography and films.

To kickstart the campaign, the first film highlights the art of Wayang Kulit, featuring master puppeteer Pak Dain and fusion artist Tin Toy. The masters of shadow puppetry collaborate to preserve the fading art form. 

For the short documentaries and photography series, the brand explores the art of Ngajat – a symbol of heritage for Sarawakians – through the lens of eight-year-old Dion Das Louis. In the film, the young dancer learns the warrior dance, weaving traditional and modern elements in a breathtaking production. 

The campaign also preserves the art form of the Kadazan tribe of Sabah – Magagung. In the film, the KKD Chi Hwa group highlights the traditional instruments and dance of the Kadazan, passing the ancient ritual and practice to the next generation.

In the fourth instalment, the short film takes place in Malacca where Dondang Sayang thrives in four communities: the Malay, Baba Nyonya, Chitty and Portuguese. The film encapsulates the fusion of music, songs and poetry that has intertwined within these communities.

In the finale of the series, the documentary heads to Penang to explore the rich heritage of Chinese Opera — which has continued to thrive thanks to performer Ling Goh. The documentary showcases the cultural significance of the art form in Penang’s cultural landscape. 

In celebration of the national month, OPPO plans to release a coffee table book comprising the photographs shot while filming the documentaries using the OPPO Reno Series. 

Additionally, OPPO’s Imagine IF Photography Awards 2024 will highlight Malaysian culture via the lens of OPPO smartphones. The photography awards encourage photographers to submit their works capturing local heritage for a chance to win up to USD $24,000 (approximately RM113,234). The photography award features nine entry categories: landscape, portrait, colours, unfading moment, fashion, snapshot, light, travel and collection.

The OPPO Imagine IF Photography Awards 2024 remains open until 24:00 UTC+8 on 28 July 2024. For more information, click here.