Supernatural figures come to ‘life’ at Melaka Ghost Museum

MELAKA, Aug 25 — The Melaka Ghost Museum has brought supernatural figures from folklore and myths to life through three-dimensional sculptures, offering visitors a tangible experience of these legendary characters. Spanning across three stories at Jalan Kampung Hulu, the museum displays over 40 types of ghosts, including popular entities such as the langsuir, pontianak, and penanggal, along with supernatural beings from various countries.

General manager Muhammad Fitri Abdullah revealed that the museum's figures were crafted based on information obtained from folklore, myths, legends, culture, and traditional depictions associated with each entity.

Muhammad Fitri explained that the team delved into visual materials, community stories, and historical sources to determine the appearance, clothing, facial expressions, and body shapes of each ghost. The process took nearly three years to research the origins of these supernatural entities and gather testimonies from diverse sources.

Each sculpture is a fusion of art, folklore, culture, and horror elements rather than mere ghostly figures, designed not only to scare visitors but also to educate them about the stories and cultural background behind the characters.

The time needed to produce each sculpture varies depending on its size and the level of detail required for textures, facial features, and clothing. Most of the sculptures were created through traditional handcrafting skills either by the museum's team or in collaboration with artists and sculptors. Despite operating for seven years, the museum continuously improves and modifies its sculptures to ensure their longevity.

Muhammad Fitri emphasized that the Ghost Museum is distinct from a haunted house, as its primary focus is on knowledge rather than jump scares. Visitors can also immerse themselves in the experience by wearing costumes provided by the museum, further enhancing their interactive visit.