Legacy of Hang Tuah: Virtual Reality Game for Ancient Malay Heritage

Abstract

This virtual reality artwork draws inspiration from Hikayat Hang Tuah, a classical Malay epic, to engage with the theme “SUSTAINAISSANCE: Emotion, Expression, Identity” through a visual narrative that blends tradition with contemporary digital storytelling. Set within a reimagined tropical village at sunset, the work presents a solitary figure, symbolic of Hang Tuah, situated in a serene yet emotionally charged environment. Through the considered use of light, colour, and culturally grounded elements, the artwork evokes emotions associated with loyalty, inner conflict, and nostalgia. By reinterpreting a legendary figure through a modern immersive medium, the work proposes a form of cultural sustainability, whereby heritage and moral values are revisited and re-articulated through digital expression. The emphasis on solitude and reflection foregrounds the tension between personal identity and communal duty, echoing enduring human concerns. Within an increasingly fast-paced and homogenised digital landscape, the artwork reflects on the role of creative practice in sustaining emotional depth and cultural narratives. In doing so, it aligns with the notion of a contemporary “renaissance” of identity and meaning, positioning art as a connective bridge between inherited wisdom and future-oriented consciousness.