A Malaysian artist has managed to transform centuries' old pottery shards into intricate sculptures and her mosaic-covered sculptures have become a magnet for tourists and locals alike in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

Alice Chang is well known to many for her public sculptures, including those commissioned for the Year of the Tiger and displayed in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown.

Now, she aims to link the modern-day arts to the ancient Silk Road, and highlighting Malaysia's role as a historic crossroads of global trade during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).

"I'm using the Chinese broken bowl and of course that one I can cut to have the proper shape. But the difference with these Wanli pieces is I never cut and I just use whatever I found," said Chang.

She referred to the Ming Dynasty pottery shards from the "Wanli Shipwreck", a ship that sank off Malaysia's east coast en route from China to Portugal 400 years ago.

Valuable artifacts were found and salvaged from the shipwreck, alongside large amounts of these broken porcelain pieces, regarded as having little value.

Yet, the stories that told of the region's maritime history, had struck a chord with Chang.

By chance, she came into possession of 50 kilograms of the pottery shards from the "Wanli Shipwreck".
"Actually I'm very lucky, and from social media, I know someone, they don't know what to do with these broken pieces. So I offered myself, and I said I want to try to repurpose these broken pieces to an art piece, to let more people to understand about the story," said Chang.

She said the broken porcelain pieces shared the same historic value as those that ended up in prestigious auction houses. Therefore she wanted to give them a new lease of life, to transform what was once considered worthless into something meaningful and beautiful, Chang explained.

"This is the sculpture I call 'Gift'. We found the Wanli in our Malaysian sea. It's like a gift for Malaysian. I think this is very important as a Malaysian to understand about the story about Malaysia, to connect to China, to share for the next generation. Actually, and if I don't do, and maybe this broken piece will end up in the storeroom," she said.

Chang hopes her works can travel farther.

"Maybe I have a chance to bring this sculpture to show in other country. I hope my pieces can follow the Silk Road also," said Chang.