Cover Jin Wong
Jin Wong
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More than a place to hang out, ShuangXi in KL's Chinatown is where art thrives
Nestled in the bustling neighbourhood of Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur, is a peculiar hideaway with no signage in sight, save for a nondescript metal door that leads to the second floor of a shoplot filled not only with antique peculiarities, but a band of creatives who have dedicated themselves to their craft and want to share that very passion with the curious visitors that come by.
See also: Four Points Kuala Lumpur Chinatown: Using Art To Spread The Message Of Resilience
Above Some of the antique peculiarities at ShuangXi
Some of the antique peculiarities at ShuangXi
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What is ShuangXi's story?
About six to seven years ago, I had a one-time job offer to travel to Paris, where I was actually considering migrating to China as a photographer as I felt that most artists in Malaysia weren’t appreciated, especially if they weren’t ‘mainstream’. But one day, one of the local artists in Paris recommended me to visit a warehouse-turned-art museum that’s founded by the local Black community.
What spoke to me about that place was that they didn’t put their artwork just for the sake of displaying it, but rather, they actually guided their visitors to truly appreciate what they have curated. Which got me thinking to do the same. ShuangXi was never just a space where people hung out, but a safe haven for independent artists to pursue their passions, with a hope that we can somehow influence others into catching onto that passion as well.
What can people discover in ShuangXi?
First, our main bar, ShuangXi, which means double happiness in Mandarin. Then there is Don’t Call Me Deer our experimental café in the afternoons. Manjusaka is our tattoo parlour; SIDUO, which stands for Something I Don’t Usually Own, sells antique accessories or decor; FLAWER is our conceptual florist where we recycle discarded flowers; Snatch Pastries, which is our resident pastry artisan; and finally, Kuronji, a nail art parlour.
Above ShuangXi's feline resident
ShuangXi's feline resident
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That's quite a number of ventures in one place! How do you manage to keep up with everything?
I don’t treat ShuangXi as a business. It’s an ongoing process of building a sustainable community that appreciates and supports our independent artists. We have no lack for talent in Malaysia, but when it comes to the system, we’re not doing nearly enough. Rather than creating a place where art should provide food for thought, the norm only invests in what they want to see because they think that what matters most is creating what sells instead.
ShuangXi | 177, Jalan Tun H S Lee, Kuala Lumpur
See also: Inside The Fascinating World Of Nini Marini, Artist And Creative Entrepreneur
Credits
Illustration: Courtesy of Jin Wong
Usually found at home and one with her couch, Koy Yi would either crack open a good book or game in her spare time to wind down after a long day. She also loves to scour art conventions and book fairs alike when she's able, collecting art books of all regions to gain inspiration for her own illustrations. With a keen interest in people and the stories they tell, she enjoys a good talk and a good laugh (preferably over food). Follow her on her Instagram @peiyi57.
