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
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.
