Cover From left to right: Wong Chee Meng's “Rasa Sayang”; PESZTA illustration done by Valen Lim; Temu House’s illustrated poster for their artists’ studios-inspired exhibition; “Phantoms” by Timoteus Anggawan Kusno.
From left to right: Wong Chee Meng's “Rasa Sayang”; PESZTA illustration done by Valen Lim; Temu House’s illustrated poster for their artists’ studios-inspired exhibition; “Phantoms” by Timoteus Anggawan Kusno.
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Let’s celebrate our national day for the entire month of August by giving our local artists and galleries some love! Read on to find out more about what’s happening in the local arts scene
Get ready for another exciting month of vibrant and culturally-rich events in Malaysia!
From contemporary art showcases pushing boundaries and challenging conventions to performances honouring the nation’s heritage, August offers a diverse and thriving platform for artists, musicians, dancers, and performers of all genres. Don’t miss this month’s highlights, which include Cult Gallery’s printmaking exhibition, ILHAM Gallery’s presentation of Timoteus Anggawan Kusno’s dismantlement of colonial phantoms and pop-contemporary artist Wong Chee Meng’s innovative artworks at Wei-Ling Gallery.
Whether you are an art enthusiast, a culture seeker, or simply someone looking to be inspired, these events celebrate the essence of human creativity and storytelling.
Read more: The empowering art of Kara Inez challenges patriarchy and body ideals
The Zhongshan Building
The long-awaited one-day festival, PESZTA, will take place across the seven venues located in Kampung Attap. Supported by Merdeka 118, ThinkCity and PMV Ventures, this massive fiesta is brought to you by the Zhongshan Building, Triptyk, Sam’s Mansion, The Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), Pentago House, HEART Residence, and the Pusat Kesenian DBKL.
From workshops to open studios, participatory art activities, talks, huge markets, exhibitions, and live music, get ready to explore the entire Kampung Attap area and get to know its residents. Watch this space, or visit The Zhongshan Building’s Instagram page to learn more about the event.
When: August 26th; 10am - 7pm (*7pm onwards for musical performances by Alena Murang, Zee Avi, and more)
Where: Jalan Kampung Attap, 80 - 84, Jalan Rotan, 50460 Kuala Lumpur
The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre
Directed by Low Yee Choy of Theatresauce, so happy i could die is an interactive and participative theatrical event that invites audiences to reflect on the meaning of fulfilment and the consequences of choices made.
When: August 12th - August 13th; 3pm or 4pm
Where: indicine, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, Jln Sultan Azlan Shah, Sentul, 51100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Cult Gallery
Join the linocut workshop and sit down with printmakers Faizal Suhif, Samsudin Wahab and Fadli Mokhtar of GoBlock, a local community of artist-printmakers. While visitors get to create and experiment with linocut printmaking, don’t forget to check out the ongoing exhibition held at Cult Gallery, GoBlock: Senibuku, which explores the many multidisciplinary techniques used to create handcrafted art books.
Using a diverse range of artistic and technical skills, including etching, woodblock printing, monoprint, frottage cyanotype, pyrography and more, GoBlock: Senibuku is an eyeopener into what may arguably be one of the most ancient methods of handcrafted books and prints.
When: August 13th; 11am - 5pm
Where: Cult Gallery, 10 A Persiaran Bukit Tunku, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
ILHAM Gallery
Presented by the ILHAM Gallery, Phantoms by Indonesian artist and filmmaker Timoteus Anggawan Kusno is a visual observation and commentary on the dismantlement of colonial monuments.
Using the portraits of former Dutch colonial officers as a reference, which are currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Kusno paints a series of recreated portraits of these figures with their faces erased, portraying a complex narrative of identity, heritage and resistance against forced homogenisation.
When: Now till November 5th; Tue - Sun, 11am - 7pm
Where: Levels 3 and 5, Ilham Tower, 8, Lorog Binjai, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
G13 Gallery
Un/Hidden Identities: Painting Lives is a solo exhibition by local artist Sack Tin Lim that revolves around the lives of one of Malaysia's most vulnerable minority communities. Wanting to confront the stereotypes and amplify their voices at a tumultuous time, Lim utilises vivid colours against the seemingly simple backdrop of everyday life.
When: Now till August 19th; Tue - Sat, 11am - 5pm
Where: Kelana Square, GL13, Ground Floor Block B, Jalan SS 7/26, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Sareng Gallery
An introspective look at interpersonal relationships across all strata of society, Angkat-Sumpah by Arif Fauzman talks about the moral relativism and its influence on how transgressions are perceived.
Hoping to awaken a collective consciousness that transcends borders, Arif’s work aims to foster a more inclusive and compassionate global community—a pursuit that resonates with Malaysians from all walks of life.
When: Now till 12th August; 10am - 6pm
Where: Level 8, Menara Chan, 138, Jalan Ampang, Kampung Baru, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah
Wei-Ling Gallery
Taking centre stage at Wei-Ling Gallery is pop-contemporary artist Wong Chee Meng’s fifth solo exhibition, Rasa Sayang, which is a series of brilliantly coloured works that explores the essence of what makes Malaysia. A visual cornerstone that honours the nation’s cultural traditions and many communities, Rasa Sayang is a multi-layered tapestry that embraces the multicultural aspect of our country.
To fully immerse yourself in the experience, use your smartphones to interact with the artworks—incorporating augmented reality technology, visitors can interact with details hidden within Wong’s paintings.
When: Now till August 19th (*By appointment only); Tue - Sat, 10am - 6pm
Where: 8, Jalan Scott, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur
Temu House
After an unprecedented postponement for one of their shows, Temu House, a well-known gallery-cum-events venue, they reached out to local artists who many may know and love from Temu House’s previous exhibitions, asking about their current works in-studio and if they would care to share them with the public.
If you want to see the behind-the-scenes of an artist’s daily life and process, head over to Temu House!
When: August 6th - September 3rd; Sat - Sun, 10am - 5pm
Where: Temu House, 49, Jalan 16/9e, Seksyen 16, 46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
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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.
