A visitor taking a closer at the faux magazine cover collection celebrating Tokyo and illustration at 'The Tokyoiter' exhibition preview at Temu House in Petaling Jaya. The show opens on Jan 20. Photo: The Star/William Gary
EXHIBITION: 'THE TOKYOITER' EXHIBITION
Venue: Temu House, Petaling Jaya
Date: Jan 20 to Feb 4
If you like magazine cover design, this new exhibition at Temu House is right up your alley. From a small street in the shadow of the SkyTree, to a wave of Koinobori and the colourful rockers of Yoyogi park, each cover of The Tokyoiter (an imaginary mag!) is a testimony of what makes Tokyo such a fascinating place to live and experience.
This art project – supported by The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur – draws inspiration from iconic The New Yorker magazine cover art and The Parisianer, a Paris tribute version of the magazine.
Happening for over three weekends, this exhibition presents works from 25 artists plus five from Malaysia, bringing together a community of illustration and drawing enthusiasts who share a passion for the unique narratives of Tokyo.
It started with an open call held last November, with a panel of juries made up of British-based illustrators Andrew Joyce and David Robert, creators of The Tokyoiter, alongside known artists and designers, namely CC Kua and Kenta Chai.
One of the prerequisites for submission is that participants must have spent time in Tokyo (including short-term visits), attaching a photo from their time for verification.
The local artists for this exhibition are Cawand Dien, Chew Yuin-Y, Chien Shyan Lee, Sophia Tan and Yean Junn Tseng.
There will also be a sharing session (registration required) at Temu House this Sunday at 3pm where the judges of The Tokyoiter exhibition will share their experiences selecting the works along with their thoughts on form versus function and the fictional The Kuala Lumpurian.
All the covers can also be seen here. Admission to the exhibition at Temu House is free.
More info here.
Amir Shahlan's 'Prologue #3 Lights, Puppet, ACTION!' (mixed media, 2023). Photo: A.P Gallery
EXHIBITION: 'MENDONGENG': THE ART OF STORYTELLING
Venue: A.P Art Gallery, Taman Melawati, KL
Date: Jan 20 to Feb 18
Mendongeng can literally translate to storytelling, fairytale, or even the idiom "spinning a yarn".
In the context of this exhibition, the artists – Amir Shahlan, Mati, and RB – are the storytellers, weaving narratives through repurposed objects.
Amir, who teaches filmmaking, helped establish the Faculty of Cinematic Art at Multimedia University (where he served as Dean from 2018 to 2023). His work uses video and animation to create contemporary "wayang kulit" images.
Meanwhile, Mati is the creative duo of Amat and Binti, both with backgrounds in cinematic arts and literature.
Amat is a documentary filmmaker, while Binti is a poet, who uses her tertiary education in cinema to express her creativity. Their ideas combine to create what looks like a script from a film, with added poetic flair.
RB (Radzi Bedu), a former designer and teacher with 26 years of experience, has now gone into art-making full-time. Focused on experimentation, his artistic creations are a mix of craft-making, exploring how traditional materials can be incorporated with new generation technology.
This exhibition will kick off AP Art Gallery’s 2024 programme. Admission is free.
More info here.
Jalan Dalam collective is presenting its first open mic of the year at the Folk Kofi venue. Photo: Handout
POETRY AND MUSIC: 'JALAN DALAM' OPEN MIC SHOW
Venue: Folk Kofi, Taman Melawati, KL
Date: 20 Jan, 8pm
Coffee and a free show? Here's a chance to spend your Saturday night watching local poets and musicians.
If you have yet to attend a Jalan Dalam collective show or any open-mic for that matter, you’ll be surprised by the type of new and untested talents performing on stage. Every month, you'll find a unique blend of poets, musicians, singer-songwriters, comedians, and even magicians raring to showcase their talent.
This is Jalan Dalam's first show of 2024, with a few regular performers back for more live arts action.
The founders of Jalan Dalam, established in late 2017, are working to create a thriving independent arts scene outside the regular central locations of Kuala Lumpur. With a strong Taman Melawati following, Jalan Dalam hopes to attract the capital's poetry and arts community to its side of the neighbourhood, sharing creative connections along the way.
Admission is free.
More info here.
The beloved AIIA Improv crew returns to the Petaling Jaya stage this weekend for its first show of the year. Photo: All Is Amazing
IMPROV MUSICAL: ONE WORD WONDER
Venue: SoulCity Hub, Petaling Jaya
Date: Jan 20 and 21
AIIA Improv, the country's longest running improv comedy troupe (since 2007) is set to kick off the new year with a fresh twist of music and comedy in this upcoming show series.
In this show, it will incorporate musical elements into its long-form improv format, calling on the audience to suggest one word that will set the stage for the performers to improvise an entire show on the spot.
The troupe’s current members – Ashraf Modee Zain, Farah Rani, Iedil Dzhurie Alaudin, Shamaine Othman and Tung Jit Yang – are all active practitioners in the local theatre and screen industry, and will be joined by special musical guest Irena Taib (from indie folk outfit The Impatient Sisters).
“We now want to share the magic of long form improv where we build a 60-70 minute story or mini play just by using a one word suggestion from the audience,” says Shamaine.
The audience will also have a chance to participate, and even become part of the show.
More info here.
Dr Ros was also one of the contributing editors to the Malaysian Cave and Karst Conservancy's publication and guide book 'Batu Caves: Malaysia’s Majestic Limestone Icon' in 2020. Photo: The Star/Shaari Chemat
BOOK TALK: 'THE HIDDEN TREASURES OF MALAYSIAN CAVES'
Venue: Sunda Shelves, Petaling Jaya
Date: Jan 21, 4pm
This Sunday evening, nature specialist bookshop Sunda Shelves is presenting a peek into the wonderful caves of Malaysia by geologist Dr Ros Fatihah Muhammad.
Batu Caves will be one of the main topics of discussion at this "Sunda Talks" public series. Dr Ros was also one of the contributing editors to the Malaysian Cave and Karst Conservancy's publication and guide book Batu Caves: Malaysia’s Majestic Limestone Icon in 2020.
It is a timely sharing session since next week is Thaipusam season (Jan 25), and Batu Caves will light up in celebration with a sea of devotees carry offerings of devotion to Lord Murugan up its famous 272 steps.
Apart from being an important spiritual site for KL’s Hindu community since 1890, Batu Caves is also a conservation site of immense scientific importance – being living evidence of past landscape evolution, a repository of fossils of species long extinct; a web of life set within perpetual darkness; a rock garden adorned with plants that cannot survive anywhere else.
Registration is required for the sharing session.
More info here.
EXHIBITION: KHOO SUI HOE'S 'RECENT WORKS'
Venue: G13 Gallery, Petaling Jaya
Date: ends Jan 27
G13 Gallery is showing senior artist Khoo Sui Hoe’s latest solo exhibition titled Recent Works this month.
This exhibition marks Khoo's 59th solo exhibition, showcasing a lifetime of knowledge and passion as a soulful yet innovative painter, who employs masterful brush skills with each work.
The US-based Khoo, renowned for his dreamlike figures and poetic interpretations of life, is in fine form in this exhibition. His use of colour continues to evolve, fascinating audiences – young and old – with its evocative power.
"Featuring over 15 paintings, the exhibition offers insights into his continued artistic exploration and his ability to transcend cultural and stylistic boundaries," reads the exhibition notes.
In Recent Works, Khoo draws inspiration from environmental forms such as hills, rivers, trees, and skies, creating paintings with a poetic and mysterious quality.
Born in Kedah in 1939, the artist studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (from 1959–61) in Singapore under the tutelage of pioneering Nanyang artists Cheong Soo Pieng and Georgette Chen.
Free admission exhibition.
More info here.
Denis Chai's 'A Life Connected To The Ocean' (mixed media on linen). Photo: Dora Ong
EXHIBITION: PARAMOUNT ART A-FAIR
Venue: AweGallery, Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya
Date: Jan 28
New year, new discoveries to be made in the art scene. If you’ve always wanted to own your own piece of art but couldn’t afford mainstream gallery prices, check out Petaling Jaya-based AweGallery’s first curated community-based art event, “Paramount Art A-fair”.
The event – which runs through Jan 28 – aims to make art more accessible and affordable by exhibiting works that cost less than RM5,000.
The art fair will display works by Malaysian artists made from oil, watercolour, mixed media and pottery.
Featured artists include Denis Chai Kah Yune (oil and mixed media), Francis Lee Y.K. (watercolour), Brian Tai (watercolour), Lee Wee Xian (watercolour), Gary Read (oil), Drew Funk (graffiti) and Purple Ling (pottery).
AweGallery owner Dora Ong says, “Being an artist’s daughter myself, I understand the struggles that artists face when trying to make ends meet. Through the art fair, we aim to provide a platform for young artists and collectors to connect, and hopefully liven up the art scene in Taman Paramount.”
More info here.
A general view of Rafiee Ghani's 'Arca Samudera' exhibition at Galeri Puteh in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon
EXHIBITION: RAFIEE GHANI'S 'ARCA SAMUDERA'
Venue: Galeri Puteh, KL Eco City, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends Jan 27
Galeri Puteh has opened the year with an ambitious show from one of Malaysia's beloved painters, who is planning something different in 2024.
From the mind that has given us amazing abstract paintings, veteran artist Rafiee Ghani, 61, is now exhibiting a series of sculptures - nearly 40 works - for the first time ever.
Having been in the art scene for 40 years, Rafiee does not believe in the “writers block”, taking up the challenge of working with wood in this new exhibition, which has been well-received by art lovers.
For Arca Samudera, Rafiee brought his sculptures to life with wood choices such as Chengal, African Mahogany, Sentang Wood, Tamarind, Acasia and Merbau. There are also over 20 paintings to accompany this sculpture series.
Many of Rafiee's sculptures have intricate carvings both inside and outside, with visitors able to spend hours inspecting carving details of totem poles and other abstract designs.
Free admission exhibition.
More info here.
Over the years, Adil has merged the traditional Raku technique with a more contemporary finish. 'Life: Magnified' is an overview of his artistic practice. Photo: Bernama
EXHIBITION: 'LIFE: MAGNIFIED' CERAMIC ART
Venue: Zhan Art Space, Petaling Jaya
Date: ends Feb 8
Ceramic art brand RAAQUU, helmed by Adil Abdul Ghani, has partnered with Zhan Art Space to introduce the masses to the magical world of traditional Japanese Raku ceramics, in the Life: Magnified - The Main Show exhibition, currently running at the gallery until Feb 8.
The show features 15 large-scale sculptural ceramic pieces, the brand's accessory line (wearable art), and also ceramic vases, in various shapes and sizes.
The exhibits were created using a Raku firing technique, originating from the ancient Japanese tea ceremony, involving removing red-hot ceramic pieces from the kiln and placing them in a reduction chamber filled with combustible materials like sawdust or paper.
Adil said that the whole process of ideation, down to the actual fabrication, construction and production of these large-scale sculptures, took him and his team six months to meticulously complete.
More info here.
