At GMBB, Gallery Gerimis offers a glimpse into indigenous culture with an array of Orang Asli community projects and exhibitions. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon
After five years of building a community and navigating the challenges of a global pandemic, the GMBB creative arts mall in the heart of Kuala Lumpur has finally celebrated its official launch.
The mall launched recently with the theme “A Seed Dreams of a Forest”, a fitting metaphor for its journey.
Initially, GMBB, located in Jalan Robertson in Bukit Bintang, started with just two filled floors, but it has since flourished into a vibrant hub with over 100 diverse tenants spread across nine floors.
These tenants represent a contemporary survey of creative arts entrepreneurs, including artists, theatre practitioners, craft artisans, booksellers, and more, collectively contributing to the cultural and artistic fabric of the city.
Shana Lim (right), an artist with Down Syndrome, is seen working on a painting in her studio ShanaLim Contemporary Art on Level 3 at GMBB. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon
“The pandemic really took the wind out of our sails, but we are glad that things have tapered off since then, and we have managed to build what we envisioned in 2018, slowly but surely,” said Lim Ying Hui, general manager of GMBB.
What’s in GMBB?
Among the notable names that have made GMBB their creative home are Five Arts Centre, a dynamic 40-year old collective of Malaysian artists, activists, and producers renowned for their experimental and impactful performances in theatre, dance, music, experimental arts and beyond.
Recent sold-out sessions at Five Arts Centre for Gan Siong King and Singapore-based artist Ho Rui An’s experimental video and archive-based practices respectively have shown that GMBB is beginning to attract a niche following. These events also prove that weeknights at the mall can draw a crowd.
A view of the Media Art Gallery at GMBB, which is set highlight digital art talents and shows organised by new media collective Filamen. Photo: Filamen
For city dwellers, The Lain Lain Project – an exhibition launched earlier this year at GMBB by Kuching-based arts and culture collective Borneo Laboratory – looks into ancestral wisdom and heritage rooted in Borneo’s craft traditions, indigenous communities, and beyond. It is showing at GMBB until Oct 20.
Gerimis Art Project’s new permanent exhibition, Crafts & Care, launched at GMBB this June, explores the cosmological life of the Orang Asli through their crafts. This exhibition, created in collaboration with the Semai, Mah Meri, Temuan, Temiar, and Batek communities, offers a window into their daily lives and traditional practices.
At its newly opened studio at GMBB, contemporary gamelan group Gangsapura offers gamelan showcases and classes to introduce the public to traditional instruments. Photo: The Star/Shaari Chemat
“Being the ‘new kids on the block’ in the culture and arts industry, we had to reach out to a lot of arts practitioners in the beginning which was not easy.
"But as our network began to grow, and we connected with different types of artists, we can see that there is a shared philosophy among them, which is to showcase art by young creatives and bring them closer to Malaysians and the general public,” said Lim.
Finding a right balance
Each floor at GMBB features a curated mix of tenants tailored to pique the interests of art lovers, theatre enthusiasts, avid readers, and craft aficionados alike.
From “art candy” pop-up galleries and performance spaces to bookstores and artisan shops, there’s something for everyone.
Board game enthusiasts can paint their own figurines and then enjoy a gaming session at the Smiling Monsters Studio. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon
The GMBB also space thrives on the art of storytelling, brought to life through a variety of mediums.
Digital art collective Filamen has launched What Tigers Dream Of, When the Kancil Roars? - a Merdeka-themed new media exhibition at the Media Art Gallery in GMBB. Running until Sept 21, it reimagines historical and mythological folktales through the eyes of emerging multimedia artists Roger Ng Wei Lun and Aw Boon Xin.
Fusion Wayang Kulit, another key tenant, is led by an award-winning team focused on revitalising traditional shadow puppetry and storytelling by infusing it with pop culture elements. Gangsapura serves as a contemporary Malay gamelan centre, dedicated to preserving and evolving the art of traditional music.
The Museum of Picture Book Art, a favourite stop for families and young readers, showcases an array of children’s literary works, where 80% of the selections are local picture books.
Last month, Singapore-based artist Ho Rui An delivered a new lecture performance with generative AI at Five Arts Centre. Photo: Five Arts Centre
Additionally, GMBB hosts several independent studios run by artists on the autism spectrum, adding to the diverse and inclusive creative community within the mall.
GMBB is also actively partnering with local institutions like the National Art Gallery, supporting artists involved in the Young Arts Entrepreneurs and Young Contemporaries programmes.
“There are plenty of unique exhibitions and art studio events to explore at GMBB,” said Lim.
“With organic, ever-changing installations and exhibitions, each visit promises something new to discover.”
The mall is home to bookstores such as Books And Bobs and Booku, along with reading corners designed for both adults and children. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon
GMBB has announced a line-up of exciting events ahead for visitors.
Art lovers and bookworms can look forward to the Kuala Lumpur Literature & Art Fair from Aug 22 to Sept 16. The Fatal Attraction's exhibition tour by nature photographer Chien C. Lee takes place on Aug 31.
GMBB’s Malaysia Day campaign, “Rasa Sayang”, will run from Sept 14-16, followed by Telur Pecah 4.0, an annual art exhibition series from Oct 10 to Nov 22.
Finally, Immersio 2024, a digital art exhibition, will take place from Nov 22 to Dec 22.
