'People Flow' (oil on canvas, 2017) by Gan Chin Lee illustrates how Malaysians are connected through the places they visit. Photo: Harta Space
Get ready for a patriotic weekend in the Klang Valley as Malaysia's 67th Merdeka celebrations look set to paint the town in vibrant red, white, blue, and yellow.
Art spaces and creative communities will mark the occasion with exhibitions, workshops, and sketch activities showcasing the nation's cultural diversity. The festivities will continue beyond Aug 31, leading up to Malaysia Day on September 16, another key moment in our history.
Here is a list of art events you can check out over the Merdeka weekend:
Drawing from the collection of lawyer and art collector Pakharudin Sulaiman, the Pesan Dan Kenangan exhibition, curated by Yap Sau Bin, explores memories and advice. Twenty-two artists present their visions of the Merdeka ideal, reflecting on nationhood and their role through various artworks.
The (free admission) exhibition also honours the late artist Roslisham Ismail, known as Ise, who valued the social connections crucial to his art.
Featuring works from the late 1990s onward, the exhibition embraces Ise's idea of "Super Friends," recognising the importance of artistic and cultural figures in improving society.
The exhibition line-up also includes Gan Chin Lee, Wong Hoy Cheong, Redza Piyadasa, Bayu Utomo Radjikin, Nor Azizan Paiman, Nadiah Bamadhaj, Ismail Hashim, Umibaizurah Mahir and others.
More info here.
Make art and new friends at the KL Urban Sketchers community Merdeka event on Aug 31, featuring art, storytelling, and new connections. Photo: KL Urban Sketchers
This Merdeka Day, dive into Kuala Lumpur’s rich history with an urban sketching adventure.
This four-hour event, organised by KL Urban Sketchers, invites you to a free community gathering (registration required) where art, storytelling, and new connections await.
The fun starts early in the morning. Bring your own sketching tools and join the KL Urban Sketchers on a walking trail that promises to blend creativity with camaraderie, offering an enriching experience of both artistic expression and shared discovery. Start your journey at Merdeka Square and the iconic Sultan Abdul Samad Building, then sketch your way through the Museum Textile, KL City Gallery, Masjid Jamek, and Pasar Seni.
More info here.
Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery is showcasing 'Batik: A Glimpse Into The Lines,' an exhibition highlighting the cultural richness of batik painting. Photo: The Star/Chan Tak Kong
Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery (BNM MAG), one of KL's major art spaces, is showing Batik: A Glimpse Into The Lines (Batik: Melirik Larik), an exhibition showcasing the cultural richness of batik painting. As a show to tap into the Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day season, the exhibit features 81 batik paintings from BNM’s collection, some dating back to the 1960s.
While batik is traditionally viewed as a textile art, this exhibition reimagines it as fine art, capturing Malaysian life and culture. The exhibit highlights the works of renowned artists like Chuah Thean Teng, Khalil Ibrahim, Lee Kian Seng, Fatimah Chik, Zaleha Zainuddin and Tay Mo Leong, and is divided into four thematic sections that range from narrative to abstract expressions.
Batik: A Glimpse Into The Lines not only highlights the artistic prowess of Malaysia's batik artists but also serves as a reminder of the cultural and historical significance of batik in the Malaysian narrative.
Free admission exhibition.
More info here.
In Kuala Lumpur, RHB’s 'Art With Heart' series is back for its sixth edition, featuring 89 artists. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon
Merdeka belongs to everyone, and this exhibition drives that national ideal home. Don’t miss this must-see in KL: RHB’s "Art With Heart" series returns for its sixth edition with the theme, "Seni Setulus Hati" (Art from the Heart). Since 2016, this exhibition has championed over 180 emerging local artists, all in the name of inclusion.
This year's exhibition showcases 89 artists and over 200 works in a vibrant mix of styles, offering a unique platform that unites the talents of emerging Malaysian artists, neurodivergent individuals, and persons with disabilities.
“A particularly poignant element of this exhibition is the inclusion of 18 differently-abled artists (persons with disabilities). Their works not only showcase their immense talent, but also their indomitable spirit. We are honoured to feature the exquisite creations of deaf artists such as Candice Singha Wong, Lim Anuar, and Zulaiha Zulkapli," says curator Sarah Abu Bakar.
“Additionally, the remarkable contributions of Nur Fariza, who bravely overcomes the challenges posed by mucopolysaccharidosis type IV, a rare genetic condition, as a testament to the transformative power of art, inspiring us all,” she adds.
More info here.
A close-up of Sakinah Junid's block print 'Wanita Tetap Berarak' shows activists marching for women's rights. Photo: Temu House
Wanita Merdeka, an exhibition led by artist Yati Kaprawi in collaboration with Dr Rusaslina Idrus from the "Sejarah Wanita" project, explores the history of women who fought for Malaysian independence.
Through block print works, Yati highlights figures like Khadijah Sidek, P.G. Lim, and Sybil Kathigasu, all champions of social justice.
The exhibition (free admission) reflects on the political and socioeconomic struggles women faced and their acts of resistance and revolution. Visitors can also participate in a free block printing workshop on Aug 31 at 1pm.
More info here.
Attendees creating art with nature-based materials at a Rojak Project workshop last year. Photo: Rojak Projek
For a community art experience, join the art jamming sessions this Merdeka Day at this scenic and green Subang Jaya lakeside area. It is organised by Subang-based PARC and The Rojak Projek.
Led by artist Faye Lim, known for her work bridging Malaysian communities through art and food, these sessions let you create with watercolours and natural materials like leaves and flowers, and take home your unique piece.
Also, explore the "We Are Malaysians Too" exhibition, celebrating Malaysia's rich biodiversity and promoting a deeper appreciation for its flora and fauna.
More info here.
Visitors can admire the intricate details in these nostalgia-filled miniatures of world Malaysia. Photo: Handout
Step into a miniature world of Malaysia at this diorama exhibition in The Gardens Mall, where local artists Eric Siow of MiniARTure Concepts, Lim Pui Wan of PicoWorm, and MinNature Malaysia bring the country’s rich, everyday life into focus.
Here is where you can stop and explore scenes like a bustling Lok Lok stall, complete with colour-coded skewers and an overflowing chilli sauce jar. Beyond tiny delicacies and street food, don't miss the chance to wander through nostalgic settings like the ‘Ban Fong Provision Shop,’ with its biscuit tins and vintage gashapon machines, and ‘The Old Place,’ a charming barbershop adorned with mosaic tiles, a horse-racing calendar, and tiny Master Q comics for customers.
On the Insta-worthy scale, this exhibition scores pretty high
More info here.
