An artwork titled 'Rumours' (ink and eastern gouache on silk, 2020) by Wong Xiang Yi. Photo: The Back Room KL
EXHIBITION: WONG XIANG YI’S ‘NOMAD’
Venue: The Back Room, Zhongshan Building, Kampung Attap, KL
Date: ends Oct 13
Artist Wong Xiang Yi, who specialises in ink painting, is presenting her works at The Back Room gallery for the first time.
In Nomad, her seventh solo exhibition, Wong is showing 11 new paintings that continue her exploration of the beautiful boy archetype with new developments in style, composition, and figuration from over the past four years.
Already established within the Malaysian art scene for her paintings of beautiful, young male models in languid poses, these new works present a style of figuration that is more “chibi”-like, allowing the artist to place greater emphasis on nuances in her subjects’ expressions and gestures, instead of on their beauty.
In the paintings, the figures are all ageless wanderers who move in clouds of smoke, connected to each other through a secret truce, a mysterious thread of fate with terms that viewers can only guess at. Wong effortlessly combines the fine elegance and elaborate patience of Chinese and Japanese ink painting traditions with the androgynous grace of the “beautiful boy”, the immortal muse of artists and poets since the ancient Greeks.
Free admission. Gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday, noon-6pm.
More info here.
A view of the 'Design Is The Message: The Graphic Art Of Felipe Taborda' exhibition at Dasein Academy of Art, Old Klang Road in KL. Photo: The Star/Shaari Chemat
EXHIBITION: 'DESIGN IS THE MESSAGE: THE GRAPHIC ART OF FELIPE TABORDA'
Venue: d’Gallery, Dasein Academy of Art, Old Klang Road, KL
Date: ends Oct 5
A pop-up exhibition showcasing the diverse works of veteran Brazilian graphic designer Felipe Taborda, hailing from Rio de Janeiro, is currently on display at the Dasein Academy of Art.
As part of his whirlwind South-East Asia tour – stopping in cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur – the exhibition offers a rich survey of Taborda’s impressive career. At 68-years old, this rock and bossa nova enthusiast has made significant contributions to music design, arts posters, commercial commissions, and climate-themed art.
Trained in both Britain and the US, Taborda has cultivated a distinctive Latin American visual language that reflects his unique perspective and cultural heritage. Since founding his own studio in Rio in 1990, he has primarily focused on projects within the cultural, publishing, and recording industries, leaving an indelible mark on the world of graphic design. This exhibition (free admission, walk in) not only celebrates his artistic journey but also invites viewers to explore the intersections of design, culture, and social consciousness that define his work.
Open: weekdays, 8am-6pm, Saturday, 8am-1pm. Sunday closed.
More info here.
'Bikin: The Art Of Making' is artist-educator Suzy Sulaiman's open studio exhibition at Code Gallery, MMU’s Faculty of Creative Multimedia. Photo: Handout
OPEN STUDIO: 'BIKIN: THE ART OF MAKING'
Venue: Code Gallery, Faculty of Creative Multimedia, Multimedia University (MMU), Cyberjaya
Date: ends Oct 7
Bikin: The Art Of Making is artist-educator Suzy Sulaiman's open studio exhibition at Code Gallery, MMU’s Faculty of Creative Multimedia. It explores her artistic practice, primarily large-scale public art installations, a growing genre in Malaysia. These works often involve a collective of creative talents, forming a transient art atelier where skills are exchanged, and ideas of authorship and control are shared.
As the studio base for her upcoming Kreatif KL installation, the exhibition allows visitors to experience the art-making process firsthand. It also features previous commissions, works from her residency in the Philippines, and a new interactive sound art piece, celebrating the collaborative spirit of "doing-it-with-others" (DIWO).
The exhibition highlights the contributions of artists like Haziq Jasreen, Rufiyan Ramli, Ang Yan Kai, Farahhani Azwa, Khor Kok Yao, Nur Shafiqah Nisha bt. Azad, Muhammad Haritshah Rahmat, Abby Natasha Mustaffa, Krishnapriyah Verayah, Sarah Tasnim Azli, Saood Khan, Muhammad Nabil, Mohamad Amirul Haqim Rahmat, Tang Kit Lee, Haris Zaid and Anis Haron.
More info here.
Sarawak-based artist Sonia Luhong Wan (left) and Catriona Maddocks at IOTA24 in Perth, Australian earlier this month. Photo: Handout
TALK: 'ART, ALAM AND ADAT'
Venue: Boombong, Level 9, The Toffee, Jalan Hang Lekiu, KL
Date: Sept 28
As part of the Indian Ocean Triennial Australia (IOTA) 2024 Kuala Lumpur companion show, hosted by Cult Gallery, Sarawak-based artists Catriona Maddocks and Sonia Luhong Wan are presenting a talk on “Art, Alam, And Adat: Creative Bornean Responses To Traditional Practices And Contemporary Realities”.
Originally presented at the IOTA Conference in Perth earlier this month, Maddocks and Luhong will discuss Borneo’s rich visual vocabulary and craft legacy, which have been passed down through generations of indigenous cultural practitioners. The intricate relationship between the natural environment (alam) and native customary practices (adat) is deeply intertwined with Borneo's tangible and intangible heritage, as well as its land management practices.
Responding to these changing realities, in recent years a vibrant contemporary art scene has emerged in Borneo's urban centres. Artists and cultural practitioners are utilising traditional craft and indigenous visual language, shaped by the concepts of adat and alam, to express their identities and respond to the world around them. Contemporary art practices have become a way to "bear witness" to these environmental and social shifts, and celebrate and remember Borneo's rich cultural heritage.
Free admission event.
More info here.
A close-up of 'Traditional Nyonya Kuih' by Alex Liong, showcasing vibrant desserts from the Nyonya kitchen. Photo: Harta Space
EXHIBITION: 'RASA SAYANG MALAYSIA'
Venue: Harta Space, Ampang, Selangor
Date: ends Oct 6
The group exhibition Rasa Sayang Malaysia brings together eight artists who share a background in art education, including lecturers, former lecturers, educators, and visual arts trainers like Dr Zakaria Ali, Felicia Loh, Assoc. Prof Dr Hanif Khairi, Abby Zain, Ellie Ng, Jaja Yusof, Alex Liong, and Zarina Abdullah.
Featuring 40 works, from textured and figurative paintings to sculptures, the exhibition captures the essence of life in Malaysia. It explores the country's ecological beauty, rich heritage, traditional crafts, and the deep familial and cultural bonds that define Malaysian identity.
Curated by artist-writer Faizal Sidek, Rasa Sayang Malaysia not only celebrates the nation's diversity but also highlights the unique harmony that unites us as Malaysians, inspiring visitors to cherish and preserve the vibrant cultural tapestry that makes Malaysia truly exceptional.
Admission is free.
More info here.
ASIA POP CULTURE CONVENTION
Venue: Pavilion Exhibition Centre, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Sept 28 and 29
Get ready for a weekend packed with cosplay, interactive exhibitions, and panels at Asia Pop Con 2024 at Pavilion Bukit Jalil. This exciting celebration of pop culture will bring together fans of anime, comics, gaming, and more.
The event will feature popular creators like Alan Quah, Michael Chuah, Sulaiman Yassin, Sathiya Ravi, Amin Idris, and Earnest Ng, with artists Mufizal and Soefara Jafney sharing insights in their respective panels.
Fans can look forward to exclusive comic book releases, rare collectibles, and signings from both international and local creators. The gaming zone will offer hands-on experiences with the latest titles, e-sports tournaments, and VR adventures. Cosplayers can showcase their creativity in competitions inspired by beloved anime and gaming characters.
The highlight of the convention is Canadian-American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer David Hayter, best known as the English voice of Solid Snake and Naked Snake in the Metal Gear video game series.
More info here.
Umibaizurah Mahir Ismail's 'Rekah' exhibition at Sareng Gallery in KL presents a series of clay-based works that explore the natural environment, both in theme and in material. Photo: The Star/Ong Soon Hin
EXHIBITION: UMIBAIZURAH MAHIR ISMAIL'S 'REKAH'
Venue: Sareng Gallery, Menara Chan, Jalan Ampang, KL
Date: ends Oct 12
Globe-trotting multidisciplinary artist Umibaizurah Mahir Ismail, known as Umi, is finally new works in Kuala Lumpur.
Her sixth solo exhibition, Rekah - her first in Malaysia since 2016 - is currently showing at Sareng Gallery.
The show takes its name from the Malay word for "crack", which is exemplified in the clay-based paintings and ceramic sculptures that engage with the natural environment, both thematically and materially.
The works centre around Umi's concern with the ecological cost of urban expansion, driven by developmental desire and extractivist exploitation seen from her studio in Puncak Alam, while the raw materials used in her pieces come from locally sourced clay, soil, sand and stone.
"My works are born from an intensive study of wild clay material, focusing on the granules and texture of the soil at a detailed level. This attention to micro details captures the essence of the material's character, highlighting the inherent beauty of the natural world and providing a poignant reminder of our intimate and often-overlooked connection with the earth,” says Umi.
More info here.
