One of the regular events at Lorong Seni, Taman Malawati is an open mic night organised by the performing arts collective Jalan Dalam, which will also be taking part in 'Rahmat Bahgia 2024' this weekend. Photo: Handout
STREET FESTIVAL: 'RAHMAT BAHGIA 2024'
Venue: Jalan Negara, Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Oct 25-27
Some neighbourhoods are livelier than others. A side lane in Taman Melawati is set to come alive this weekend with "Rahmat Bahgia 2024," a community arts festival celebrating nostalgia, childhood memories and curious household relics that resonate with Malaysians.
Backed by the local art gallery community, poets, singer-songwriters, coffee cafe staff, and sketch artists, this event is set to put Taman Malawati on the map for all things arty and cool.
In the alley between the Manggis and Weststar buildings, visitors will also find three life-sized replicas of cherished objects: the Bedak Nyonya Samfong, a Luna Colour Pencil set, and Minyak Angin Cap Kapak, inviting engagement and nostalgia.
The weekend will be packed with more activities ahead, following the recent street keroncong party and joget lambak dance that kicked off the official launch of the alley as "Lorong Seni: Jalan Negara Kita."
Attendees can also enjoy kompang performances, a poetry showcase curated by poetry collective Jalan Dalam, live sketching by KL Sketch Nation and storytelling sessions with the Human Library of Melawati, featuring residents who have lived in the area for over 30 years.
Supported by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), the newly built roof over Lorong Seni will serve as a creative hub for local artists, performers, and community members to showcase their talents.
Admission is free to "Rahmat Bahgia 2024", with day-long activities starting at 9am (Saturday) and 8am (Sunday).
More info here.
EXHIBITION: 'fffluid apparatus: AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE HUMAN, THE NATURAL AND THE MACHINE'
Venue: Rumah Tangsi, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Oct 26 to Nov 3
It may sound like a mouthful, but fffluid apparatus: At The Intersection Of The Human, The Natural, And The Machine stands out as one of the most intriguing shows from this year-end exhibition season.
Opening this Saturday at Rumah Tangsi, the group exhibition – part of the Asean-Korea Partnership Project for Innovative Culture (PIC) – brings together artists and collaborative projects from Korea and South-East Asia. The showcase explores diverse forms of intelligence and their intersections as we navigate present crises and future possibilities.
The line-up includes Ayoung Kim, Aw Boon Xin and Koh Kai Ting, Bagus Pandega, Candasuara and KAE, Chong Yan Chuah, Jinjoon Lee, Kamal Sabran, Lim Kok Yoong, Nawin Nuthong, Rosemainy Buang, Vacharanont Sinvaravatn, and Zai Tang.
With many participating artists in town for the opening weekend, visitors can enjoy a guided walkthrough of the show this Saturday evening at 5pm, followed by a special improv sound art performance by Kamal Sabran at 6.30pm.
On Sunday at 11am, Aw Boon Xin and Koh Kai Ting will be conducting an AR workshop (registration required) involving works from their Zoomorphism project.
Hosted by Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, fffluid apparatus is organised by KOFICE in collaboration with IndoArtNow, RogueArt, Filamen, and Multimedia University's Faculty of Creative Multimedia.
Free admission exhibition.
More info here.
A visitor walks past Azim Rodi's artworks 'MATCH BOX or MATCH BOX' (top) and 'Tank' (bottom) at the Galeri Puteh booth at CIMB Artober 2024 art fair. Photo: The Star/M. Irsyad
ART FAIR: CIMB ARTOBER, ART AND SOUL 2024
Venue: Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends Oct 27
The annual art fair, now in its third edition, returns this weekend to spotlight Malaysia’s creative scene with exhibitions, fashion shows, art talks, and classical music.
The MITEC gallery floor features a diverse collection of Malaysian and international art, perfect for new and seasoned collectors to explore the latest trends. Open to the public, attendees can enjoy captivating works by over 100 artists from 20 local galleries, with free entry on both days.
The participating booths – with a mixture of established and emerging art galleries – include, Galeri Puteh, G13 Gallery, Sareng, Taksu, Core Design Gallery, Artas Gallery, Segaris Art Centre, and Cult Gallery.
Highlights also include engaging panel discussions with Malaysian artists and special performances by the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
Free admission event.
More info here.
Artist/author Afi Sulaiman is one of the participants at the Art Bazaar 2024 event at the Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery. Photo: The Star/Filepic
ART BAZAAR: 'RAI RIANG RIA'
Venue: Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery lobby, ground floor, Sasana Kijang, KL
Date: ends Nov 3
The BNM Museum and Art Gallery (BNM MAG) is hosting Art Bazaar 2024, a lively celebration of local art and community spirit. Running through Nov 3, the daily event showcases the creativity of Malaysia's emerging talent.
This year’s theme, Rai Riang Ria (Celebrating Happiness), embodies the festive energy of the bazaar, filled with colourful artworks and captivating illustrations.
Art enthusiasts and casual visitors alike can explore a rich variety of unique pieces and creative products. With over 18 emerging local artists, the bazaar invites visitors to shop, connect with creators, and dive into the stories behind their work.
The illustrators and artists in the bazaar's line-up include Afi Sulaiman, Ahmad Hakym, Ahmar Annur, Artdumple, Azyandraws, Farah Ashira, Fitriah Roslan, Jacky Chow, Messyvoices, Nur Syafiq, Nurul Anati, Risfeena, Secondfloorneko, Shahnaz Azlin, Tim Darwish, Tun ‘Alia Nadhirah, and Wan Hairuddin.
Free entry event.
More info here.
A general view of Ilham Gallery’s new exhibition, 'Boom Boom Bang: Play & Parody In 1990s KL'. Photo: The Star/Shaari Chemat
EXHIBITION: 'BOOM BOOM BANG: PLAY & PARODY IN 1990s KL'
Venue: Ilham Gallery, Ilham Tower, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends March 9
Ilham Gallery’s new exhibition, Boom Boom Bang: Play & Parody In 1990s KL, serves as a time capsule of this restless decade where art, theatre, comedy, protest, and punk converged in a creative outburst.
The exhibition features works from Ismail Zain, Ahmad Fuad Osman, Wong Hoy Cheong, Bayu Utomo Radjikin, Azizan Paiman, Five Arts Centre, Instant Cafe Theatre, Yee I-Lann, Nur Hanim Khairuddin, Zulkifli Yusoff, Carburetor Dung, Raja Shahriman Raja Aziddin, and others.
This show, featuring an array of mediums, takes visitors back to when cultural and social experimentation thrived, and artists used humour and rebellion to challenge the status quo.
Curated by Ilham Gallery's Rahel Joseph, Simon Soon, Azzad Diah, and Ridhwan Saidi, the exhibition includes monthly public programmes featuring film screenings of three Malaysian films from the early 1990s, each exploring different themes of the era.
This Saturday at 3pm, Ilham Gallery is showing Perempuan, Isteri dan..., the first of the three selected films.
Perempuan, Isteri dan... is a complex portrayal of rural life, exploring an intense relationship between a man and a woman and delving into themes which helped open up the landscape of Malaysian cinema.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with special guests, director U-Wei Haji Saari and leading actress Sofia Jane. Seating is limited and on a first come, first served basis.
Free admission exhibition.
More info here.
An artwork from Cho titled 'Yard Time / Recess' (linocut relief print, 2024). Photo: The Back Room
EXHIBITION: CHO WING KI'S 'A SMALL LITTLE PLACE CALLED HONG KONG'
Venue: The Back Room, Zhongshan building, KL
Date: ends Nov 24
Hong Kong-based painter and printmaker Cho Wing Ki's first exhibition in Malaysia, titled A Small Little Place Called Hong Kong, features eight prints and six paintings celebrating the overlooked elements that sustain the city's spirit.
Cho’s work highlights the quieter, often unnoticed stories of Hong Kong – street vendors, janitors, security guards, and even wandering animals – that form the fabric of daily life in this vibrant metropolis, reminding us that the heart of the city lies in its small, everyday moments.
Cho, an alumna of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, has been showcased in galleries across Hong Kong and South Korea.
She is also a member of Prinhow, a printmaking collective that works with marginalised groups to address social issues.
More info here.
