A gallery view of the 'Culture Shock' pop-up exhibition, now showing at the former CzipLee store in Jalan Telawi, Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Handout
EXHIBITION: 'CULTURE SHOCK' BY CULTPRINT
Venue: 3, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar (Formerly Czip+)
Date: Nov 15 to Jan 12, 2025
Penang-based independent art hub Cultprint has landed in Kuala Lumpur. For a two-month pop-up show! It is running its latest group exhibition, Culture Shock, at the former CzipLee store in Jalan Telawi, Bangsar. Curated by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic, the exhibition showcases a street art-inspired collection of works, with a mixed line-up of local and international artists.
Once you walk through the gallery door, you'll probably recognise a "different" kind of exhibition vibe. Culture Shock brings together a colourful and irreverent cast, with plenty of familiar names from the George Town art scene. Featured artists include Ernest Zacharevic, Sheena Liam, Azmi Hussin, Bibichun, Bono Stellar, Cloakwork, Isaac Cordal, Kenji Chai, Low Chee Peng, Martha Cooper, Sam Lo, Sliz, TAZONE, Teebai, Trina Teoh, and Yok & Sheryo.
The exhibition unfolds across two levels, each offering a distinct experience. The ground floor comes alive with dynamic, playful collaborations that embody Cultprint’s energetic ethos, infusing humour and spontaneity. A pop-up T-shirt booth and also loads of love for graffiti works and Shepard Fairey-inspired prints will give you a hint of the street attitude across Culture Shock.
The upper floor shifts to a more introspective and conceptual realm, offering visitors a chance to engage with thought-provoking and subtle narratives that explore deeper artistic intentions. Amongst the many captivating pieces, Culture Shock features installations by Bono Stellar and Cloakwork – both Kuala Lumpur-based artists with contrasting practices. Cloakwork brings his iconic graffiti tag indoors, juxtaposing his canvas pieces, and Bono Stellar builds her iconic multidimensional visuals on mirrors.
Works like TAZONE’s Writers’ Bench, a throne made from used spray cans, and renowned Spanish artist Isaac Cordal’s Follow The Leaders, a cement block with his signature figurines, are sure to be conversation starters. With over 50 unique artworks from 16 different artists, the exhibition showcases an exciting variety of mediums, such as sculptures, lithographs, photographic works, as well as unique and hand-finished variants.
Free admission exhibition. Open: 11am-6pm (Wednesday to Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday)
More info here.
An installation view of Adam Phong's 'One Of Our Fossils' exhibition at A+ Works of Art in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: The Star/Yap Chee Hong
EXHIBITION: ADAM PHONG'S 'ONE OF OUR FOSSILS'
Venue: A+ Works of Art, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Nov 15 to Dec 14
If you've ever wondered whether an art gallery could channel the ambitions of a National History Museum, this exhibition might just be the one to explore.
A+ Works of Art is presenting One of Our Fossils, a solo exhibition by Adam Phong, curated by Bob Edrian in collaboration with Aesop. This thought-provoking exhibition draws inspiration from a scientific paper suggesting that humanity's most enduring remnants will be plastic, nuclear waste, and chicken bones. Through this lens, Phong delves into the legacy we leave behind, using chicken bones as potent symbols of our relentless pursuit of speed and cost-efficiency.
One of Our Fossils invites viewers to imagine how future civilisations might interpret these fragments of our existence. Phong reimagines chicken bones not merely as disposable relics of consumption but as artefacts imbued with narratives, myths, and stories shaped by the choices we make today. This exhibition challenges us to confront the intersections of culture, environment, and history, urging a deeper reflection on how the mundane could one day become the monumental.
Free admission exhibition.
More info here.
Liew's 'Side By Side' exhibition at Harta Space presents over 30 paintings, including triptychs, showcasing previously unseen works from various stages of his artistic journey. Photo: The Back Room KL
EXHIBITION: LIEW KWAI FEI'S 'SIDE BY SIDE'
Venue: Harta Space, Ampang, Selangor
Date: ends Nov 17
Last call to check out this bumper show featuring Liew Kwai Fei's art through the years. In collaboration with The Backroom KL, this solo exhibition at Harta Space presents over 30 paintings, including triptychs, showcasing previously unseen works from various stages of Liew’s artistic journey. The paintings are displayed "side by side" in a non-chronological arrangement, inviting viewers to explore a deeper, more expansive understanding of painting traditions.
Originally from Kuantan, Pahang, Liew, 45, is recognised as one of Malaysia’s most prolific contemporary painters. Since 2018, he has primarily focused on "abstract" work, though his pieces often resist simple categorisation. Side by Side features selections from his series The Art Of Painting 2.0 (2017–2019) and Gesture. Abstraction. Painting Versions 1.0 and 2.0 (2019–2024).
The numbered titles hint at the challenge of capturing Liew's work in words, making the best approach one of direct, open-minded engagement.
For art lovers and the curious, the KL-based artist will offer insights into his work during a tour at Harta Space on Saturday (Nov 16) at 3pm.
Free admission exhibition.
More info here.
The 'Tropicality' pop-up exhibition at Tintabudi in KL offers a look into Andra Matin’s innovative house designs, emphasising his commitment to creating responsive architecture. Photo: Tintabudi
BOOK EVENT: 'TROPICALITY: HOUSES BY ANDRA MATIN'
Venue: Tintabudi, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Nov 15-17
Fans of modern architecture will undoubtedly be familiar with the works of celebrated Indonesian architect Andra Matin.
Known for incorporating an eco-conscious approach into his designs, Matin has collected 16 of his best residential projects into his first English-language monograph, Tropicality: Houses By Andra Matin, which explores 'tropicality' in architecture as not merely a response to climate or topography, but also taking into consideration the identity of a place. Jakarta-based architecture firm BYO Living, in collaboration with Studio Andramatin, is hosting a book launch and pop-up exhibition at Tintabudi bookshop in KL this weekend.
The event features five “maquettes”, or small preliminary models, of selected works from the book, as well as weaving panels made by BYO Living. The book, published by Thames and Hudson, will also be available for purchase.
More info here.
Jamie Solomon will be at Sunda Shelves this Sunday at 4pm for a book discussion. Photo: Handout
BOOK EVENT: JAMIE SOLOMON'S 'WHEN OUR LIVES INTERSECT: CELEBRATING TEN YEARS IN FRASER'S HILL'
Venue: Sunda Shelves, Petaling Jaya
Date: Nov 17, 4pm
Nature lovers have likely been to or heard of Fraser’s Hill, Pahang’s highland paradise. Inspired by the beauty and peace she encountered there, Jamie Solomon has published a nature journal filled with personal sketches, photos, poems, and anecdotes covering 10 years’ worth of memories of family trips to the colonial hill station.
“When Our Lives Intersect: Celebrating Ten Years In Fraser’s Hill is a project that is very close to my heart,” says Solomon about the book.
“The book explores not just a physical journey, but an inward one as well. As I traversed the trails and immersed myself in the natural splendour of Fraser’s Hill, I encountered both the awe-inspiring wonders of nature and the stark realities of the environmental challenges we face. Through this narrative, I hope to inspire readers to appreciate the delicate balance of our natural world and recognise the urgent need to protect it,” she adds.
On Nov 17 at 4pm, you can catch Solomon in person at Sunda Shelves in Petaling Jaya, where she’ll be sharing how the practice of nature journalling helped her connect with the world around her and capture moments and details that may have otherwise been forgotten. Pre-registration is required.
More info here.
BOOK EVENT: WVC JAZZ x MURAKAMI
Venue: Lit Books, Petaling Jaya
Date: Nov 20, 8pm
Imagine the cozy charm of a bookshop infused with the vibes of jazz - a setting that feels as if it’s been pulled straight from the pages of a Haruki Murakami novel. Now, you can realise that experience with a special mid-week event celebrating the English-language release of Murakami’s latest book, The City And Its Uncertain Walls at Lit Books.
The WVC Jazz Ensemble - featuring Tay Cher Siang (piano and bandleader), AJ (bass), and Adriel Wong (drums) - returns for another jazz evening at the bookshop. The trio, known for their adventurous jazz leanings, will bring Murakami’s literary universe to life through a curated playlist. Expect jazz standards like The Star-Crossed Lovers and Danny Boy, both featured in Murakami’s works, alongside original WVC compositions inspired by the Japanese writer.
Tickets are RM70. Do hurry, they are going real quick.
More info here.
