Sarawak-born sape player Anderson Kalang will play at Irama Asli & Asal 2024 event in Publika, KL on Nov 23 (4pm) and Nov 24 (8pm). Photo: Handout
CULTURE EVENT: IRAMA ASLI & ASAL 2024
Venue: The Square, Publika, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Nov 22-24
A three-day cultural showcase celebrating Orang Asli and Orang Asal heritage is currently taking place at The Square, Publika. The inaugural Irama Asli & Asal 2024, organised by Yayasan Kesenian Orang Asli & Asal (YKOA), aims to highlight the diversity of the Orang Asli, the indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia known for their forest traditions, and the Orang Asal of Sabah and Sarawak, renowned for their ceremonial dances, crafts and music.
The daily programme - under tents - includes a community bazaar, open daily from 11am to 9pm. Visitors can indulge in a variety of culinary delights, immerse themselves in interactive experiences, and witness live craft demonstrations.
Don't miss the line-up of traditional performances. From Sarawak, the Melanau and Bamboo Dances showcase promises breathtaking agility and rhythm, while the Sumazau Dance of Sabah offers a graceful celebration of the harvest (festival). Peninsular Malaysia’s Senoi-Semai performances will celebrate the Orang Asli’s deep connection to nature.
Vendors participating include Gerai OA, Bundusan Books, Leny Maknoh Jewellery, Lun Bawang Arts and Crafts, Persatuan Wanita Orang Ulu Miri, Borneo Touch, Carol Beading, Halimah Legacy, Negrito Bateq, Itrah Craft and more.
On main stage, Sarawakian sape virtuoso Anderson Kalang will also take the spotlight, blending the soulful melodies of ethnic Bornean music with dance beats. For lively audience participation, the Joget, Poco-Poco, and the Datun Julud dance sessions, invites everyone to join in the spirit of unity and celebration.
Funds raised from the Irama Asli & Asal 2024 event will support YKOA’s medical outreach programmes for indigenous communities.
More info here.
FESTIVAL: 'CANTO YAY: WORLD OF SMOOTH'
Venue: Zhongshan building, Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends Nov 23
The Canto Yay Festival returns for its second edition, bigger and better! Canto Yay: World Of Smooth is running at the Zhongshan building, Kampung Attap until Nov 23, celebrating the fusion of Cantonese culture and artistic creativity with a vibrant three-day programme.
Building on last year’s success, the festival dives into the rich heritage of Cantonese culture, connecting Hong Kong and Malaysia through talks, workshops, performances, film screenings, and a bustling outdoor market.
The highlight? Free live performances by Hong Kong icons 24HERBS and rapper MC Yan (of LMF fame), alongside The Low Mays and a line-up of local indie acts, lighting up the outdoor stage at the Zhongshan building car park.
More info here.
An intricate artwork from Chang Yoong Chia's latest solo exhibition, 'Thinking Like A Mountain', which opens at Cult Gallery in KL tomorrow. Photo: Cult Gallery
EXHIBITION: CHANG YOONG CHIA'S 'THINKING LIKE A MOUNTAIN'
Venue: Cult Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Nov 23 to Jan 19, 2025
Step into the enchanting artistic world of Chang Yoong Chia with his long-awaited solo exhibition, Thinking Like A Mountain, which opens at Cult Gallery in KL tomorrow. The launch, which starts a 7pm, will also feature a poetry reading session from Natasha Aziz and Puteri Nur.
This deeply personal series began when Chang relocated to Tangkak, Johor, where daily glimpses of Gunung Ledang - shifting shapes and moods with the light - sparked his imagination and curiosity. Drawing inspiration from his visits to the mountain and extensive research, Chang weaves together a rich tapestry of influences.
He delves into no fewer than four versions of Sejarah Melayu recounting the Princess of Ledang Mountain, explores Alfred Wallace's The Malay Archipelago and his theories of natural selection, and reflects on the mountain’s symbolic ties to South-East Asia’s mythology, nature, and humanity. The result is a mesmerising mosaic of ideas, blending legends, ecological themes, and comic-like narratives into a series of artworks that explore the dynamic relationship between female icons, mountains, and human interaction with nature.
This exhibition invites viewers to traverse the boundaries of history, myth, and artistic imagination, uncovering layers of meaning at every turn.
More info here.
BOOK EVENT: 'YEONNAM-DONG'S SMILEY LAUNDROMAT' TOUR
Venue: Various bookshops in the Klang Valley
Date: Nov 24 and 25
Fans of Korean literature in the Klang Valley are in for a treat! Kim Ji-yun, author of the global bestseller Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat, will be touring major bookstores in KL and Selangor this Sunday and Monday. Joining her is Singapore-based translator Shanna Tan, offering an opportunity for local readers to dive into the world of “cosy books” and explore how stories can build a sense of comfort and community.
Kim’s Yeonnam-dong's Smiley Laundromat explores the value of human connection in an increasingly fast-paced, virtual world. Set in a gentrifying Seoul district, the laundromat serves as a peaceful refuge where residents' extraordinary stories unfold. When a mysterious notebook is left behind, customers begin sharing heartfelt diary entries, sparking acts of kindness among strangers. However, a darker mystery surrounding the notebook soon unites the laundromat regulars in a quest to uncover the truth and restore harmony.
Kim's whirlwind book tour schedule: Nov 24: Books Kinokuniya, Suria KLCC (noon-1pm); MPH, The Exchange TRX (3pm-4pm); Popular Sunway Pyramid (Selangor) (6pm-7pm). Nov 25: Tsutaya Books, Pavilion Bukit Jalil (11am-noon) and Eslite Spectrum, The Starhill Bukit Bintang (3.30pm-4.30pm).
More info here.
PODCAST RECORDING: 'BBC ARTS HOUR ON TOUR IN KL'
Venue: Playhouse, The Campus, Ampang, Selangor
Date: Nov 26, 7pm
Curious about how an international arts podcast session comes to life? Next week, you’ll have the chance to witness it firsthand in the Klang Valley.
The BBC World Service’s arts and culture show, The Arts Hour On Tour, is making its way to Malaysia next Tuesday. This flagship programme, renowned for spotlighting artistic voices from around the globe, will dive into Malaysia’s diverse contemporary cultural landscape.
Hosted by the globe-trotting Nikki Bedi, BBC's The Arts Hour On Tour live recording at The Playhouse, The Campus Ampang in Selangor promises an engaging evening of live performances and insightful conversations. It is a free admission public event, just register to get a seat.
The live session features indie singer-songwriter and author Takahara Suiko (of The Venopian Solitude fame) and a special Klang Valley appearance by Sabah-based talents Tuni Sundatang and Dabra Sia, blending Borneo's folkloric roots with rock for a vibrant cross-genre performance. Joining them are stand-up comedian Kavin Jay, acclaimed actress Sharifah Amani, and director Ng Ken Kin, who will discuss his dystopian YouTube film Pendatang, set in a racially segregated Malaysia.
Register here to join the Nov 26 live audience at the Playhouse. Doors open at 7.15 pm, show starts at 8pm. Limited seats!
More info here.
A gallery view of Adam Pong'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: ends 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.
A view of Cloakwork's street art series - 'Work Cloak' (left) and ''Party Cloak' - seen at the 'Culture Shock' exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: All Is Amazing
EXHIBITION: 'CULTURE SHOCK' BY CULTPRINT
Venue: 3, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar (Formerly Czip+)
Date: ends Jan 12, 2025
Penang-based independent art hub Cultprint 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 line-up of local and international artists.
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 vibe. 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.
At the gallery, there is no shortage of KL favourites. Cloakwork brings his iconic graffiti tag indoors, juxtaposing his canvas pieces, while Bono Stellar builds her iconic multidimensional visuals on mirrors. Installation 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. There are over 50 artworks from 16 different artists to explore.
Free admission exhibition. Open: 11am-6pm (Wednesday to Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday)
More info here.
