'Mortal Man: Two Monologues' at Five Arts Centre in KL is Leow Puay Tin's latest play, marking her rare return to the stage alongside performer and musician Faiq Syazwan Kuhiri. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon
THEATRE: 'MORTAL MAN: TWO MONOLOGUES'
Venue: Five Arts Centre, GMBB creative mall, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Dec 13-15
“It’s been 20 years – and now I’m older than he was when he shared those stories. They’ve lingered with me, moving and troubling me ever since.”
In her latest play Mortal Man, acclaimed playwright Leow Puay Tin revisits a decades-old conversation about the formative years of a renowned theatre director, weaving memory and creativity into a powerful narrative.
Known for her innovative "tikam-tikam" on-stage method, Leow blends performance with chance and randomness to tell the intertwined stories of two Malaysian theatre practitioners.
The play explores their childhoods, influences, education, and the socio-cultural forces that have shaped their artistic journeys, offering a thoughtful reflection on the relationship between art and its environment.
Making a rare and special return to the stage, Leow herself performs alongside Faiq Syazwan Kuhiri – actor, musician, and member of Five Arts Centre – promising a performance that is as experimental as it is profound.
This production is presented in partnership with The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur.
Additional weekend programming will accompany the theatre show, including a talk by Tokyo-based dramaturg and translator Ken Takiguchi on Dec 14, 2pm, as well as the launch of the Tikam-Tikam book on Dec 14, 3.30pm.
More info here.
The newly-opened 'Oceans That Speak' exhibition at IAMM explores how the Malay Archipelago's role as a maritime trade hub fuelled the spread of Islam, leaving a rich cultural and artistic legacy. Photo: The Star/Raja Faisal Hishan
EXHIBITION: 'OCEANS THAT SPEAK: ISLAM AND THE EMERGENCE OF THE MALAY WORLD'
Venue: Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
Date: end June 15, 2025
Discover the rich history of maritime trade at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) in Kuala Lumpur through a new exhibition spotlighting the Malay world’s central role in connecting East and West.
This exhibition showcases the Malay Archipelago as a vibrant hub of trade and cultural exchange, tracing the spread of Islam and its enduring impact on art and society.
An array of IAMM collection of artefacts, manuscripts, and artworks reveal how Islamic influences travelled from the Indian Subcontinent, China, and the Middle East, shaping a thriving Islamic civilisation led by sultans, scholars, and artists.
Highlights include stories of ports like Melaka, key crossroads for 15th- and 16th-century trade in spices and tin, where Islam arrived with merchants and scholars from Hadhramaut and Gujarat, leaving a profound spiritual and cultural legacy.
More info here.
At the National Textile Museum in KL, the 'Telepuk: The Art Of Gold Leaf' exhibition highlights the craftsmanship and heritage of telepuk textiles, presented through five thoughtfully curated segments. Photo: National Textile Museum
EXHIBITION: 'TELEPUK: THE ART OF GOLD LEAF'
Venue: National Textile Museum, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends Dec 31
It's the last few weeks to catch one of the year’s most eye-catching textile exhibitions in Kuala Lumpur.
Showing at the National Textile Museum’s Gallery Saindera until Dec 31, Telepuk: The Art Of Gold Leaf is a deep dive into the artistry and heritage of telepuk textiles. Divided into five curated segments, the exhibit features an impressive 183 collections, including 49 exquisite examples of telepuk textiles, 130 intricately crafted telepuk stamps, and a selection of manuscripts and publications that provide rich historical context.
The term telepuk itself carries poetic origins. In ancient Malay literature, it referred to the lotus flower, but its meaning evolved over time. Some suggest it describes the floral stamps used in creating the textiles, while others believe it captures the shimmering golden patterns that adorn the fabric, evoking the image of sunlight dancing on lotus petals atop tranquil waters.
This exhibition offers not just a glimpse into a traditional craft but also a window into the cultural and artistic soul of the region.
More info here.
The Big Bad Wolf Sale returns today with a 24-hour, week-long book sale extravaganza at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya. Photo: Handout
BOOK EVENT: BIG BAD WOLF BOOKS SALE
Venue: Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre, Petaling Jaya
Date: Dec 13-19
Get your trolley bags, oversized totes, and suitcases ready – it’s time to haul in a treasure trove of books!
The annual Big Bad Wolf Sale makes a return today, offering readers a book hunt marathon - an epic 24-hour week-long event - at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre.
With its signature discounts and an extensive warehouse selection of titles, this much-anticipated book sale is ready to welcome readers of all ages and genres.
From timeless classics to contemporary bestsellers, prepare for hours of browsing and exploration.
Whether you’re hunting for a rare find or simply looking to stock up on good reads, the Big Bad Wolf Sale ensures you won’t leave empty-handed.
More info here.
A visitor observes the intricate patterns generated by electroencephalography, a device that measures brain activity, in the immersive experience of 'Aethera'. Photo: Filamen
EXHIBITION: 'AETHERA'
Venue: Level 3, GMBB, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends Dec 29
Clear your mind and prepare for a one-of-a-kind experience with Aethera, an installation work that responds to your mental state. Part of the Immersio 2024 showcase, Aethera invites visitors to engage with electroencephalography (EEG) technology, which captures brainwave activity to create dynamic visual art.
The installation is the brainchild of Vasflow, a Kuala Lumpur-based multimedia artist whose journey spans traditional acrylic-on-canvas to interactive digital art. His work explores the interplay between mind and machine, translating intangible mental states into vivid visual narratives.
"Aethera reflects the inner workings of the mind, aiming to raise awareness about mental well-being. By transforming EEG data – captured from brain activity – into visual forms, I invite viewers to look inward, observe their thoughts and emotions, and ultimately learn to let them go," says Vasflow about the exhibit.
In this new media set-up, Vasflow presents the culmination of his residency at the Filamen Media Art Residency. Here, he delves into the fascinating intersection of technology and human consciousness, using EEG devices and real-time data to craft immersive, mind-responsive visual experiences.
Exhibition closed on Mondays.
More info here.
Sunda Shelves is partnering with Hara Makers to host a plastic upcycling workshop on Dec 14. Photo: Handout
WORKSHOP: HARA MAKERS' 'RE-IMAGINING PLASTIC'
Venue: Sunda Shelves, Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya
Date: Dec 14
If you're still on the lookout for Christmas presents, why not make something handmade rather than buying a gift from a shop? Community-based initiative Hara Makers is conducting a plastic upcycling workshop at Sunda Shelves, where participants will learn how to make unique upcycled crafts from single-use plastic snack packs.
There will also be ready-made gifts on sale, made by mothers from the B40 community in Lembah Subang, so you can also shop sustainably and responsibly while supporting local communities.
Participation fee is RM35 per person, which includes workshop materials. Event starts at 4pm.
More info here.
A gallery view of the '18@8: Play' exhibition at Wei-Ling Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, showcasing the diverse works of 16 artists as they explore the multifaceted concept of play. Photo: The Star/Kamarul Ariffin
EXHIBITION: '18@8 PLAY'
Venue: Wei-Ling Gallery, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur
Date: runs till Jan 31, 2025
Pronounced “play-la,” this year-end group exhibition brings together 16 artists to explore the multifaceted world of adult play and its relevance in everyday life. From toy models and puzzles to board games and video games, the showcase invites visitors to rediscover the often-overlooked art of play.
Featuring artists across generations – including Anas Afandi, Anisa Abdullah, Anwar, Chen Wei Meng, Cheng Yen Pheng, Cheong Kiet Cheng, Chin Kong Yee, Choy Chun Wei, H.H. Lim, Hamidi Hadi, Ivan Lam, Khabir Roslan, Norma Abbas, Sean Lean, Wong Chee Meng, and Yau Bee Ling – the collection reflects childhood joys through the lens of Malaysian culture.
As visitors wander through the maze-like Wei-Ling Gallery, they’ll encounter a mix of paintings, sculptures, installations, videos, and even augmented reality-enhanced pieces, charting the evolution of games and the digital transformation of play.
The exhibition will also feature artist sharing sessions, where creators recount their childhood memories and explore how play continues to influence their lives and artistic practices.
This is a by-appointment-only exhibition, so be sure to book your visit in advance.
More info here.
Kueh's 'Kenyalang Circus' is the ninth installment in the spotlight 'Single' exhibition series at the National Art Gallery. Photo: Bernama
EXHIBITION: MARCOS KUEH'S 'KENYALANG CIRCUS'
Venue: National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends March 31, 2025
At the National Art Gallery, Malaysian artist Marcos Kueh, now based in the Netherlands, is showing his celebrated Kenyalang Circus exhibition. This textile art installation series took centre stage as one of the five highlights in the "Platform" programme of ART SG in Singapore earlier this year.
This "homecoming" show is Kueh's biggest to date in Kuala Lumpur. Through his innovative approach, the 29-year old textile artist breathes new life into discarded polyester plastic, transforming it into striking textiles that weave together tradition and sustainability. Kenyalang Circus exhibition combines fluorescent threads with cultural narratives, drawing inspiration from his Sarawakian roots, street advertisements, and multinational brand logos.
“Growing up, I was surrounded by plastics and stories of how they ended up in Malaysia. This project transforms that waste into beauty,” said Kueh at the media preview in Kuala Lumpur.
Recycled plastics, processed into yarns in Europe, are woven into his sustainable textiles. The project began in 2016 as a graphic design collage during his studies and evolved into a textile venture after he learned weaving in the Netherlands. Kueh’s work also explores post-colonial narratives, blending traditional Sarawak weaving with modern storytelling to preserve tales for future generations.
Kenyalang Circus is the ninth installment in the Single exhibition series at the National Art Gallery. Free admission.
More info here.
'KLABF 2024 x Tokyo TDC' exhibition is showcasing a collection of typography and graphic design pieces that have stood out in recent Tokyo exhibitions. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon
EXHIBITION: KLABF 2024 x 'TOKYO TYPE DIRECTORS CLUB'
Venue: The Godown Arts Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends Dec 24
For the first time in Malaysia and South-East Asia, the Tokyo Type Directors Club (Tokyo TDC) is presenting a curated selection of its works at The Godown Arts Centre this month. This (ticketed) exhibition is part of this year's KL Art Book Fair programme and marks a significant cultural exchange in the region.
Founded in 1987 by 89 pioneering Japanese graphic designers under the guidance of renowned designer Katsumi Asaba, Tokyo TDC has evolved into a non-profit organisation dedicated to exploring the potential of typography and design. It is best known for the Tokyo TDC Annual Award, which highlights exceptional works in the field.
Supported by the Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur (JFKL), this exhibition in KL showcases a diverse collection of typography and graphic design pieces that have stood out in recent Tokyo exhibitions. A total of 84 works are being featured, including posters, type design, books, records, videos, experimental projects, logos, packaging, signage, and branding.
More info here.
