How good are the digital initiatives being offered by Malaysian art galleries?

A recreation of a 1930s photo studio in llham Gallery’s 'Bayangnya Itu Timbul Tenggelam – Photographic Cultures In Malaysia' virtual tour. Photo: Ilham Gallery

This month marks a year since the first movement control order (MCO) was enforced in Malaysia. Due to the MCO, art galleries here have spent most of the past year closed to the public, with short-lived reopenings whenever restrictions were eased, only to have to shut again mere weeks later when Covid-19 cases surged.

Many galleries have turned to offering virtual tours of their exhibitions and spaces to reach out to the public.