2023's best arts and culture stories in the Klang Valley

Contemporary artist Yee I-Lann seen at the launch of her new monograph 'Yee I-Lann: the sun will rise in the east together' at Ilham Gallery in July. It was part of the 'Borneo Heart' community arts event and programme in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon

From a host of community-based arts events and exhibitions travelling from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah to Kuala Lumpur at the start of 2023 to a major exhibition on Orientalist paintings at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia taking visitors back to ancient routes and times, the arts and culture scene in the Klang Valley definitely hit a solid groove.

Arts venues in KL and Petaling Jaya also proved they could accommodate a diverse array of events and festivals, with Malay opera, Tamil theatre and environmentally-conscious gamelan theatre among the year's highlights.