CC Kua's 'A Quiet Moment' (oil on canvas, 2025), which part of her new exhibition 'I See, I See' at The Back Room in KL. Photo: The Back Room
EXHIBITION: CC KUA'S 'I SEE, I SEE'
Venue: The Back Room, Zhongshan building, KL
Date: March 22 to April 13
After five years, CC Kua, an artist, educator, and graphic designer, returns to the gallery spotlight this weekend with her new solo exhibition I See, I See.
The exhibition, showcasing the Taiwan-trained artist's signature drollness, spans three years (2022–2025) and multiple mediums. Divided into three sections – paintings on canvas, coloured drawings on paper, and black-and-white drawings – the exhibition contrasts Kua’s familiar pastel-hued whimsy with deeper, more shadowy subconscious explorations.
The I See, I See opening reception will take place on March 22 at 3pm, with the artist in attendance. Free admission.
More info here.
Indie bookshop Tintabudi debuts the 'Work / Place' series this Saturday with London-based artist Rose Nordin. Photo: Tintabudi
BOOKSHOP EVENT: TINTABUDI'S 'WORK/PLACE' SERIES
Venue: Tintabudi, Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), KL
Date: March 22, 3pm
Indie bookshop Tintabudi launches its new in-store programme, Work / Place, this Saturday – a series of conversations highlighting various forms of craftsmanship, delving into the ideas behind them, the creative processes involved, and their potential for future reinvention.
Kicking off the series is London-based artist and graphic designer Rose Nordin, whose work explores expanded notions of publishing – seeing publications as spaces for exchange, print as a tool for union, and letterforms as magic.
Rose will also share book projects that reflect influences from Malaysia and broader cultural themes.
Admission is free, but registration is required.
More info here.
Theatre performer-musician Faiq Syazwan Kuhiri, is part of this Saturday's reading of 'Between A River And Lightning, a work by Lee Su-Feh. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon
THEATRE: 'BETWEEN A RIVER AND LIGHTNING - A READING'
Venue: Five Arts Centre, GMBB creative mall, KL
Date: March 22, 3pm
Theatre lovers, experimental arts fans and tech enthusiasts alike can look forward to Five Arts Centre’s free event (register here) this Saturday afternoon at its GMBB KL studio— a reading of Between A River And Lightning, a work by veteran Malaysian-born Canadian choregrapher Lee Su-Feh.
Set at the dawn of 2025, the piece unfolds as a conversation between a human choreographer and the AI, Claude 3.5 Sonnet - an exploration of time, memory, and embodiment.
As words and algorithms intertwine, the choreographer flirts with the possibility of love, only to pull back before surrendering to the machine. Bringing this exchange to life are readers Mae Elliessa, Arief Hamizan, Faiq Syazwan Kuhiri, Alfred Loh, and Farah Rani.
The reading runs for an hour, followed by a discussion led by Five Art Centre's Mark Teh.
More info here.
Improv musician Yong Yandsen plays a solo set at the Khatulistiwa space in Kota Damansara, Selangor this Saturday. Photo: Khatulistiwa/Facebook
IMPROV MUSIC: YONG YANDSEN SOLO AT KHATULISTIWA
Venue: Khatulistiwa, Cascades, Kota Damansara, Selangor
Date: March 22, 8pm
Fresh from a triumphant solo tour in China, Yong Yandsen takes the stage at Khatulistiwa in Kota Damansara, Selangor, for an evening of unaccompanied tenor saxophone explorations. With raw intensity and masterful control, he pushes breath, tone, and silence into conversation, stretching the instrument’s range to its expressive limits.
With over two decades in experimental music and free jazz, Yong has amassed a rich body of work, spanning solo recordings and collaborations that continue to push sonic boundaries.
In 2023, he co-founded Khatulistiwa alongside musicians Yii Kah Hoe, Richard Allan Bates, and Topman Chong - a space dedicated to improvised music. Together, they also run the Khatulistiwa record label, ambitiously releasing one album per month, further cementing their commitment to sonic experimentation.
Yong's solo performance at Khatulistiwa starts at 8pm this Saturday. Entry free is RM30.
More info here.
A screen capture from Ekin Kee Charles' Meet Us At The Ridge: 6.0753° N, 116.5588° E' film installation, which is showing at Ilham Gallery in KL. Photo: Handout
EXHIBITION: EKIN KEE CHARLES' 'MEET US AT THE RIDGE"
Venue: Ilham Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends March 30
This month, Ilham Gallery is highlighting a new film installation work titled Meet Us At The Ridge by Ekin Kee Charles, an indigenous filmmaker-writer from Kota Marudu, Sabah.
The (free admission) show, which will be on view at Ilham Gallery’s Level 3 space, is presented in collaboration with the Han Nefkens Foundation, a Barcelona-based organisation that supports emerging international video artists through awards, production grants and mentorship grants.
Charles, from the Kimaragang ethnic group, received the Han Nefkens Foundation-Loop Barcelona Video Art Production Award in 2022.
For the Ilham Gallery showcase, she is showcasing Meet Us At The Ridge : 6.0753° N, 116.5588° E and Peacelands, both single-channel video works produced last year.
In Meet Us At The Ridge, an eight-minute film, Charles, presents an intimate dialogue about a woman’s growing disconnect from her roots. Peacelands (12-minutes) follows three best friends in their 60s – hitchhiking an illegal truck from their remote village to town.
More info here.
Bhatt (left) and Foo conclude 'The Guardians Of The Rainforest' exhibition in KL this weekend. Photo: The Star/Chan Tak Kong
EXHIBITION: 'THE GUARDIANS OF THE RAINFOREST'
Venue: House of Oma, Bukit Persekutuan, KL
Date: ends March 23
What if we could see the spirits of the rainforest? How would they appear? Sabahan artists Hannah Bhatt and Venice Foo bring these unseen guardians to life in The Guardians Of The Rainforest, a collaborative exhibition.
Inspired by childhood memories and folklore, the collection features 14 ceramic and textile sculptures shaped by generational stories—whispers of spirits that protect, punish, or simply watch.
Through intricate ceramics adorned with embroidery and beadwork, Bhatt and Foo imagine these guardians: some protective, some mischievous, and others lingering at the edges of perception.
Free admission exhibition.
More info here.
A fabric installation by artist Zuriee Ahmad adorns the Jalan Negara Kita arts lane, adding a festive touch. Photo: Handout
COMMUNITY ARTS: 'JALINAN RAMADHAN'
Venue: Jalan Negara Kita lane, Taman Melawati, KL
Date: March 21 and March 28
The Jalan Negara Kita arts lane in Taman Melawati has been buzzing with cultural activities during the fasting month, with the "Jalinan Ramadhan" evening series bringing together a variety of traditional Malay community-based programmes.
On March 21, a ketupat weaving workshop will teach attendees the intricate techniques behind this festive decoration, while on March 28, Mak Cik Melawati will host a recipe-sharing session, passing down treasured family recipes to a new generation of home cooks.
For added ambiance, a fabric installation by artist Zuriee Ahmad adorns the lane, giving it a festive feel.
More info here.
At the Bazar Seni Adilfitri, Pakha Sulaiman’s private collection highlights the 'Warisan & Kenangan' exhibition, featuring renowned Malaysian artists. Photo: Handout
ARTS MARKET: 'BAZAR SENI ADILFITRI'
Venue: UR-MU, The Toffee, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur
Date: March 22 and 23
Immerse yourself in the festive spirit at Bazar Seni Aidilfitri, taking place at The Project Room at UR-MU, The Toffee this weekend. This arts-centered market will bring together a diverse range of vendors, offering art, craft, fashion, and traditional desserts.
For art enthusiasts, the bazaar features a series of hands-on workshops with local artists. Highlights this weekend include watercolour sessions led by Hisham Salmin and Aminah Abdul Rahman, who will provide insights into the delicate techniques of watercolour painting. Additionally, a batik printing activity on March 22 (11am) invites visitors to engage with this traditional craft and create their own beautifully patterned textiles.
A special highlight of the Warisan & Kenangan exhibition at the bazaar is art connoisseur Pakha Sulaiman’s private collection, showcasing works by renowned Malaysian artists.
More info here.
