PERFORMING ARTS: ORANG ORANG DRUM THEATRE's 'LAGUKU 3.0'
Venue: Pentas 1, KLPac
Date: ends April 6
Orang Orang Drum Theatre is showcasing a new generation of talent in its Laguku drum concert series, now in its third edition.
Taking place at the Pentas 1 main stage, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) through this Sunday, the Lagu 3.0 concert celebrates the shigu (lion dance drum), which will reimagined by seven young groups blending percussion with hip hop, vocals, folk rituals, and storytelling.
Laguku 3.0, developed through a mentorship programme, features seven original compositions by eight musicians. The line-up includes Dream-Like Drum Song by Lim Jian Ru, Quartet by Eng Cheah Her, Little By Little by Low Wai Kei, Rebecoming by Tai Chun Wai, Lean Into The Wind by Tee Vlin, 1^N by Hanson Lee Chun Bin, and Vibe Check, Vibe Check by Nick Ng and Syamil.
Since its founding in 2013, Orang Orang Drum Theatre has carved out a distinct artistic path, combining performance, knowledge-sharing, experimental productions, and education.
More info here.
Syafinaz will perform 'Juliet's Waltz' from Gounod’s 'Romeo And Juliet' and 'Der Holle Rache' from Mozart’s 'The Magic Flute' at the 'Classical Treasures' concert tonight at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas. Photo: The Star/Azman Ghani
CLASSICAL CONCERT: 'CLASSICAL TREASURES'
Venue: Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, KLCC
Date: April 5, 8pm
If you're planning a classy Saturday night out, this is your hot ticket. The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) presents Classical Treasures – an evening of timeless masterpieces – at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas tonight.
Led by resident conductor Gerard Salonga, the programme features Rossini’s lively Barber Of Seville Overture, Chopin’s elegant Nocturne in E-flat, and Liszt’s fiery Hungarian Rhapsody No.2.
Special guest single Datuk Syafinaz Selamat will take the spotlight with the operatic dazzle. She's set to perform two songs - Ah! Je veux vivre (aka Juliet’s Waltz) from Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet, and Mozart’s Der Hölle Rache, a thrilling soprano showcase from The Magic Flute.
The evening culminates with Beethoven’s exhilarating Symphony No.7.
More info here.
'MIKE', a performance about labour and work culture by Canadian artist Dana Michel, is a part of Five Art Centre's 'Straddle' series on April 9. Photo: Francoise Robert
DANCE: FIVE ART CENTRE'S 'STRADDLE 2005'
Venue: Five Arts Centre, GMBB creative mall, KL
Date: April 8-11
Contemporary dance fans have much to look forward to as Five Arts Centre launches Straddle 2005 at GMBB, a new initiative designed to foster connections between artists in Kuala Lumpur and other cities worldwide.
The concept of Straddle is simple yet profound – one foot in KL, the other in another city – building artistic relationships with curiosity and care. Its first edition, Straddle 2025, takes place next week and features a dynamic line-up of performances and six events.
Highlights include Montreal-based live artist Dana Michel (winner of the Silver Lion at the 2017 Venice Biennale) and acclaimed Montreal dance artists Kim-Sanh Chau and Louise Michel Jackson. Joining them are award-winning Malaysian dancer-choreographers Lee Ren Xin and January Low.
Through performances and an open studio, Straddle invites KL’s arts community to engage with ideas and expressions shaping dance beyond our borders. It also offers visiting artists a chance to immerse themselves in Malaysia’s creative landscape.
More info here.
A view of Trouble Crew's toy art exhibition at A4A Gallery, GMBB in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Handout
EXHIBITION: ‘THE MISCHIEF MAKERS OF DESIGNER TOYS’
Venue: A4A Gallery, GMBB, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends April 13
Looking for a toy exhibition? You’re in luck. After making waves in Guangzhou, Macao, and Bangkok, the Trouble Crew – a collective of designer toy artists – brings its rebellious energy to Kuala Lumpur with The Mischief Makers Of Designer Toys exhibition.
Founded by Bee Wong, BAAK, and JIAWEN, this Malaysian trio fuses street culture, storytelling, and craftsmanship to create bold, playful collectibles. Expect original sketches, artworks, and medium-sized figurines of quirky characters like Yililulu, Bob Bob, and Doshii.
Limited-edition prints and exclusive collectibles, available only at the exhibition, round out the showcase. Admission is free.
More info here.
Kua's 'I See, I See' exhibition explores the balance between innocence and introspection in her evolving visual world. Photo: The Star/Izzrafiq Alias
EXHIBITION: CC KUA’S ‘I SEE, I SEE’
Venue: The Back Room, Zhongshan building, KL
Date: ends April 13
After a five-year hiatus, artist CC Kua steps back into the gallery spotlight with her solo exhibition, I See, I See. Known for her understated wit and distinctive visual language, the Taiwan-trained artist presents a body of work spanning three years (2022–2025) and multiple mediums, marking a thoughtful evolution in her practice.
Divided into three sections - paintings on canvas, coloured drawings on paper, and black-and-white drawings - the exhibition juxtaposes Kua’s signature pastel-hued whimsy with a descent into deeper, more introspective territories.
While her work retains its playful, almost childlike curiosity, there is an undeniable shift - an undercurrent of shadowy subconscious musings emerging through her lines and forms.
I See, I See invites viewers to navigate the delicate interplay between innocence and introspection in Kua’s ever-evolving visual world. Free admission exhibition.
More info here.
A view of the 'Growing Together, Not Too Soon' exhibition, a group exhibition supporting the Students Not Brides 2025 campaign to end child marriage in Malaysia. Photo: Temu House
EXHIBITION: 'GROWING TOGETHER, NOT TOO SOON'
Venue: Temu House, Petaling Jaya
Date: ends April 6
Final chance to catch this exhibition! This weekend, Temu House wraps up Growing Together, Not Too Soon, a group exhibition supporting the Students Not Brides 2025 campaign to end child marriage in Malaysia. Part of the proceeds will help fund efforts to strengthen child protection laws and challenge cultural norms around early marriage.
The exhibition features a line-up of over 20 artists, including Ho Mei Kei, Yante Ismail, Louise Low, Sheena Liam, Danielle Lin, Kimberley Boudville, Xeem Noor, Binti, Anissa Razali, and Nia Khalisa.
Exhibition is open 10am to 5pm this weekend. Free admission.
More info here.
Visitors photographing a classic 1974 artwork titled 'Unity' by the late artist Chung at the 'Chung Chen Sun Archive Project' in the National Art Gallery, KL. Photo: The Star/Azhar Mahfof
EXHIBITION: CHUNG CHEN SUN ARCHIVE PROJECT
Venue: National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends Sept 1
The National Art Gallery Archives Project returns with its third installment, featuring an exhibition that honours the legacy of Chung Chen Sun (1935–2024), a visionary Chinese ink painter and a pivotal figure in Malaysian art.
As a founding member of the Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA), Chung made a lasting impact not only in painting but also in shaping Malaysia’s art education landscape.
The exhibition, accompanied by a soon-to-be-released book, presents a collection of archival materials - including photographs, sketches, catalogues, and video interviews - offering a deeper understanding of the artist’s creative process. It also showcases a series of ink paintings and artworks from both the National Art Gallery collection and his estate.
While Chinese ink painting remains central to Chung's legacy, the exhibition also showcases rarely seen oil and pastel works, tracing the evolution of his artistic style over the years.
Free admission exhibition.
More info here.
Zhan Art Space’s 'Rojak' exhibition connects cultures through the works of Australian painter Sense and Malaysian sound artist Tong. Photo: The Star/Samuel Ong
EXHIBITION: NIGEL SENSE AND JEAN TONG'S 'ROJAK'
Venue: Zhan Art Space, Petaling Jaya
Date: ends April 27
Zhan Art Space's latest exhibition, Rojak, bridges cultures through the dialogue between two artists: Australian painter Nigel Sense, who lives in Malaysia, and Malaysian sound artist Jean Tong, based in Australia.
Sense’s acrylic paintings celebrate the thrill of travel - its unpredictability, joy, and transformative power. His bold strokes and textures capture the sensory overload of new experiences, embracing imperfection and spontaneity.
Tong complements Sense’s visuals with a soundscape woven from snippets of overheard conversations - banal, intimate, and profound.
Together, they craft an immersive space where the unfamiliar feels like home, reflecting the shared search for connection in foreign lands.
Free admission exhibition.
More info here.
