Celebrated Malaysian painter Syed Thajudeen (left) chats with a visitor at BNM MAG’s newly-opened Asean-inspired 'Palette And Pen' exhibition, which pairs poetry with visual art, music, film, and literary-inspired illustrations. Photo: Bernama
As Malaysia leads the Asean Chair for 2025, arts and culture dialogue also takes prominence, with exhibitions and performances celebrating regional ties.
Here are four Asean-related exhibitions, currently showing in Kuala Lumpur, to explore:
Exploring a deeper connection
Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery (BNM MAG) embraces its Asean spirit with two new exhibitions that explore the region’s shared cultural legacy: Palette And Pen and Numismatic Marvel: Minted History, Printed Heritage.
Numismatic Marvel traces South-East Asia’s history through its currencies, from cowrie shells to rare coins and banknotes representing 18 ancient kingdoms. A highlight is the ‘Asean Marketplace’ diorama, celebrating the region’s enduring trade heritage.
Palette And Pen features over 150 artworks from Malaysia and Asean countries, exploring the fusion of words and images in creative expression. Divided into three themes – "He, The Colour And The Word," "Inspired By Words," and "Letters From Asean" – it showcases works by National Laureates such as Datuk Seri A. Samad Said, Prof Dr Muhammad Haji Salleh, and Datuk Dr Siti Zainon Ismail.
The line-up of 50 artists includes Syed Thajudeen, Jaafar Taib, Jalaini Abu Hassan, Ahmad Fuad Osman, Yee I-Lann, Samsudin Wahab, and more. Regional notables include Arahmaiani (Indonesia), Aung Myat Htay (Myanmar), Fyerool Darma (Singapore), and Wan Mayang (Brunei).
Both exhibitions at BNM MAG run until Oct 12.
If you have time after visiting the major exhibitions, be sure to check out Bank Negara’s Financial Services Library’s Pages Of Asean showcase at the nearby Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) building.
Running through May 30, the event features Asean publications, a book sale, reviews with International Center for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF) University, a giant book display with the National Library of Malaysia, and the U-Pustaka Booth offering free digital resources.
Shadow puppets from Thailand’s Wat Phlaplachai Nang Yai Museum and works by master Khun Fluk are on display at the Museum of Asian Art in Universiti Malaya, KL. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani
Shadow puppet traditions
Curious about the common traditions of regional wayang kulit? A Life In Shadows: The Story Of Wayang Kulit, now showing at the Museum of Asian Art, Universiti Malaya (UM), explores the stories, rituals, images and heritage of shadow puppetry in an Asean context.
The exhibition features nearly 100 shadow puppets and artefacts, including traditional puppets once used by the late Dollah Baju Merah – a Malaysian wayang kulit legend – from the museum’s own collection, alongside pieces from Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia.
From Kelantan’s wayang kulit to Cambodia’s "sbek thom", Thailand’s "nang yai", and Indonesia’s wayang beber, these shadow puppet traditions are rooted in the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Running until April 30 (just a few weeks left, so don’t miss it!), this exhibition is a collaboration between the UM museum and Australian photographer Constantine Korsovitis, who has transformed his book project into a captivating and insightful wayang kulit showcase.
Indonesian artist Nurdian Ichsan's 'Statue Series' (2007), an exhibit at the 'A Gift From Asean' show in the National Art Gallery. Photo: The Star/Azhar Mahfof
Art and cultural diplomacy
At the National Art Gallery, A Gift From Asean brings together – for the first time – a collection of gifted artworks from Asean member states and Asean+6 nations, including South Korea, Japan, China, and India.
This mini exhibition – presented in a museum-like display – goes beyond aesthetics to underscore art’s role in diplomacy. From porcelain to wood and bronze sculptures, each piece is a cultural offering, now part of the gallery’s permanent collection – a symbol of regional goodwill.
Together, these works trace the threads that bind neighbouring nations, woven through craft, ceremony, and the universal language of art. This exhibitiion ends on July 31.
South-East Asia’s rich history is in the spotlight at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia's 'Oceans That Speak' exhibition. Photo: The Star/Izzrafiq Alias
Islam comes by sea
For those curious about South-East Asia’s centuries-old histories, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) in Kuala Lumpur is currently showing Oceans That Speak: Islam And the Emergence Of The Malay World, running until June 15.
The exhibition features over 100 artefacts, exploring trade routes and cultural exchanges that linked Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines with regions like China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye.
Islam spread to South-East Asia primarily through these maritime trade routes, as Muslim merchants from the Middle East, India, and China brought not just goods, but also faith and culture.
Exhibition highlights include 19th-century treasures such as a Quran from Patani, a Javanese Gebyok – a carved wooden gate inscribed with Quranic verses – and colonial-era weapons and armour, all reflecting the complex intersection of conquest, resistance, and identity in South-East Asia.
