An installation work by Irsyad Maktar titled 'Molecular Convergence', which is part of the 'Sculpt, Made Of Objectual Manners' group exhibition at Tali Art Gallery in Petaling Jaya. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon
EXHIBITION: 'SCULPT, MADE OF OBJECTUAL MANNERS'
Venue: Tali Art Gallery, Petaling Jaya
Date: ends Dec 7
A contemporary sculpture exhibition is always a treat these days - they’re becoming increasingly rare to find.
In Petaling Jaya, Tali Art Gallery’s latest group exhibition Sculpt, Made Of Objectual Manners brings together 11 artists and collectives from Malaysia, Thailand, and France, including Ramlan Abdullah, Sanan Anuar, Temjai Cholsiri, Dilarang Projekt, Zulkifli Lee, Irsyad Maktar, Tawatchai Puntusawasdi, Dhavinder Singh, Kitikong Tilokwattanotai, Lea Valentin, and Asyraf Zakaria.
Curated by French gallerist Thomas Martin, the exhibition spans veterans to emerging names (from frequent Tali collaborators Ramlan to Sanan), materials (wood to metal), and mediums.
Don't just sit around. Visitors are invited to move through the gallery as the sculptures playfully engage with their surroundings, prompting viewers to duck under hanging pieces, explore shifting perspectives, and find intimacy in shadow and form.
Blending tradition with modern aesthetics, the works draw from personal stories and cultural contexts, inviting reflection on how art, space, and experience continually shape one another.
More info here.
A scene from 'Tewas', a theatre production that confronts the realities of bullying in Malaysian schools. Photo: JDEV Studios
THEATRE: 'TEWAS: NO LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL'
Venue: KongsiKL, Jalan Klang Lama, KL
Date: ends Nov 9
Tewas: No Light At The End Of The Tunnel will turn KongsiKL, the warehouse-turned-arts space along Old Klang Road, into a raw and reflective stage this weekend.
Presented by KL’s JDEV Studios, this socially charged production shines a light on the realities of bullying and the emotional scars it leaves behind in Malaysian schools.
Produced by Sidhart Joe Dev and Ruthra Devy, and directed by Hilyati Ramli, Tewas combines choreography by Izzardzafli Padzil and sound design by Kamal Sabran. The production, which premiered in George Town, Penang last year, returns with added resonance.
With a mix of theatre, exhibition, and post-show dialogue, Tewas — co-written by Hilyati and Sidhart — examines how silence and shame sustain cycles of harm. Rather than just telling a story, it asks audiences to confront, listen, and care.
The show at KongsiKL (free seating) welcomes audiences aged seven and above, though it contains mature themes and graphic moments. Entry is via RSVP and community donation.
More info here.
Lee Joo For with his oil on canvas work 'Sarong Women On Horses' (1994) at his retrospective exhibition at the Penang State Art Gallery in 2008. Photo: The Star/Filepic
TALK AND STAGED READINGS: ARTIST LEE JOO FOR
Venue: Ilham Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Nov 8, 3pm
Penang-born visual artist and playwright Lee Joo For (1929–2017) was one of Malaysia’s most prolific theatre voices of the 1960s, writing over 30 plays with wonderfully eccentric titles like The Campus Is Not A Baby Land, Nero Has Arisen In Malaysia, and When The Sun Sets In The Shade Of The Jambu Tree.
Though he is now best known as a bold, boundary-pushing visual artist, Lee was deeply involved in the theatre movement of his time - writing scripts, designing brochures, and creating sets alongside figures like Syed Ahmad Jamal.
In this Ilham Conversations' session, Adele Tan, senior curator at the National Gallery Singapore, will explore the life and work of this fascinating, unconventional artist, tracing his intertwined legacies in both art and theatre. The talk will be followed by staged readings of some of Lee’s absurdist plays.
Presented in collaboration with Instant Cafe Theatre as part of its month-long research and performance festival What The Elders Left Us.
Free admission event.
More info here.
'Still Live Vol 3' takes place at the +n by Ur-Mu gallery on Jalan Tun HS Lee (near Petaling Street) on Nov 8. Photo: Handout
LIVE MUSIC/ART: 'STILL LIVE VOL. 3'
Venue: +n by Ur-Mu, Jalan Tun HS Lee, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Nov 8
An exhibition and live music already make for a great Saturday night date – add drawing to the mix, and you’ve got something special.
Art museum Ur-Mu’s popular acoustic live drawing series returns for its third edition, inviting guests to unwind, sketch, and let the music guide their creativity. All art supplies (and inspiration) are provided – just bring yourself.
This edition takes place at the +n by Ur-Mu gallery on Jalan Tun HS Lee (near Petaling Street).
From 5.30pm to 9.30pm, enjoy an evening where music meets art in real time. Alt-pop band Judos sets the tone with a lively setlist, followed by D’Pujanggas, a quirky surf-rock outfit. The night winds down with Eloise Lau, whose gentle indie folk promises a soulful close to a creatively charged evening.
Entry is RM60, with tickets available online.
More info here.
A gallery view of Mulaika's exhibition 'I Remember You' at Harta Space. Photo: The Star/M. Irsyad
EXHIBITION: MULAIKA NORDIN’S ‘I REMEMBER YOU’
Venue: Harta Space, Ampang, Selangor
Date: ends Nov 30
If you’re looking for fresh talent in the art scene, here’s one to catch. Launching this Sunday, I Remember You marks young artist Mulaika Nordin’s third solo exhibition, tracing her creative growth through a series of past and new works.
Curated by her sister Zahara Nordin, the show features 28 abstract paintings – including seven new pieces from 2025.
For Mulaika, who recently completed her law degree in Belfast, this exhibition at Harta Space reflects how her time abroad deepened her sense of nostalgia and emotional range.
Her paintings continue to draw from nature, echoing her growing interest in environmental law and sustainability.
While visiting Harta Space, enjoy a coffee at the in-house cafe or drop by the adjoining jewellery museum for a day of art, design, and conversation.
More info here.
A view of Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery's exhibition 'Numismatic Marvels: Minted History, Printed Heritage'. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani
FESTIVAL: PESTA RONA DAN KATA
Venue: Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Nov 9
Families can look forward to a full day (10am to 10pm) of activity at Pesta Rona Dan Kata, a free festival blending art, poetry, and hands-on workshops.
For young visitors, the day begins at 11am with "Tracing With Nature and Light", while children aged five to eight can join guided the "Numismatic Marvels" tours until 3.30pm. Older kids can explore "Faux Calligraphy" in a fun lettering session.
As night falls, the festival transforms into Rona dan Kata Poetry Night at 8pm – an open mic session where anyone can share their words and imagination. The evening also features readings and performances by National Laureates Datuk Dr A. Samad Said, Prof Emeritus Dr Muhammad Haji Salleh, and Datuk Dr Siti Zainon Ismail, adding literary prestige to the celebration.
The festival will also launch the Residensi Kijang (RisiK) art residency, introducing its first two artists-in-residence: Penang-based abstract painter Amir Mansor and Selangor’s Noor Zahran, known for her vibrant 3D compositions and hyperrealist drawings.
More info here.
A lively scene from last year's Latin American Festival in Kuala Lumpur, which attracted more than 7,000 people. Photo: The Star/Glenn Guan
FESTIVAL: 16TH LATIN AMERICAN FESTIVAL
Venue: Low Yat Park, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Nov 9
Get ready to move to the beat, learn new cultures and savour the best cuisine Latin America has to offer at the 16th Latin American Festival in downtown KL.
Organised by the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Embassies (GRULAC) in Malaysia (comprising Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay), each embassy will have its own booth, offering traditional food and beverages, providing a unique opportunity to experience the diverse flavours of Latin America.
From 10am to 5pm, attendees can also look forward to live Latin dance and music performances, such as the passionate tango from Argentina, the lively milonga from Uruguay, rhythmic beats of Brazilian jazz, colourful dances from Mexico, soulful Andean music from Peru, ecstatic Cuban Salsa dancers, and even traditional Malaysian dances, reflecting the enduring friendship and cultural exchange between Malaysia and Latin America.
All proceeds from the festival will be channelled to two charity organisations: MyKasih Foundation, which empowers low-income women with the provision of modern sewing machines; and Persatuan Membantu Orang Kelainan, to support the project “1 blind 1 cane” for visually impaired people who use canes as a mobility aid, and to raise awareness about their condition among others. Free entry.
More info here.
