EXHIBITION: ALYA HATTA’S 'THE AFTERLIFE OF ORDINARY THINGS'
Venue: Galeri Sasha, Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), Kuala Lumpur
Date: April 4 to May 3
Opening this weekend at Galeri Sasha, The Afterlife Of Ordinary Things centres on a single, specific moment: a family barbecue in Malaysia in December 2025. For emerging artist Alya Hatta, who divides her time between London and Kuala Lumpur, the work is deeply personal, reflecting the experience of living between cultures.
Drawing on elements from both environments, she constructs imagined landscapes that mirror a sense of belonging across multiple places. Alya's paintings unfold in layers, echoing the way memory accumulates – fragments of everyday life assembled into spaces that feel at once familiar and distinct.
Working from snapshots taken that evening, the British-trained artist captures small, candid moments – a shared joke, a quiet pause – that shape the informal choreography of a family gathering. Rather than grand portraiture, she focuses on these ordinary scenes to reveal the emotional weight contained within a single event.
Her process is further defined by an interest in how surfaces and images shift over time, informed by the gradual wear and tear observed during her daily commutes.
An opening reception will be held tomorrow from 5pm to 8pm. Admission is free. Galeri Sasha is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
More info here.
EXHIBITION: 'ARCHITECTURE OF DEVOTION: TEMPLES IN THE INDIAN DIASPORA'
Venue: Project Room, Level 4, UR-MU @ The Toffee, Jalan Raja Chulan, KL
Date: April 4-29
If you’re curious about history, architecture and Indian culture, then this exhibition is one you won’t want to miss. Through art, it highlights the journey of the Indian diaspora’s legacy in Malaysia and beyond, offering profound insights into the architectural philosophies of its designs.
Opening this Saturday, Architecture Of Devotion features 164 artworks that document the spiritual and architectural grandeur of Indian temples in the region and beyond. The line-up of 16 Malaysian artists includes Dr S. Chanthiran, Datuk Chong Hon Fatt, Hasnee Abdul Rahman, Jeganathan R, Kelvin Chap Kok Leong, Lai Loong Sung, Lee Weng Fatt, Long Thien Shih, Maamor Jantan, Nirmala Karuppiah, Peter Liew, Pheh It Hao, Soh Chee Hui, Stephen Menon, Tham Siew Inn and Victor Chin.
Curated by Emeritus Professor Dr Krishna Gopal Rampal and Kamla Rampal, the exhibition – drawn from their celebrated collection – unfolds as a visual narrative of devotion and its sacred spaces.Through a diverse range of artistic interpretations, the exhibition highlights the intricate details and symbolic power of sacred structures that have shaped communities worldwide.
Admission is included with a museum ticket to Ur-Mu @ The Toffee. Exhibition is closed on Mondays.
More info here.
EXHIBITION: ILHAM ART SHOW 2025
Venue: Ilham Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends April 5
It's the last weekend to catch the Ilham Art Show 2025. Featuring contemporary artists and collectives, the show brings together new works in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, installation, textile, film, and video. Don’t miss the chance to see one of the year’s most exciting exhibitions - plan your visit soon!
The exhibition, which attracted thousands since it opened last November, includes established names and newcomers such as Gan Chin Lee, Wong Perng Fey, Roopesh Sitharan, Tiga Tawai, Eiffel Chong, Marcos Kueh, Joshua Kane Gomes, Kim Ng, Arikwibowo Amril, Syarifah Nadhirah, Kimberley Boudville, Yvonne Tan, Umar Sharif, Hieng and Afiza Abubakar.
Last March, 20 artists and collectives were selected by a regional panel (Gridthiya Gaweewong, Sharmini Pereira, Wong Hoy Cheong, and Rahel Joseph). Each recipient received a production grant to realise their proposed work – projects they might not have otherwise pursued.
Though not bound by a theme, shared ideas emerged: the mining of history to reflect on the present, the fragility of nature, the fluidity of identity and shifting social and familial ties. The triennial Ilham Art Show series was established in 2022.
More info here.
EXHIBITION: 'NANYANG NEW FRONTIERS'
Venue: Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM), Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends April 12
Celebrating 20 years of creativity, the Cao Tang Men Eastern Arts Society - a Malaysian Chinese ink painting and calligraphy community - presents Nanyang New Frontiers. Spread across three floors of the Wisma Kebudayaan SGM building, the exhibition immerses visitors in a world of expressive ink works that reflect the spirit and evolution of Nanyang art.
Curated by calligrapher Ong Chia Koon, the exhibition reflects the society’s ongoing commitment to evolving ink painting, calligraphy and seal engraving, accompanied by a commemorative catalogue.
The month-long show, featuring weekend walkthroughs and workshop events, brings together 54 artists presenting 134 works – 81 ink paintings and 53 seal carvings – reflecting the diversity and creativity of its members.
Founded by the late Dr Cheah Thien Soong and now led by Chong Choy, Cao Tang Men Eastern Arts Society has become a highly recognised name in Malaysia’s art community.
The exhibition also features a tribute to Dr Cheah, with a section dedicated to his artworks.
Over the years, the society has organised exhibitions, workshops, overseas sketching programmes, seal-carving sessions and lectures, significantly contributing to the advocacy, education, and development of traditional and contemporary Nanyang art forms.
Free admission exhibition. Closed on Mondays.
More info here.
POETRY & MUSIC: SOUND & SPACE: CAHAYA SYAWAL
Venue: Galeri Petronas, Level 3, Suria KLCC
Date: April 4
Galeri Petronas is presenting an immersive poetry and sound performance by arts collective Jingga Purnama at 3pm tomorrow, celebrating the spirit of Syawal. The session follows its well-received Ramadhan programme.
Set within What Song Do You Hear When You See This Painting?, a multidisiplinary exhibition currently on view at Galeri Petronas until April 26, the live performance takes place amid an exploration of the relationship between visual art and sound.
The exhibition features over 90 works by 12 artists, spanning paintings, sculptures and prints inspired by genres ranging from classical compositions and Nusantara rhythms to acid jazz and ambient soundscapes.
By introducing live poetry and sound, the performance activates the exhibition space, transforming the gallery into a stage where the dialogue between art and music becomes immediate and shared.
Attendance is limited to 50 participants to ensure an intimate experience. Admission is free, but registration is required.
More info here.
