Nga (fifth from right) at the walkabout with organisers and participants of KLAW 2025. — Photos: LOW BOON TAT/The Star
Kuala Lumpur’s buildings are not just structures of brick and mortar, they are living repositories of memory and emotion.
For 64-year-old artist Ng Wei Eng, the Confucian Secondary School holds a special place in her heart.
Located in the bustling heart of Petaling Street, this school is more than a building – it’s a gateway to her past, a source of nostalgia she now captured on canvas.
Her recent sketch of the school, part of a live sketchcrawl during Kuala Lumpur Architecture Week 2025 (KLAW 2025), was a blend of old and new.
The building itself reminds her of a daily childhood routine, but the view is now updated with modern landmarks like the Merdeka 118 Tower, adding an unexpected twist to a cherished memory.
Ng was among the sketchers involved in KLAW 2025, held in conjunction with Archidex 2025, Asia’s biggest architecture and building materials expo.
The event commenced with a walkabout through Petaling Street, led by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
Artists taking part in the live sketchcrawl along Jalan Petaling and surrounding areas.
Other than the live sketchcrawl, four temporary installations by emerging architects transformed sites into thoughtful points of interaction.
These included “lepaX” at REXKL, “Twist Potato” at Pik Wah Café, “ngo-kha-ki” at Four Points by Sheraton, and “Prism of Merdeka” opposite Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock.
According to Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) president Adrianta Aziz, the event was also a platform to localise the works of both architects and artists.
“We’re proud to have sketchers and community groups out here today, visually capturing the beauty of KL.
“Architecture should reflect identity and as echoed by Nga and PAM, we are committed to defining and promoting a Malaysian architectural identity as a national standard,” he said.
CIS Network president Datuk Vincent Lim said KLAW 2025 was created to take Archidex 2025 beyond exhibition halls.
“We wanted to do more to promote our architectural heritage and arts.
“That’s how KLAW 2025 was born to feature Kuala Lumpur’s buildings and show how refurbishments can reveal hidden gems,” he said.
