Weekend for the arts: 'Two Tales' at Rissim, Octo Cornelius' wood wonders
EXHIBITION: HANA TAN AND ONG PEI YEE'S 'TWO TALES'

Venue: Rissim Contemporary, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur

Date: April 6-May 4

Two Tales is an exhibition featuring the works of Hana Tan and Ong Pei Yee, both art graduates from Universiti Sains Malaysia. In the exhibition, the young artists present an evocative exploration of childhood memories, identity and cultural hybridity.

Through Ong's series of paintings, she seeks to capture the essence of childhood innocence and wonder, as she deliberately paints close-ups of hands and isolated chairs against a vague backdrop, much like how nostalgia is often surreal and fragmented.

Tan's series centres on the liminal space of cultural hybridity and identity. Drawing from a background as a former dancer, Tan's paintings explore traditional movement in contemporary domestic environments. Inspired by her transition from Beaufort, Sabah to Kuala Lumpur, Tan challenges stereotypes surrounding female identity.

Exhibition is open Friday to Sunday, 12pm-7pm.

More info here.

Octo's artworks (left) 'Rubuh Untuk Tumbuh #1' (plywood and teakwood, 2024) and 'Past And Present' (iron, stone, brass and wood, 2024). Photo: The Back Room

EXHIBITION: OCTO CORNELIUS' 'SIKLUS'

Venue: The Back Room, Zhongshan building, KL

Date: April 6-28

Hailing from Yogyakarta, Indonesian artist Octo Cornelius, once a vibrant creator and performer at the esteemed Papermoon Puppet Theatre, infuses his work with a delightful whimsy that echoes the essence of folklore and fairytales. His wood creations evoke a sense of wonder, drawing inspiration from objects and spaces that resonate with stories untold.

Octo's artistic vision is rooted in the belief that even the most overlooked materials, be it wood, stone, or metal, contain fascinating narratives and untapped potential. Each piece he crafts serves as a testament to this philosophy, breathing new life into forgotten elements of the world around us.

For Malaysian art enthusiasts keen on exploring Octo's creations, there's no need to search far and wide. He will be launching his latest exhibition Siklus at The Back Room this weekend, offering a delightful opportunity to delve into his newest works.

Octo is also scheduled to deliver an art talk at the Malaysian Design Archive today (April 6), at 11am. Additionally, the exhibition curator, Nala Nandana, will offer a talk - at 3pm today - delving into 10 years of creative interventions in the Bandung art scene. Both presentations will take place at the Malaysian Design Archive, nearby The Back Room gallery.

Octo's exhibition is open Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm-6pm. Free admission.

More info here.

Hamidi Hadi's latest show explores the human experience, charting shifts in awareness and sentiments elicited by the artist’s recent encounters with anxiety amid these troubling times. Photo: Wei-Ling Gallery

EXHIBITION: HAMIDI HADI'S 'TREMBLING IN SILENCE'

Venue: Wei-Ling Gallery, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur

Date: April 6-27

Today, Wei-Ling Gallery is launching Trembling In Silence, the ninth solo exhibition by artist Hamidi Hadi.

This latest show explores the human experience, charting shifts in awareness and sentiments elicited by the artist’s recent encounters with anxiety amid these troubling times.

In this series of new works, Hamidi incorporates tapestries and carpets adorned with motifs from the Middle East, using charcoal to deliberately burn and mark distinct holes in the fabric. Through this technique, he probes into fractured homelands and their historical significance, bearing witness to lost souls and vanishing legacies.

This change in trajectory reflects Hamidi’s personal experience of detachment from ordinary life. Consistent with his artistic approach of utilising natural pigments and minerals to depict nature, the incorporation of these new materials resonates with themes of cultural identity, displacement and the struggle for survival in chaos.

‘Trembling In Silence‘ is open Tuesday to Friday, 10am–6pm, Saturday 10am–5pm.

Exhibition is open by appointment only. For appointments, contact 03-2260-1106 or e-mail siewboon@weiling-gallery.com.

More info here.

A view of the new group exhibition 'Titik Garis Bentuk' at Ilham Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: The Star/Shaari Chemat

EXHIBITION: 'TITIK GARIS BENTUK: DRAWING AS PRACTICE'

Venue: Ilham Gallery, Kuala Lumpur

Date: ends July 28

Titik Garis Bentuk, a group exhibition, invites art lovers back to Ilham Gallery's main Level 5 space to delve into the evolving role of drawing in contemporary Malaysian art, highlighting its significance as a standalone artistic medium.

Featuring pieces by 27 artists, the exhibition explores how boundaries between drawing and other art forms such as installation, animation, and performance are being blurred, redefining traditional notions of the medium. The line-up includes artists such as Jalaini Abu Hassan, Wong Hoy Cheong, Haslin Ismail, CC Kua, Chang Yoong Chia, chi too, Novia Shin, Paul Nickson Atia, Faizal Suhif, Hasanul Isyraf Idris, Chang Fee Ming, Engku Iman and Agnes Lau.

With a diverse array of works spanning figuration, landscape, architectural drawing, and minimalism, artists push the limits of conventional drawing techniques through innovative use of materials and methods.

From life-size charcoal figures to expansive landscapes, and from immediate, meditative sketches to intricate installations, Titik Garis Bentuk showcases the myriad ways in which artists are approaching drawing in contemporary practice.

More info here.

A work from the Mati duo titled 'Amor Mati 2' (mixed media, 2023). Photo: Temu House

EXHIBITION: 'CREATIVE COUPLING'

Venue: Temu House, Petaling Jaya

Date: runs till 21 April

Here is an exhibition delving into the intricacies of individual and couple creativity. This showcase at Temu House is exploring the dynamics of three artist couples: Amat-Binti, Esmond Sit-Joanne Loo, and Kimberley Boudville-Silas Oo, who are all presenting their collaborative artworks.

Through their committed relationships, they navigate the inevitable ebb and flow of emotional highs and lows, experiencing both moments of exhilaration and the routine of everyday life.

Operating under the moniker Mati, Amat,and Binti are showing a collection of film photography suffused with poetic essence in their series titled Andtologi.

Sit and Loo, on the contrary, unveil papier-mache and clay installations that intricately narrate their artistic and romantic voyage, marking their inaugural collaboration for this endeavor.

Meanwhile, Boudville and Oo present a diverse array of framed portraits, pushing the boundaries of traditional mediums such as oil, paint, and ink, intertwining them with unconventional elements like fur and steel.

Beyond the artistry, couples are invited to engage with Dr Johan, a psychiatrist, and the Creative Coupling artists, delving into both common and uncommon challenges encountered in relationships, on April 7 at 11 am.

More info here.

It's the last few days to catch the exhibition 'Jom Kita Bincang!' at Raja Tun Uda Library in Shah Alam. Photo: The Star/Azlina Abdullah

CHILDREN'S BOOK EXHIBITION: 'JOM KITA BINCANG!'

Venue: Raja Tun Uda Library, Shah Alam

Date: ends April 10

In what ways can children’s literature contribute to discussions on sustainability, health, rights, and social issues? Families are invited to discover answers at Jom Kita Bincang! (Let’s Talk About It), an exhibition at Raja Tun Uda Library in Shah Alam. This free-admission event aims to underscore the significance of offering children compelling narratives, drawing inspiration from Sweden's rich tradition of children’s literature.

Organised by the Embassy of Sweden in Malaysia, Raja Tun Uda Library and the Malaysia Board On Books For Young People (MBBY), the exhibition includes the "Swedish Little Library", a cozy corner that’s been transformed into a "Scandinavian" reading space.

The library features Swedish children’s picture books that have been translated to Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin. There are also two other exhibitions: one on beloved Swedish children’s book author Astrid Lindgren, best known as the creator of Pippi Longstocking, and another on the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA), an international children's literary award established by the Swedish government in 2002 to honour Lindgren’s legacy.

More info here.
Arts,Ilham Gallery,Temu House,Wei-Ling Gallery,The Back Room
A list of arts and culture events to check out in the Klang Valley this weekend and beyond