Expressing the complicated theme of what it means to be Malaysian, these 7 different art shows will tug at your heart strings, stirs up unconventional sentiments or both: happening this March through to July 2018 across Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Cover photo artwork: Shaarim Sahat

1. Inspirations from Malaysian Tropical Plants

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Above Photo: The Refinery/Facebook

This solo exhibition by Malaysia-based Japanese artist Sanae Yamada takes place from now till March 24 at The Refinery Art Gallery in KL. Guests can drop by from 1pm to 6pm daily to see the lively representations of distinctly Malaysian flora and fauna, subjects that have captivated this expat artist since her arrival in Malaysia. Click here for more details. 

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2. Soul Killers Don’t Quit

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Above Photo: James Ly/Facebook

You have till March 24 to catch this first-time collaboration by internationally-renowned artists Andy Wauman and James Ly at Damansara Utama’s Minut Init Art Social gallery. Open to the public from 3pm to 10pm are a slew of murals, paper prints, and amazing videography as Andy and James shine their artistic spotlight on extinct languages and indigenous practices. Click here for more information.   

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3. The Frames of Two Cultures

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Above Husin Othman's Lagenda Budak Terbang acrylic painting (Photo: Courtesy of Core Design Gallery)

Expect two similar yet different reflections of Perak by two artistic Perak natives: Husin Othman with his whimsical layering techniques and Ng Kok Leong who prefers the artistic tool of semi-abstraction. This showcase runs from now till March 28 at Core Design Gallery, a unique project exploring the affinity and complexity connecting two cultures in the Malaysian context. Click here for more information.  

4. Daerah Ruwat

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Above "Competition" (2018) by Shaarim Sahat (Photo: Courtesy of Artemis Art Gallery)

You can't miss the distinct social commentary imbedded in Shaarim Sahat’s Daerah Ruwat (or ‘Turbulent Territory’) exhibition: a debut solo outing that explores socio-political issues of urban poverty, inequality, national identity and others. Hosted by the Artemis Art Gallery from now till April 8, the exhibition displays works created by Shaarim Sahat from 2012 right up to the present.           

 

5. KopiOPeng

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Above Khoo Cheang Jin's painting of Kin Too Hotel (Photo: The Art Gallery, Penang/Facebook)

For artwork that captures the nostalgia of Penang’s kopitiam shop houses, don’t miss KopiOPeng, a solo exhibition by Penang Water Colour Society president and master water-colourist, Khoo Cheang Jin; open to the public at The Art Gallery, Penang. This is the 11th exhibition in Cheang Jin’s Penang Kopitiam Series, slated to run from March 23 to April 15. More details on this exhibition can be found here.  

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6. Splendours Of Love

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Above Photo: Courtesy of The Bauhaus Gallery

After a long hiatus, legendary Malaysian figurative painter Syed Thajudeen holds his Spendours of Love solo exhibition at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai from now till April 8: a tri-themed showing that will feature Syed’s mural-sized paintings alongside his miniatures. The artwork in this exhibition celebrates the legacy of local ethnicities and the Malaysian identity as a whole. Details can be found here.

7. Treasures of A Straits Chinese

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Above Photo: Courtesy of Tiffany Choong

From now till April 30, visit the G Hotel Gurney in Penang to see the Peranakan-inspired artwork of illustrator and pop artist Tiffany Choong in this her first solo exhibition. Tiffany’s hand-sketched Nyonya motifs as seen in her childhood will be on display for all to see, inviting Penangites and visitors alike to reinterpret these visual symbols with a modern lens. Find out more here.     

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