Many people aren’t aware of the burgeoning art scene in Malaysia’s capital city of Kuala Lumpur. But for art lovers, there’s a lot to take in. Driven by Malaysia’s cultural history, emerging middle class, and diverse artistic landscape, city residents have created a unique and rapidly growing art scene. Here are three of our favorite venues.
National Visual Arts Gallery
Here you can see some of the country’s most avant-garde contemporary art collections hanging alongside traditional and modern art from Malaysia and abroad. Its modern art exhibits incorporate multimedia artworks and special installations. This amazing gallery, located on Jalan Temerloh in Kuala Lumpur, is one of the most unique in Malaysia. The design of the building reflects traditional Malay aesthetics and modern functionality, as the folks at Expedia say.
The gallery’s first floor displays a permanent collection of Malaysian work. The second floor contains works from the gallery’s temporary and private collections, and the third floor holds an array of rotating exhibits. It’s free and it’s open every day.
YSB Square
This culture center is located in the Ampang Hilir district of Kuala Lumpur, which is one of the best-preserved colonial-era neighborhoods in the city. Unlike many galleries, YSB square displays its artworks in small rooms, terraces, galleries, and outdoor courts, all of which have limited seating in order to create an intimate atmosphere.
Formerly a charitable arts foundation, YSB (short for Yayasan Seni Berdaftar) has transformed itself into an incubator for Malaysian arts’ commercial potential. YSB Square plans to have weekly traditional performances, stand-up comedy, live contemporary music events, arts-focused workshops, and health and fitness activities. “The plan is to have a space where diverse activities are always happening,” said YSB Square General Manager Zaid Ambak Khalid.
Artemis Art Gallery
This contemporary art gallery strives to help young and struggling artists from Malaysia and Indonesia whose work deserves wider exposure. Located in Kuala Lumpur’s Publika Shopping Gallery on Jalan Dutmas, the gallery guides new collectors through Malaysia’s emerging art scene. It also features solo and group exhibitions, group exhibitions, book launches, and art, literature, and cultural workshops. Artemis participates in international art fairs, especially those outside of Malaysia, in order to provide broader horizons for the artists they work with.
“We began collecting art…way back in the mid-1990s, based purely on our love for the arts,” the gallery’s website reads. “We decided to play a small role in [artists’] journey to continue exercising their freedom of expression through art, by buying their art works as encouragement.”
Ultimately, KL’s burgeoning art scene provides an amazing reason to visit Malaysia’s capital city. Enjoy the city’s history and culture, and check out the cutting-edge contemporary artists, too. Here’s a list of some other great galleries to be found in Kuala Lumpur.
Photo: Kuala Lumpur’s City Gallery, another unique venue. Credit: Piyanat Satching / Shutterstock.com