If you love art, filling up your free time this month will be a thing of joy. Check out these six art exhibitions in KL to explore this month. We know, there’s only three weekends left, but many of them run into February too. Learn about the history of Malaysia through various artefacts and installations at the 60 Cetera Somethings exhibition, or immerse yourself in Wong Perng Fey’s abstract art. If possible, visit all these art exhibitions in KL for a collective impression of the art scene in Malaysia.

1. Impetus by Richard Koh Fine Art Gallery

Impetus is artist Wong Perng Fey’s fourth solo exhibition at the Richard Koh Fine Art Gallery. The exhibition comprises a total of six large paneled pieces of abstract paintings on canvases and aluminium panels. After residing in the artist village of HeiQiao in Beijing for seven years, these works are the artist’s way of expressing closure and sorrow. The paintings depict his emotions when the residents, including himself were evicted from the village in the rise of urbanisation in China. Impetus is the story of the artist’s journey in finding himself, experiencing loss, and coming full circle. The exhibition also explores the movements and mutations of space in relation to identity, and the displacement of strategic urbanisation for economic interests.

Dates: 6 – 20 January 2018
Hours: 10am – 7pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays
Address: Richard Koh Fine Art, 229 Jalan Maarof, Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Website: rkfineart.com

2. The Horizon is Just an Illusion: New Thoughts on Landscape by OUR ArtProjects

Curated by Eva McGovern-Basa, this group exhibition features artists chi too, Dain Iskandar Said, Haffendi Anuar, Hayati Mokhtar, Lee Mok Yee, Sharmiza Abu Hassan, Tan Zi Hao, Viko Zhijune, Yee I-Lann, and Yeoh Choo Kuan. The theme of the exhibition is on landscapes and the horizon. While landscape art traditionally paid homage to natural beauty, it has changed over time to become backdrops for social, ethical, economic, and political realities. In this case, the horizon is defined as a visual grounding device and key element in constructing picture planes in art. The artists strived to create an unconventional vision of place and space so we can rethink how we see the world around us.

Dates: 12 January – 3 February 2018
Hours: 11am – 7pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays
Address: The Zhongshan Building, No. 80 Jalan Rotan, Off Jalan Kampung Attap, 50460 Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.ourartprojects.com

3. Kadang Kadang Dekat Dekat Akan Datang by A+ Works of Art

This is the fourth edition of “Kadang Kadang Dekat Dekat Akan Datang” exhibition featuring Samsudin Wahab. The multi-disciplinary Malaysian artist will be showcasing a new work as well as “Wira Bangsa”. The latter is an installation of four light boxes with video work. It was commissioned for the Kuandu Biennale: Slaying Monsters in Taiwan two years ago.

Dates: 17 January – 3 February 2018
Hours: 12 – 7pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays
Address: A+ Works of Art, D6-G-8, D6 Trade Centre, Jalan Sentul, 51000 Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.facebook.com/AplusArt.Asia

4. Alegori: Contemporary Art Expressions From Malay Manuscripts by Galeri Petronas

This group exhibition explores Malay metaphorical thinking through Malay manuscripts as well as the artistry of functional objects. These were created based on a variety of disciplines of knowledge that arguably formed the foundation of the Malay identity. The canonical manuscripts of Sulalatus Salatin and Hikayat Hang Tuah are among the significant manuscripts on display. There are about 20 rare Malay artefacts inspired by the Malay manuscripts, too. As a proper representation of Southeast Asian art’s traditional and cultural elements, 10 contemporary installations by regional and local artists are showcased.

Dates: 14 November 2017 – 4 February 2018
Hours: 10am – 8pm daily
Address: Lot 341-343, Level 3, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.galeripetronas.com.my

5. Malaysia: 60 Cetera Somethings by Bank Negara Museum and Art Gallery

In a timely and timeless manner, the Bank Negara Museum and Art Gallery presents this fascinating exhibition with a focus on nation building. With the intention to connect visitors to Malaysian history, the exhibition features memorable artefacts. Some examples are the ‘Nash Rambler Convertible M4442’ driven by Tunku Abdul Rahman to declare the independence date, the Federation of Malaya Independance Act 1957, and Rahman Talib Report concerning education standards of early Malaysians. There are also collectibles from the Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial, National Archive of Malaysia, Pos Malaysia Berhad, and the Malaysia Design Archive, among others.

Dates: October 2017 – February 2018
Hours: 10am – 6pm daily
Address: Bank Negara Museum and Art Gallery, Sasana Kijang, 2 Jalan Dato Onn, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.bnm.gov.my

6. Roots, Emerging Malaysia by Shalini Ganendra Fine Art

This group exhibition features artists Afiq Faris, Shaq Koyok, and Alena Murang. Varied in processes and materials, there are works made with batik blocks and painting on fabric, ceramic, and painting on handwoven ‘canvases.’ The uniting train of thought is the exploration of the artists’ roots. These might be of their personal ethnicities, traditional crafting techniques, or even mediums they’re familiar with like ceramic and painting. Pay a visit for a good insight to forms of Malaysian ‘roots’.

Dates: Opening cocktails on 18 January 2018
Hours: 11am – 7pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays
Address: Shalini Ganendra Fine Art, No. 8 Lorong 16/7B, Section 16, 46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Website: www.shaliniganendra.com