Art Scene in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is a melting pot of artistic flair - right from the galleries to artists to performing arts to music, it is truly a treasure trove of Malaysian art. Although the artistic community is small and not comparable to those in Paris or Venice, it is nevertheless growing as can be testified by the many art galleries, art centres and performance arts bodies that have sprouted over the last five years in Kuala Lumpur. Within Kuala Lumpur are a number of very impressive art galleries.

 

Still Art

The National Art Gallery

One of the oldest and most established of all the galleries within Kuala Lumpur is without question the acclaimed National Art Gallery, which is close to Lake Titiwangsa and was actually founded in the late 1950s, boasting fine Malay art and a very unusual modern structure. It houses five galleries including a creative gallery and workshop, a resource centre, an auditorium and the gallery’s administrative centre. The National Art Gallery has a permanent collection of work by contemporary Malaysian astists, and rotating exibitions of Asian and international art, including photography. It is a centre for cultural items, art and crafts.

 

The Islamic Arts Museum

The Islamic Arts Museum, Malaysia was actually the very first art gallery of its kind to open in the entire region and is dedicated to nothing other than classic Islamic art. The building itself is impressive and stands out in Kuala Lumpur, showcasing the very best in Islamic design, with a series of very eye-catching domes. The Islamic Arts Museum is home to thousands of artefacts, ceramics, paintings and sculptures. It is one of its kind in Asia Pacific Region. For potential young artists who have passion in arts and do not know where to express themselves, The Annexe is the perfect place. They not only exhibit artworks, but also having events like music, drama, film screening and so on.

 

The Artists Colony

If you like watching artists at work up close, you should visit the Artists Colony in Jalan Conlay. Located within the Infokraf or the International Crafts Complex is a small cluster of huts rented out to artists. You can have a one on one with the artists and works are also sold here.

 

The Petronas Art Gallery, another centre for fine art, is situated in Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). The Galeri Tangsi near Dataran Merdeka houses exhibitions of works by local and foreign artists.

 

Performing Arts

Kuala Lumpur hosts to a variety of exciting events in the arts & entertainment scene each year. Music has always been a key form of entertainment for people. As Kuala Lumpur has a mixed society, you can find local Malay, Chinese and Indian singers holding concerts. World famous bands from America and Europe often hold concerts in Kuala Lumpur stadiums, attracting large crowds in the thousands. Canto-pop singers from Hong Kong and Taiwan are extremely popular and make regular appearances in Malaysia, along with the occasional Indonesian or Bollywood group. Enjoy musical concerts that range from local artistes to international stars on stage. The theatre is another vibrant scene with frequent performances from overseas thespians and local actors.

 

The Istana Budaya

Next to the National Art Gallery is the venue for performing arts or the National Theatre, known locally as Istana Budaya. Local and international class performances are held here regularly.

 

 

The Petronas Philharmonic Hall

This is Kuala Lumpur’s premier performing arts venue. The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, is located in one of the world’s tallest buildings, the Petronas Twin Towers. With a world-class hall and a skilled group of musicians, the Philharmonic Orchestra holds chamber concerts regularly every month.

 

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre or Pentas Seni. Located in Sentul, this is a large centre with two theatres and a resource centre for all things related to the stage. They often hold musicals, plays and dances as well as nurture budding thespians with constant workshops.

 

The Sutra Dance Theatre

The Sutra Dance Theatre in Tititwangsa area, which is actually a bungalow house in a residential area that's shaped like a Balinese garden. Here, the focus is mostly on Indian cultural dances but the group of dancers come from different races.

 

 

 

Malaysian Art is here to stay, with artists forging stronger links with other South East Asian artists, galleries and museums. Most importantly it is the emergence of a younger generation of curators, returned from studies abroad with a determination to bring higher critical standards and greater sophistication to the scene. If you pay attention to your surroundings, you will notice the beautiful blend of the modern with the old. Malaysian artisans and artists have always gone beyond cultural, ethnic and religious boundaries to find their inspirations, influencing the way in which the country’s crafts, cuisine and architecture were created.