This is a non-exhaustive list of arts projects and events supported by The Godown as part of our mission to promote greater appreciation for our local arts, culture and architecture, and advocacy for nature conservation and social equity.
This support, given by way of rental subsidies and other contributions is funded mainly from profits that we generate from other commercial events. As we strive towards providing more opportunities for creatives and the achievement of our sustainability goals, we welcome contributions from sponsors and collaborators to help us further our mission.
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2024 Events
Indonesia Architecture Week KL 2024: Equatorial Synaesthesia
14-24 November 2024
11am-8pm
Indonesian Architects Week is a collateral event of Union of Architects International Forum 2024 (UIAKL2024). This year, 70 firms from 11 provinces in Indonesia will present their works. Hosted by PT Labo and curated by Rizki Supratman and Trianzani Sulshi, IAWKL2024 carries the theme Equatorial Synaesthesia: An Exploration of Sensory Harmony and Spatial Perception, Revisiting the Tenets of Critical Regionalism.
With a focus on the Equator and Synaesthesia, the theme invites the public to see architecture not merely as physical structures but as critical responses to tropical nature and local culture. Set against the natural challenges of the equatorial zone, this exhibition highlights how Indonesian architecture responds to extreme heat, humidity, and rainfall, balancing human needs with environmental considerations.
“Indonesian Architects Week 2024 in Kuala Lumpur brings forth a unique perspective on Indonesian architecture, closely attuned to the rhythm of nature and local culture. It’s not just about buildings; it’s about how architectural design can shape our sensory interaction with space.”
– Trianzani Sulshi, Co-curator of IAWKL2024
This year, the creative collaboration with Nusae, NOUV and Panisan Studio enhances the exhibition experience, creating a relevant dialogue and presentation of architecture on an international scale.
The event is free by registration and opens daily 11:00am-8:00pm.
IAWKL2024 is proudly sponsored by TEKA as the main sponsor, The Godown as the venue partner with additional support from Hobby Motor, Sandei, Intereka, Suzuka Paint, Artemi, and BAGASI.
Beyond Moving With Artisans: Rattan Weaving x Contemporary Dance
~ Live Performance, Installation, Exhibitions and Workshops
March-November 2024
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑠 "𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟."
— 𝑈𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑒 𝑁𝑔 𝐾𝑖𝑚 𝐿𝑜𝑜𝑛𝑔
JinnD Productions, an interdisciplinary arts collective presents the 5th edition of Beyond Moving with Artisans (BMoA) at The Godown with the theme Rattan Weaving x Contemporary Dance. Over a three-day period, BMoA will celebrate the final leg of the 9-months long journey with live performance combining dance, sound, art installation as well as an audio-visual exhibition and workshop.
Mirroring the gestation period of a mother birthing a new life into the universe, this unique project aims to unpack the rich heritage of rattan weaving from a contemporary perspective over the duration of 9 months. From March 2024, Beyond Moving with Artisans: Rattan Weaving x Contemporary Dance has hosted a series of more than ten events including workshops, artist talks, community training programmes and a lecture performance with local and international artisans and artists, organisations, as well as refugee and B40 communities. The series has been designed to engage with its audience through multiple entry points into the art of weaving, such as materiality, identity, environmental, biology, memory and so on.
Gathering essence from the series of encounters, the finale of Beyond Moving with Artisans: Rattan Weaving x Contemporary Dance is an interdisciplinary live performance. The performance features dance artist, Xue Li, installation artists, Li Cheng and Natalia Tan, and sound artist, Kent Lee, together in a multi-faceted production with choreography by dance artist Lau Beh Chin and dramaturgy by theatre maker Ridhwan Saidi.
Aside from the performance, the public are invited to view the installation exhibition and participate in the workshops to celebrate the enduring legacy of Rattan Weaving in Malaysian culture. Featured in the exhibition is a large-scale sculpture by Li Cheng that intertwines bamboo installations with rattan, textiles, and other materials. Visitors will be able to weave their own materials into this sculpture.
Choreography: Lau Beh Chin
Dramaturgy: Ridhwan Saidi
Installation art: Chua Li Cheng, with Natalia Tan
Supported by Yayasan Hasanah, The Krishen Jit Fund,, The Japan Foundation,, Filamen and The Godown
Things That Move by Gene Eu
14-31 March 2024
12pm-6pm
Gene Eu, an artist with a profound dedication to sustainability and conservation, is set to inspire audiences with his captivating series of paintings of Malaysia’s wildlife mammals. Things That Move is a homecoming solo exhibition for Eu who has until recently been based in the US as an artist and a farmer. Relocating home to Malaysia in 2020 and now based out of his organic farm in Bentong Pahang, Eu continues to foster a lifestyle that embraces the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature, while practising his art.
The exhibition is a celebration of Malaysia’s rich biodiversity and features a unique array of our fauna brought to life in Gene’s signature dry brush technique, a hallmark of his artistic style. The method which involves using Sumi ink on the brush imparts a distinctive texture and depth to his paintings creating a sense of translucency and an ethereal quality to his subjects. The Godown warmly invites art enthusiasts, conservation advocates, and the community to experience the magic of Things That Move.
Things That Move by Gene Eu
March 14 - 31 2024.
12pm - 6pm daily except Mondays.
Supported by The Godown
Image excerpt from: Gene Eu, Hog Badger (Chinese ink on paper)
IKAT 2.0
6-7 January 2024
10:30am-10:30pm
IKAT 2.0 showcases the best of traditional Borneoan textiles and takes place at The Godown on January 6-7, 2024. The programming will include immersive installation, heritage textile gallery, workshops, talks and a fashion show.
IKAT, short for “Immersive Knowledge and Textile” aims to conserve Malaysian textile heritage and re-invigorate the public’s engagement in these crafts with technology and collaborations with artisans, new media artists, educational institutions and others.
The “Dreamweavers” immersive installation invites visitors to step into a vibrant and dynamic realm inspired by the dreams of Bornean textile artisans. The Textile Gallery showcases traditional Borneon textiles including Iban handwoven pua kumbu, pis embroidery of the Rungus tribe, and beaded art by Borneo’s indigenous communities.
Curator: Jacqueline Fong
Workshops:
- pis embroidery: Crisna Mojupi (Kampung Lompozou, Sabah,)
- pua kumbu weaving: Helen Manjan Atong (Rumah Gare community, Kapit, Sarawak)
- traditional Bidayuh beading: Lucille Awen Jon (Kuching, Sarawak,)
Producer: Experiential Design Team (EDT)
Supported by: Yayasan Hasanah and The Godown
Spectrum of Sentiment by Lawrence Chiu and friends
19-20 January 2024
Spectrum of Sentiment is a collaborative work that fuses music with art and movement.
Instrumentalists Alwin Wong, Bonnie Kong, Chew Sze Gee, Foo Chie Haur, Lawrence Chiu and Wong Xue Fen, image maker Syahmi Hashim and dancer Erica Liew make up the talented ensemble who are all collaborating for the first time for this show which features all original music composed by Lawrence Chiu. Together, they invite you to journey with them and immerse yourself in the Spectrum of Sentiment, a beautiful, gentle, soul-enriching and heartwarming work which covers themes of love, loss, courage, hope and resilience.
This work is proudly supported by The Godown and The Flute Store.
Tickets RM85 (Concert Show 20 Jan) and RM55 (Open Rehearsal 19 Jan)
Senandung Kota by PUSAKA
6-8 October 2023
12pm-7pm
PANGGUNG PUSAKA: Senandung Kota, a special programme by PUSAKA celebrates intangible cultural heritage, in conjunction with their 21st Anniversary and Malaysia Day. The festival encompasses performances, an exhibition, short film screenings, workshops, and talks featuring masters and practitioners of traditional arts from diverse communities across Malaysia. There will also be a curated selection of Artisans, Books, and F&B pop-ups. This is a not-to-be-missed event for “culturistas” with some of the highlights including Kuda Kepang, Mah Meri’s Main Jo’oh dance, Main Puteri healing, Urumee Melum traditional drums originating from South India, Sumazau from Sabah and more!
Panggung PUSAKA: Senandung Kota
6-8 October 2023
Entry is Free.
Supported by MOTAC and The Godown.
Endless Buffet by Chadwick Moore
7 October-5 November 2023
12pm-7pm
Set foot into the enticing sphere of Chadwick Moore's recent artworks, where myth, nature, and the extravagance of consumer culture intermingle in thought-provoking ways. Proudly presented by The Godown, Endless Buffet comprising sculptures and paintings by the KL-based artist is currently on view at The Godown. The title of the show is an ironic reference to the all-pervasive consumerism that has taken over modern society.
Says Moore, “The show is a reflection on the idea and absurdity of excess consumption. It is about our entrenched compulsion to consume without thought or regard to the consequences’’,
Endless Buffet by Chadwick Moore
Curator: Ivan Alexander Francis Gabriel Exhibition hours: 12pm - 7pm , daily October 7 - November 5, 2023
Supported by The Godown. Entry is free.
L'Œuvre au Noir | Black Work by Vaultman
3-17 June 2023
12pm-7pm
The first solo exhibition in Malaysia by KL-based French artist Vaultman, Black Work | L’ouevre Au Noir takes place at The Godown from June 3-17, 2023. Born in Bayonne France in 1981, Vaultman is a painter and performer who has held numerous solo and group exhibitions and performances in Europe since 2017 including Madrid and Paris:
The choice of this title is inspired by a significant alchemical phrase. In this context, I intended to use alchemy as a metaphor for painting. Both disciplines share a common essence of pure creation. Just as in painting, alchemy involves blending basic elements to achieve an outcome that surpasses the mere sum of its component. Furthermore, both painting and alchemy possess an inherent quest for deeper knowledge, allowing those who engage with them to experience personal growth. This profound meaning encapsulates my paintings and art in general. ~ Vaultman
Th exhibition, comprising sixteen paintings is part of Le French Festival by Alliance Francaise. Entry is Free.
Curated by Huat Lim
Supported by The Godown
A Sea of Despair and Delight by chi too
4-19 March 2023
12pm-6pm
Presented by The Backroom KL, 𝗔 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, is chi tool’s ninth solo exhibition happening at The Godown. A suite of 21 paintings, fade to white.
The exhibition features a suite of 21 paintings in an interesting size: 167 × 170 cm, the height and wingspan of the artist (yes, he is wider than he is tall)..
𝗔 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
A solo exhibition by chi too
4–19 March 2023
The Godown Arts Centre
Opening reception: Saturday, 4 March 6 pm
Borneo Heart: Tamu Tanah & Air
25-26 February 2023
11am-6pm
A Sabah-style Tamu as part of Yee i-Lann's Borneo Heart in Kuala Lumpur, Tamu Tanah & Air at The Godown hosted organisations, artists, and collectives from Borneo and the Peninsula in selling goods, exchanging stories, workshops, art presentations and more. Participants included Borneo Bengkel, Borneo Lab, Kadazan Dusun Language Foundation, PACOS Trust, Pangrok Sulap, TONIBUNG, Gerimis, Free Tree Society, Lost Gens, Projek Rabak, The Rice Cooker Archives and many more!
Tickets: RM10 and for earlybird bookings, first 250 bookings will receive a RM5 COUPON to spend with participants/vendors. Free entry for kids & warga emas.
BAKUL: Everyday Baskets From Sabah
7 January - 23 February 2023
An exhibition about everyday baskets from Sabah based on the book by Jennifer P. Linggi A Kampung Legacy: A Journal of North Borneo's Traditional Baskets and her collection of baskets and sketches.
Curators:: Ling Hao and Tey Khang Siang
Buka Buku
10 December 2021- 21 January 2022
A collaboration with Open Books International (Mary Husted and Maggie James), Buka Buku is the Malaysian leg of a travelling exhibition originating from Wales, UK, and moving to different countries including US, Canada, India, China and Australia.. With works by 70 + artists which are re-interpretations of the Chinese folding book., Buka Buku features new works by Malaysian artists - Lim Eu Jin, Ang Xia Yi, Pangrok Sulap and Shaman Tearoom in collaboration with UK artists Maggie James, Sue Williams, Valerie Coffin Price and Chris Bird-Jones.
The Mirror (2021)
Ai Wei Foo, Kent Lee & Tey Khang Siang
June 2021
What You Are The World Is (2021)
Andrew Pok Chong Boon
9 April - 30 May 2021
Temasya Taming Sari (2020)
1-2 February 2020
URBN.SENI by Urbanscapes (2019)
16 - 24 November 2019
URBN.SENI", the inaugural Triennale Malaysia-Singapore Cultural Showcase, will be celebrating collaborations between the two countries with a live music performances, visual art exhibition, film, theatre and design. >