Gallery Weekend Kuala Lumpur (GWKL) 2020 returns for its 5th Edition with a diverse and accessible programme, from 26th November to 6th December. Expect a multitude of talents showcased by galleries, independent projects, open studios, public collections, as well as the famed Luminary programme.
Staying true to its new tagline of ‘Mapping the Multi-Discipline Together’, GWKL was started by Shalini Ganendra (Shalini Ganendra Advisory) as a 'connecting' public project, in 2016. As a free annual cultural marquee with multi-disciplinary programmes, GWKL focuses on Malaysia as an emerging cultural centre.
GWKL will support more than 30 events, exhibitions, and talks over 10 days which will be accessible through digital platforms — just enough time to attend them all! Participants will be offering exhibitions and on site programmes; among others, Galeri Petronas will be having visual modules; G13 Gallery, a group exhibition featuring printmaking techniques and prints; Rimbun Dahan, an exhibition of works by women artists who participated in the centre's residency programme. Ilham Gallery showcases vintage photography from Malaysia.
The anchor feature of GWKL is its Luminary Programme, which hosts a range of influential speakers from creative enterprises. This year’s Luminary programme is organised around themes of adaptation and change, with sessions titled ‘Balancing the Biennials’, ‘Reconnecting, Museum and Gallery Developments’, ‘Creating and Curating in this New Normal’ and ‘Young Collectors and New Collections’. Speakers include Patrick Flores, renowned curator of multiple biennials including Singapore (2019) and Venice (2022); Aaron Seeto, Director of The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (MACAN); Wanda Nanibush, Curator of Indigenous Art at Art Gallery of Ontario; Shabbir Hussain Mustafa, Senior Curator of National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Art Museum; Jose Da Silva, Director of UNSW Galleries; Ernesto Pujazon, artist and educator; Dr. Emelia Ong, artist and writer; Elias Yamani, Malaysian artist.
Fully embracing the new normal necessitated by recent events, GWKL showcases culture as an opportunity to widen community and international outreach. This year's offerings will include a significantly virtual presence, with physical events as an when permitted. For the first time ever, the Luminary talks will be held as webinars, enabling global participation in important conversations about the creative world.
GWKL is the only one of its kind in Malaysia where different backgrounds could come under one great cultural umbrella to celebrate Malaysia’s evolving artistic tradition. Inclusivity and accessibility are at the heart of GWKL; there is something for everyone
For more information visit GWKL’s new website, to discover the unique Malaysian art and cultural landscape.
