By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 16: The National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur continues its commitment to nurturing Malaysia’s visual arts landscape with the launch of two contemporary ceramic exhibitions — ‘Spatial Creative – Ceramic Zone’ and ‘Asal Tanah’ — now open to the public until April 30, 2026.
The exhibitions, held at Level 1 and Gallery 2B of the National Art Gallery, were officially opened today by Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) secretary-general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot.
Also present at the opening were National Art Gallery director-general Amerrudin Ahmad, senior MOTAC officials, representatives from various departments and agencies, local artists and project collaborators.
According to a press release by MOTAC, a total of 39 ceramic artworks are showcased under the Spatial Creative – Ceramic Zone exhibition, featuring artistic ceramics, pottery, tableware and sculptures that reflect a wide range of techniques, creativity and contemporary approaches.
The works were produced through the Spatial Creative – Ceramic Zone (SCCZ) Residency Programme, held from Oct 22 to 30 last year, which brought together 10 artists from diverse backgrounds to explore the possibilities of contemporary ceramic art in Malaysia.
The participating artists are Amy Nazira, Sabri Idrus, Saiful Razman, S. Amin Shahab, Bone Alfie, Shafiq Nordin, Amer01, Khairul Izzuddin, Kenji Chai and Tan Kai Sheuan.
Designed as an intensive and hands-on platform, the residency programme allowed artists to produce new works in professional studio environments under the guidance of experienced ceramic practitioners.
The programme was conducted at three key ceramic-making locations — BK Art Studio in Kuala Kangsar, Perak; Ilham Ceramic Studio in Langkawi, Kedah; and Sari Chempaka Art Village in Karak, Pahang — with mentorship from Mohammad Radzi Ismail, Ibrahim Mohd Don @ Dun, and Muhammad Aimanuddin Kasman.
According to the National Art Gallery, the residency not only enhanced participants’ technical skills, but also deepened their understanding of the relationship between form, function and space in ceramic design, while strengthening collaboration between multi-generational artists and local ceramic communities.
Complementing the residency showcase is the Asal Tanah exhibition, which features 83 ceramic artworks drawn from the National Visual Arts Collection as well as invited artists.
The exhibition includes works by members of the Perak Ceramic Arts Association (PERSERA), alongside collaborative pieces developed through the After Monsoon Project involving the Pantai Pulau Kundur community in Kelantan.
The gallery said the programme aims to act as a catalyst for the growth of Malaysia’s ceramic arts ecosystem, positioning ceramic art as a vital discipline within the country’s contemporary art scene.
It also aligns with the Innovation pillar under the Malaysia MADANI framework, while creating economic opportunities and income-generating spaces for local art practitioners.
Members of the public are invited to visit both exhibitions until April 30, 2026. For more information, visit the National Art Gallery’s official website or social media platforms. — DayakDaily
