Art

The Godown launches Buka Buku, an art exhibition on openness and cultural exchange

Buka Buku will allow Malaysians a first hand view of these unique works from an exhibition that has travelled to many countries since 2012

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 16 Dec 2021 1:10PM

The Godown launches Buka Buku, an art exhibition on openness and cultural exchange — Buka Buku will be held at the Main Hall of The Godown between December 10, to January 16, 2022. Exhibition hours are between 11am to 7pm daily. – Pic courtesy of The Godown, December 16, 2021

LOCAL arts centre, The Godown, located in Lorong Ampang, opens its doors for the BUKA BUKU Art Exhibition which takes place from December 10 through January 16, 2022.

BUKA BUKU, a collaboration with Open Books, a collective of international curators and artists, is supported by MyCreative Ventures and the Arts Council of Wales and features over 60 contemporary works by artists from different countries including Wales, China, Australia, Canada, India and the US.

The focus of the artworks is the Chinese folding book, a unique instrument on which the artists from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to utilise materials and methodologies that reflect their personal art practice. The result is a unique collection of works using distinct materials and varying styles that captures the spirit of equality and collaboration championed by the Open Books project.

Four Malaysian artists, Ang Xia Yi, Lim Eu Jin, Pangrok Sulap and Shaman Tearoom, are participating and presenting works created in collaboration with international counterparts, as well as host workshops over the month-long exhibition. – Pics courtesy of The Godown

Since its inception in 2012 in Wales, the exhibition has travelled to many cities around the world and grown in size with participation by local artists in each new country it visits. BUKA BUKU at The Godown marks the inaugural showing in Malaysia with participation by Malaysian artists for the first time.

In addition to the physical exhibits and arising due to travel restrictions, BUKA BUKU at The Godown will be premiering digital works by the Malaysian artists Ang Xia Yi, Lim Eu Jin, Pangrok Sulap, Shaman Tearoom and their international counterparts Sue Williams, Maggie James, Valerie Coffin-Price, Chris Bird-Jones, Ruchika Wason Singh, Aidan Myers, Mylo Elliott, Zhang Le, Ivor Davies and Ren Jie. These digital works can also be viewed via a dedicated website to be launched in conjunction with the BUKA BUKU exhibition.

The result of Open Books Online is a collection of digital works that challenge the limitations of the folding book and its production through unconventional means. By originating artworks in the virtual sphere, the artworks themselves explore the issue of translating an experience from digital to physical for Buka Buku, and the fundamental relationship between context and material.

The Chinese folding book presented the world with a more democratic opportunity to dive into any creative process. – Pics courtesy of The Godown

BUKA BUKU will be held at the Main Hall of The Godown between December 10, 2021 to January 16, 2022. Admission is free by registration via http://www.thegodown.com.my/bukabuku. Exhibition hours are between 11am to 7pm daily.

Workshops and artist talks

In addition to the exhibition, BUKA BUKU will be organising workshops and artist talks that are open to the public, with pre-event registrations.

December 11-12 2021 – Woodcut Printmaking with Pangrok Sulap

December 18 2021 – Re-Looking At The World From My Bedroom: A sharing session with photographer, Ang Xia Yi

December 19 2021 – Making, Drawing and Building: A sharing session with Lim Eu Jin

January 8-9 2022 – Interactive performances by Shaman Tearoom. – The Vibes, December 16, 2021