Over the past four years, the Borneo Laboratory has woven together artists of diverse backgrounds and practices through their art. Aiming to bridge divisions and rekindle our shared roots through the ancestral wisdom drawn from Borneo's craft practices, Malayan communities, and global communities, the Lain Lain Project unveils these narratives through an evocative, thought-provoking exhibition, The Lain Lain Project. This trilogical exhibition features "Serumpun", which explores the...

We might be tempted to believe that to set off some of the city's best pyrotechnic nighttime spectaculars, you just gotta ignite the light and let it shine. But what happens before the fuses are lit? This week on I Love KL, we're joined by fireworks programmer Jeffry Bahary, the man behind the 2017 SEA Games fireworks and countless more firework spectacles around the world. From inspiration to ignition, Jeffry enlightens us on what it takes to put together a firework show, getting into the...

Part of the tradition of commemorating Hari Raya Aidilfitri is to get fresh attire in the form of Baju Raya. Traditionally, Baju Melayu is the go-to outfit for men, but these days, people look for other options too as alternatives. Then, there are also those that modernise the Baju Melayu in various different ways. Sometimes, to mass approval, and other times, to deafening criticism. In this episode of I Love KL, we go back to basics and break down the traditional Baju Melayu attire, from top...

Our conversations on heritage buildings have always had a mix of everything and is pretty even in its distribution, but for some people out there, their notion of heritage might tend to skew towards focusing on British colonial buildings, rather than vernacular or rural architecture. So, in this episode, to play a bit of a devil’s advocate, we decided to explore that question - do we focus too much on British colonial architecture? Photo credit: gumbao / Shutterstock.com See...

Somewhere In The Kuala is an illustrated children's book that follows two kids, Han and Mina, on their whimsical, curious, sometimes even treacherous, adventure as they run around KL. The book, written and illustrated by Lisa Goh and William Chew, features no words or dialogue, but paints a wondrous picture of our city, its iconic buildings and areas, and the people that make up the city's unique vibrancy - all seen through the eyes of kids. Lisa and William join us in the studio to talk...

Pertubuhan Cahaya Hawwa, or Percaya, is an NGO dedicated to uplifting and empowering women in need. Despite still being in its infancy, the three women behind the organisation are no strangers to community work, having organised the Sebalang Kasih initiative annually since 2016, which aims to ensure the poor and the less fortunate have kuih raya during the festive Raya period.As we look to "Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress" this International Women's Day, we listen to the stories of...

If you’re looking to learn more about the many architectural gems in KL, consider dropping by Singgah KL 2024! This third edition of guided tours organised by Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) will explore 20 built environments in Kuala Lumpur, from high rise condominiums to contemporary office buildings, event spaces and even a mall! We speak to its convener, Almaz Rahim, to learn more about the curation process, as well as why it’s important to connect architects to the public, in order to...

The recently completed Merdeka 118 and The Exchange 106 continue Kuala Lumpur’s trend of developing buildings that are meant to be the tallest in the country, region and the world. It’s interesting to note that once upon a time, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad was the tallest building in KL. It’s inevitable that progress and development have to happen a certain way, but that does not stop us from reflecting on the scale of iconic and monumental buildings, then and now. Tune in to hear...

This week on I Love KL, we immerse ourselves in the fantastical world of "Piying Dream", a brand-new immersive art exhibition at REXPERIENCE KL. The immersive exhibition, created by China-based immersive digital art exhibitor Temple of Light, is a digitally animated showcase of Chinese shadow puppetry that weaves together over 3,000 shadow puppet artefacts to create an audio-visual experience audiences can interact with and fully immerse themselves in.We speak to Jean Borie de Varine,...

From the outside, the world of bodybuilding might look very masculine, intimidating and vain, focusing on only aesthetics. But the truth is far from that as it’s a world filled with determined individuals that are very consistent, disciplined and meticulous in their routine. Joining us in this episode to dispel myths and misconceptions about bodybuilding and strength training is Kumareswarren Ramasamy, bodybuilder and winner of Mr. Malaysia 2023. He reveals what it’s like to be a bodybuilder,...

In a move that’s considered pretty regressive, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Land Executive Committee is planning to degazette the land around Sungai Bunus flood retention pond, less than 4 years after gazetting it as an impounding reservoir. Despite claiming that the degazettement will be done purely to amend the land status to “Flood Retention Pond and Open Area” from solely “Flood Retention Pond”, the revision might open up the risk of potential development taking place around the...

Explore the fascinating history and complex narratives of Malaysia's new villages on this week's episode of "I Love KL." Join us as we ponder and navigate their origins, evolution, complexities and larger relationships with our society, then and now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five-foot ways, known as 'kaki-lima', refer to five-foot-wide covered walkways extending along the fronts of shop houses or buildings. They serve as pathways for pedestrians and spaces for various transit activities. This week on I Love KL, we engage in a discussion with Camelia Kusumo and Lee Sze-ee, the authors of 'Kaki Lima Stories - Life In The Five Foot Ways of Downtown Kuala Lumpur', exploring the uniqueness of these walkways, their role in fostering 'sticky' businesses, and the ongoing...

When our Tugu Negara was bombed by the Communist in 1975, the government enlisted the help of an Australian sculptor, Christopher Carney to help restore it back to its original state. Christopher was a lecturer at UiTM then, and he decided to get three of his students - Abdul Mansoor Ibrahim, Abdul Mufti Jantan and Zolkeply Maulana - to help him out. They worked on the project for a year and managed to restore the monument successfully. Soon after that, they parted ways. 46 years later, they...

To some, twirling pens comes subconsciously and more of a way to kill time or to just fool around. For Marcus Ling, it became more than that, as his competitive edge of wanting to be better than his friend led him down the path of becoming very skillful at it. Joining us in his capacity as a moderator of Malaysia Pen Spinning Community (MYPSC), he shares the journey of getting into the hobby, what the community is like and what it takes to be good at it. Image credit: YouTube @WorldXM See...

Rumah Tangsi, nestled at Lot 10 on Jalan Tangsi in Kuala Lumpur, stands as a heritage building steeped in history. Once the residence of Loke Chow Kit, a prominent entrepreneurial figure in early 20th-century Kuala Lumpur, this mansion boasts a bright yellow exterior and embodies European architectural styles. Its name, "Rumah Tangsi," reflects its location on Jalan Tangsi, previously known as Barrack Road, hinting at its past connection to police barracks. Over time, it underwent various ...

In this episode of I Love KL, we ruminate about Bukit Jalil and its status as KL’s sporting hub and whether they’re able to outgrow that identity moving forward. According to Elizabeth, it might be difficult as a lot of us vividly remember the Commonwealth Games back in 1998 and its close association with the National Stadium Bukit Jalil and the area. Tune in to hear more of our thoughts! image credit: Bartosz Sakwerda @ Wikipedia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Step into the whimsical realm of tufting as we sit down with the founder of Toui Studio, Jenna Loo Xin Xuan in this week's episode of I Love KL. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of this mesmerising textile art form, exploring the local tufting scene and inspiration behind Jenna's studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of I Love KL, we check out Urban Museum (or Ur-Mu), Bukit Bintang’s hidden museum that’s contemporary, eclectic and thought-provoking. Join us as its manager, Munira Huda leads us through the museum's history, its captivating collections, and its vision, offering a deeper insight into the cultural significance of this unique museum in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hazazi Hamzah, one third of E9A Architecture, which I Love KL has featured before, joins us for an introspective look at the local architecture scene and the conversations that are happening (or not) over here. How do architects here look at design, and are we collectively doing a good job in conveying its supposed meaning to the public? We explore these themes and more in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes, in trying to aspire for a unifying narrative, we might forget to pay close attention to the smaller narratives from the less mainstream communities. Which is why maybe it’s a good time for us to consider including these narratives, via a more granular approach of cultural mapping? That’s what heritage conservation expert, Elizabeth Cardosa is proposing, inspired by what the Philippines has recently done. Tune in to hear her thoughts on it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Kuala Lumpur Design Festival returns for its second year, with the intention of making design at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts. Co-founders of the festival, Razif Nasruddin and Shafique Badril join us on the show to walk us through the philosophy behind the festival, why we should prioritise design and the potential that it has in contributing to the nation’s growth, as well as why design, creative and functional, should be celebrated. Kuala Lumpur Design Festival 2023 is happening on...

Recently, the government announced their intention to table an urban renewal act by next year, to make sure that future urban renewal efforts can be done in a more systematic and efficient way. Currently, the country does not have a specific act in place, and any redevelopment attempts fall under nine different laws and legislations. Is this a step in the right direction for our city and Kuala Lumpur, specifically? President of Pereka Bandar, Shuhana Shamsuddin shares her thoughts and...

In the present time, buildings such as Sultan Abdul Samad, Carcosa Seri Negara and Central Market are considered heritage buildings and have been gazetted as such. But if we were to look into the future, 100 years from now, what other contemporary buildings, monuments and landmarks will be part of that elite group? Will the buildings we know and love now, like the KLCC Twin Towers and the upcoming Merdeka 118 be considered as heritage buildings in the next 100 years? Heritage conservation...

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of anime, comics, and gaming as we explore the vibrant tapestry of Animangaki 2023. Join us for an engaging conversation with Yvonne Sing, the founder and director, along with Jo Lynn Lim, the co-director of Animangaki. Together, we'll uncover the true essence of ACG culture and its significance, especially now that these conventions happen more frequently across the Klang Valley. How do they keep things fresh, and make sure that Animangaki is still...