Thinking of what to do this weekend? Well, here’s an idea – on August 27, a Merdeka-themed celebration will be hosted in the precinct of Merdeka 118 in Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur. Pestza’s all-day event will take place from 11am to 11pm, and it will be spread across three different locations – the Zhongshan building, Pentago House, and SAM Mansion in Kampung Attap.
The event is a collaboration between the architecture firm Pentago, the apartment complex SAM Mansion, and the Zhongshan Building arts hub. Expect a wide variety of activities, including film screenings, workshops, exhibitions, open studios, food trucks, artisanal vendors, wayang kulit and poetry performances, and a live art session.
Here’s what to expect:
SAM Mansion
Start at SAM Mansion, an inconspicuous apartment complex that has become trendy since Transparent Coffee opened and artist Red Hong Yi moved her studio there. A community market will be held in the building’s open-air parking lot, live music performances along the building’s balconies, and an open studio where artist Red Hong Yi will display her ‘Tanah’ series from 2021.
For the kids, Kakiseni‘s seminars and wayang kulit performances are sure to thrill them. As you make your way from one location to the next, keep an eye out for the marching bands and live mural painting by artist Fritilldea.
Pentago House
Take some time to yourself and visit the Pentago House literary exhibition titled ‘A Wasteland of Malaysian Poetry’ in English, which charts the development of English-language poetry in Malaysia from colonial times to the present day.
The Zhongshan Building
At The Zhongshan Building, between Pentago and SAM Mansion, there will be a flurry of activity in the arts scene, showcasing the best of local artists. An interactive display will tell the stories of two of Kuala Lumpur’s most recognisable landmarks, the restored, historical Stadium Merdeka, and the cutting-edge Merdeka 118 tower, at The Zhongshan Building Annexe on 90 Jalan Tuba.
At the main Zhongshan building, guests can also see Si Anu Bah, a showcase of new media works from Sabah curated by Kenneth Lo and Emily Chin of Third Rice Culture Media Productions, Ning of HUNTWO Studios, and modern artist Yee I-Lann. For those who have never been to Kampung Attap, the Malaysia Design Archive is hosting a walking tour and workshop series that will teach you about the neighbourhood.
This event is brought to the public by Merdeka 118 and Kampung Attap Community, and is also supported by PNB Merdeka Ventures (PMV), Kampung Attap Arts and Culture Collective (KAMAC), Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) and Think City.
Admission to the events are free; however, events like workshops require pre-registration.
For more information and to register for PESZTA, click here.
