In August 2015, Ilham Gallery opened its doors in Kuala Lumpur with Picturing The Nation, a debut exhibition of portraits and sketches by the late Datuk Hoessein Enas (1924–1995), capturing scenes from his travels across a young Malaysia in the 1960s.
A decade on, Ilham Gallery is channelling that same spirit of exploration with “Skola Gambar Ilham” – a mobile gallery housed in a 12m climate-controlled shipping container, set to tour the country and bring Malaysian art to audiences beyond the capital.
Featuring painting, printmaking, collage, batik, photography, sculpture, and video, the Skola Gambar Ilham mobile exhibition offers an accessible introduction to contemporary Malaysian art. Photo: The Star/Muhamad Shahril Rosli
“Over the years, we have seen a huge increase in the number of visitors to Ilham Gallery which has been wonderful. Now, we want to bring Ilham out to the community, where we hope it can impact a wider audience,” says Rahel Joseph, gallery director of Ilham.
Skola Gambar Ilham, showcasing works from the gallery’s permanent collection, is a fitting way to mark Ilham Gallery’s 10th anniversary – especially at a time when decentralisation has become a key focus for art institutions.
In addition to touring Klang Valley locations in July and August, the Skola Gambar Ilham truck will also be parked outside the Ilham building on weekends over the next two months. Photo: The Star/Muhamad Shahril Rosli
“This mobile gallery truck project continues our mission to make Malaysian art more accessible to all Malaysians as we believe that arts education is a valuable resource to inculcate creative and critical thinking in our young people,” says Joseph.
“We know that museums and galleries are usually visited by those living in Kuala Lumpur with easy access. We want to bridge that inequality by bringing the gallery experience to communities who would not normally have the opportunity to visit,” she adds.
What can you pack in a truck?
The specially curated exhibition aboard the mobile gallery truck is titled Ceritalah and features works by 12 Malaysian artists: Anisa Abdullah, Ho Mei Kei, Ismail Hashim, Joshua Kane Gomes, Kide Baharudin, Nadirah Zakariya, Padil Osman, Pangrok Sulap, Rafiee Ghani, Sharon Chin, Vincent Leong, and Yau Bee Ling.
The ‘Ceritalah’ exhibition – housed in the truck – will also include educational materials to provide context and spark discussion, especially for students. Each stop will also host workshops and community programmes. Photo: The Star/Muhamad Shahril Rosli
Spanning painting, printmaking, collage, batik, photography, sculpture, and video, the exhibition presents an accessible entry point into contemporary Malaysian art. It explores how artists tell stories about life in Malaysia today – capturing scenes from city and kampung life, and reflecting on our connections to the environment, family, and one another.
Ceritalah will be accompanied by educational materials and texts designed to provide context and spark discussion, especially among students. Each stop will also feature workshops and public programmes tailored to the local community.
A visitor snaps a photo of ‘Tidur Punya Ralit Bom Meletup Pun Tak Sedar’, an iconic 1983 work by the late artist-photographer Ismail Hashim. Photo: The Star/Muhamad Shahril Rosli
Phase 1 of Skola Gambar Ilham kicks off in July and August 2025, bringing the mobile gallery to low-cost flats and community centres around the Klang Valley.
In Phases 2 and 3, the gallery will travel to other parts of Malaysia – including Sabah and Sarawak – over the following two years.
The Skola Gambar Ilham mobile gallery truck will also be parked outside the Ilham Gallery building in KL on June 29, July 8-10, July 15–17, July 22-24, July 29-31 , Aug 5–7 and Aug 12–14.
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