Art as Social Cartography: Tracing Communities in Malaysia’s Landscapes

This lecture introduces socially engaged art practices in Malaysia, where art intersects with heritage, memory, and community. Drawing on projects such as Bangsar Heritage Walks, Siamese Reversed food-art performance, and the proposed Jenjarom New Village digital cultural mapping initiative, Kenneth Wong See Huat reflects on how artists and curators reimagine local narratives through collaboration and place-based storytelling. The talk also revisits a series of guerrilla exhibitions in alternative and public spaces across Greater Kuala Lumpur, offering insights into the evolving ecosystem of socially grounded art and the role of curators in shaping inclusive cultural dialogue.

Kenneth Wong See Huat is a curator and heritage consultant from Malaysia whose work explores cultural memory, community engagement, and contemporary art in Southeast Asia. Currently an Asian Cultural Council Fellow based in New York, he has developed participatory and site-specific projects such as Bangsar Heritage Walks, the Siamese Reversed food-art performance, and the Jenjarom New Village digital cultural mapping initiative. His practice spans guerrilla exhibitions in alternative and public spaces across Greater Kuala Lumpur, connecting art, heritage, and everyday life. Kenneth serves on the board of ICOMOS Malaysia (2024-2027) and has written widely on art, culture, and urban transformation.