Wei-Ling Gallery Podcast: Recent Episodes
Wei Ling Gallery
WLG Discussion Lab Podcast, a platform initiated by Wei-Ling Gallery, where we share insights and hold conversations surrounding contemporary art.
In this episode, we sit down with Malaysian painter Yau Bee Ling for a rich and wide-ranging conversation that is as much about life as it is about art.
Yau Bee Ling has been painting for over three decades, and her current exhibition at Wei-Ling Gallery, Structural Voids, invites us to pause and pay attention to the spaces we so often walk past without a second thought. The gaps, the silences, the in-between. In her hands, these voids are not empty. They carry weight, meaning, and a quiet kind of philosophy that runs through everything she makes.
We talk about what it means to build a life around painting as a woman in Malaysia, the invisible structures that shape our everyday experiences, and how raising her children has deepened and shifted the way she sees the world and her work. We also get into something that is on every artist's mind right now, the rise of AI, and what it truly means for creativity, authorship, and the future of art.
This episode also marks the release of her new book, The Weaving of Life: Art, True Trials and Triumphs, a deeply personal account of her journey as an artist, a mother, and a woman who has spent thirty years weaving meaning out of paint and canvas.
Structural Voids is on view at Wei-Ling Gallery until June 6 2026. The book is available for purchase at the gallery for RM250. Check with us on availability.
Hosted by Prissie Ong, this episode of the WLG Podcast features young Malaysian artist Iwadh Mahadi, selected for the 2025 WLG Incubator programme. Joined by his mentor, contemporary artist Choy Chun Wei, the conversation examines Iwadh’s body of work 'Trilogy: The Lightseeker' and the mentorship journey behind it. Exploring the dialogues, processes, and exchanges that shaped his artistic growth, and how both artist and mentor navigate the search for light, meaning, and creative clarity.
Malaysian artist and author Leon Leong joins us to talk about 'Making Room', his solo exhibition featuring three pivotal bodies of work, The Floating World of Kampung Baru, Cracks in the Wall (Razak Mansion), and AISYALAM: The Tree Nation.
Leon’s practice explores the relationship between people and the built environment, weaving together social critique, creative storytelling, and a mix of fact, fiction, documentation and memory. His Stilt Houses – The Floating World of Kampung Baru (2022) was shown at Ilham Gallery’s Triennial Ilham Art Show 2022 and later at the IX Tashkent International Biennale of Contemporary Art, where it received a special jury prize. His mixed-media installation series Cracks in the Wall (2018) was featured at the inaugural Kuala Lumpur Biennale and the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage 20/20 Forum.
Leon is also the author of the novel Beautiful Things (2006), published by Crown Publishing Taiwan and serialized in Sin Chew Daily, which was a top five finalist for the Crown World Fiction Prize. His short stories have been recognised internationally and included in an anthology of Malaysian fiction. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Texas at Austin.
In this episode, Malaysian artist Khabir Roslan reflects on the ideas behind his first ever solo exhibition 'Sukma: Megah, Tundok'. Through stories of personal memory, inherited gestures and spiritual reckoning, he speaks about the body as one that mirrors collective longing, pride and the quiet weight of humility.
Starting off 2025, we’ve presented Ivan Lam’s 'The Dichotomy of Opposites', a solo exhibition that examines the push and pull between chaos and control, doubt and certainty. In this short episode, we sit down with Ivan to discuss his latest body of work, his creative process, and how he navigates these opposing forces in art and life.
Hosted by Amanda Ariawan, this episode of the WLG Podcast features Lee Mok Yee and Ryan Naga, two young Malaysian artists selected as 2024 WLG Incubator Artists under the mentorship of Rajinder Singh, with co-mentor Anida Yoeu Ali. They discuss the thought processes and inspirations behind their works in their WLG Incubator group show, 'I AM A PRAYER'.
Kuala Lumpur-based artist Anas Afandi presents his first solo exhibition with us, where he discusses the colonial legacies that shape Malaysia’s pride today. With a playful twist, Anas offers his unique insights, making complex themes accessible and engaging.
London-based Malaysian artist Rajinder Singh returns for his fourth exhibition at Wei-Ling Gallery with 'Saffron Surrender', where he peers into collective memories and the suppurating wound left on the Sikh community by British colonialism.
Japanese contemporary artist Ken Matsubara unravels figments of memories in his 'Repetition' series, featured in the group exhibition 'And the invader’s fear of memories' at Wei-Ling Gallery from July 9 to August 10, 2024.
Indonesian contemporary artist FX Harsono shares details and thought processes behind his installation work 'Shadow of Identity', featured in the group exhibition 'And the invader’s fear of memories' from July 9 to August 10, 2024.
Tune in as Malaysian artist Sean Lean shares insights into his creative process, the significance of his chosen medium, and the sources of inspiration behind his artworks in his sixth solo exhibition, 'COLORED'.
After a decade, Rome-based Malaysian artist H. H. Lim returns to Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur to present his second solo exhibition in Malaysia entitled 'The Gaze of Sleepwalkers'. He shares his personal inspirations and reflects on the philosophy behind his series of works and installations.
With a 25-year career in fine arts, prolific Malaysian painter Yau Bee Ling unveils the narrative behind her seventh solo exhibition at Wei-Ling Gallery, titled 'Redefining Resilience: Embracing the Battleground Within and Beyond.' Through a wealth of life experiences, she delves into the essence of resilience, exploring the contrast between inner and outer landscapes, portraying art as a form of therapeutic expression.
We peel back the layers of multidisciplinary Dutch-Malaysian-Chinese artist Yin Yin Wong's creative process and diaspora, offering insights into the dynamic interaction of various experiences that shaped their latest solo exhibition at Wei-Ling Gallery entitled 'Letters to Lalalam'.
Join us as Malaysian pop-contemporary artist Wong Chee Meng takes us on an intriguing exploration of his fifth solo exhibition with Wei-Ling Gallery entitled 'Rasa Sayang', shedding light on his artistic vision of acculturation and the integration of augmented reality (AR) that breathes life into his pieces.
In this special episode of the Wei-Ling Gallery podcast, discover the transformative power of gallery representation for artists as Gallery Director Lim Wei-Ling shares insights in this enlightening podcast. Explore how galleries provide a vital platform for artists to showcase their work, connect with audiences, and thrive in the art community.
Embark on a journey of discovery in this special episode of the Wei-Ling Gallery as Gallery Director Lim Wei-Ling reveals her wisdom and expertise in initiating your own contemporary art collection and identifying artists truly worth collecting.
In this episode, we continue our conversation with UK-based contemporary artist, Adam Chodzko, along with his thought processes, sourcing and meaning behind three distinct bodies of work that are a part of his most recent exhibition in Wei-Ling Contemporary entitled ‘but as we looked it suddenly began to change’, which was co-supported by the British Council.
From vivid childhood dreams to anthropological studies, this episode features an in-depth discussion with UK-based contemporary artist, Adam Chodzko, where we will uncover the grassroots behind his latest exhibition in Wei-Ling Contemporary entitled ‘but as we looked it suddenly began to change’, with support by the British Council.
Local Malaysian artist, Ivan Lam brings "Blind Side" where he explores the theme of creating works that enable the blind to experience sight, rather than simply making sighted people feel blind. Partnering with the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB), Ivan investigates the use of braille and audio to create works that are meaningful for the blind. The challenge is to create art that is no longer focused on sight, which requires a recalibration of the artist's studio practice.
The exhibition aims to raise awareness about the importance of sight and how we take it for granted. While the works can still be appreciated by sighted people, they are designed to be experienced more fully by the blind.
What do you get when you engineer pigs to have human compatible hearts? And Can we really showcase the splitting image of a stranger just with their DNA?. These are the questions that artist, Heather Dewey-Hagborg took on.
What inspires an artist to create? From trigger-points, emotions to fears and doubts which gave birth to a breath-taking body of works, two of Malaysia's most progressive artists, Anurendra Jegadeva and Sean Lean share their thought processes.
Malaysian artist Yau Bee Ling discusses work processes for her latest solo exhibition 'Light Bearer' and reflects on significant moments in a lifetime of artistic engagement.
'Light Bearer' runs until Saturday, 26 November 2022.
Tune in to our conversation with Malaysian artist Norma Abbas, as she discusses her art practice and the inspiration behind her latest works.
In an exhilarating conversation with renowned Malaysian artist Rajinder Singh who is based in London/ Dublin, he speaks about his art processes, personal turmoils, understanding his history and culture through the magical sphere of sounds and its intimations.
'Saffron Songs', his third solo exhibition with Wei-Ling Gallery runs until Saturday, 10 September 2022.
The artist reminisces about her relationship with Wei-Ling Gallery, growth in art practice and latest work for the 20th Anniversary show.
The artist reminisces about his relationship with Wei-Ling Gallery, growth in art practice and latest work for the 20th Anniversary show.
The artist reminisces about his relationship with Wei-Ling Gallery, growth in art practice and latest work for the 20th Anniversary show.
The artist reminisces about his relationship with Wei-Ling Gallery, growth in art practice and latest work for the 20th Anniversary show.
The artist reminisces about his relationship with Wei-Ling Gallery, growth in art practice and latest work for the 20th Anniversary show.
Why is the Gallery's 20 Anniversary Exhibition title causing such a stir? Tune in! And discover the exciting ongoing programs the Gallery offers for up and coming artists as well as for the public.
Welcome to Wei-Ling Gallery Artist Podcast Sessions. What is "real" art? How does one begin an art collection? Tune in in this part 2 session and find out!
Welcome to Wei-Ling Gallery Artist Podcast Sessions. In this first episode, Lim Wei-Ling discusses how the Gallery took root and thoughts on artist practices.
WLGPodcast | Dorothy Parker once suggested that “Art is a form of catharsis.” As an art enthusiast, do you agree with this statement?
In our latest WLG Podcast episode, we discussed this topic with Malaysian contemporary artist Ivan Lam in relation to his new series 'catharsis'. The artist shared his personal journey of understanding and accepting both physical and emotional pain within the painting sphere. How did the artist use his creativity to tackle physical pain and suffering? What positive effects did the process of making this series bring to his state-of-mind?
Learn about the exhibition currently held at Wei-Ling Gallery, 'It's Been a While and I'm Finally Here...', featuring Tang Tze Lye's latest works!
This new series is a culmination of his experimentations surrounding themes he has always been drawn to: the body, queer identities and beauty. The main artworks, taking form as a combination between painting and sculpture once again expresses a journey of seeking true identities.
In this revealing conversation, you will get an up close and personal understanding on the reasons behind his works. How did Tze Lye overcome his fears? Which poet gifted inspiration? Where did the idea of using plastic food containers and serviettes come from? Why the colour pink?
In the previous two episodes, Gallery Director Lim Wei-Ling conversed with Malaysian contemporary artist Ivan Lam, discussing the roots and growth of his artistic journey which unfolded with silkscreen and mixed media renderings to later, painting. Chapter 3 of Ivan's 'Retrospective' series covers an important phase in his practice: using resin in a series of layers, resulting in works which are intriguing, incisive and brimming with sinewy intellectualism.
‘Retrospective’ is Wei-Ling Gallery Podcast's newly-launched series of candid conversations with established Malaysian artists covering a vast array of topics. Watch as we unravel their personal art history, how they chartered their courses and narratives.
Last week, our Gallery Director Lim Wei-Ling spoke to Malaysian contemporary artist Ivan Lam about his early career, which saw him exploring silkscreen and mixed media works. In this second chapter of Ivan Lam's 'Retrospective' series, the discussion revolves around a significant phase of Ivan's artistic journey; this time highlighting the artist's shift to painting, as well as his unique approach of experimenting with new painting techniques.
‘Retrospective’ is Wei-Ling Gallery Podcast's newly-launched series. Through this series, we speak to established Malaysian artists about their artistic journey, to understand how their practice has not only evolved and developed over the years - but also how they have remained committed, stoic and true throughout, despite challenges faced.
WLG Podcast launches a new series called ‘Retrospective’, in which we speak to established Malaysian artists about their artistic journey, to understand how their practice has not only evolved and developed over the years, but also how they have remained committed, stoic and true throughout, despite challenges faced.
In the first edition of the series, our Gallery Director Lim Wei-Ling sits with contemporary Malaysian artist Ivan Lam, to talk about his 27-year journey as an artist. Divided into 3 chapters, through these conversations, you will be able to discover from Ivan personally, how he transitions from one period of his practice to another – continuously moving forward, while staying true to what he believes in. Unafraid to take risks and never content to lean on the familiar, he is constantly posing himself new challenges through experimentation with new techniques and mediums, taking his art practice to the next level. This first chapter focuses on his early practice, marked by his pursuit of the mastery of printmaking and the silkscreen
Ivan Lam has been recognized for his achievements and has been collected by reputed institutions in Malaysia, Europe and the USA. He was one of four Malaysian artists to represent Malaysia at the country’s first ever National Pavilion at the 58th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia in 2019. Ivan was also the first Malaysian artist commissioned by Louis Vuitton for their collection in 2014, and the first and only Malaysian artist selected to present a one-man project at the inaugural Art Basel Hong Kong in 2013.
In this 18th episode, “Performance and installation as tools of awareness” we are pleased to speak with contemporary Indonesian artist Arahmaiani, whom we had the pleasure to work with in 2020, through an exhibition at Wei-Ling Contemporary, entitled ‘She who is watching.’
For over two decades, Arahmaiani has directed our attention towards modern gender awareness and pushed the idea of pluralism through a trans-disciplinary approach, often combining performance and installation.
How does she use this approach to raise awareness and propose solutions to the problems that we face in the present society? Listen to her thoughts through this discussion!
On the first episode of our Wei-Ling Gallery Podcast, we shared some tips for new collectors, through an episode called “10 questions to ask a gallery – if you want to start collecting."
As galleries and museums are starting to re-open their doors again, we would like share with you some insights on how to maximize your experience when visiting an exhibition, so that you could learn something meaningful from it.
The WLG Young Artists Collaborative Mentorship Program is a program under the WLG Incubator, that provides the opportunity for emerging artists to be advised and guided by an established artist. Launched in 2020 and held for the second time in 2021, each year, thorough research was conducted to identify the next generation of young progressive artists from Malaysia.
In this episode, our Gallery Director Lim-Wei Ling shares her intensions of initiating the program, together with contemporary Malaysian artists Anurendra Jegadeva and Ivan Lam, who were mentors of the program’s first two editions. Curious of why they find this program important, and what interesting exchanges took place between the young artists and their mentors?
In August 2021,the gallery curated the ‘Aesthetics of Silence’ exhibition at Wei-Ling Contemporary which brought together a stellar group of internationally recognized artists.
The title of the show borrows Susan Sontag’s first essay from her famous oeuvre, ‘Styles of Radical Will’ (1969), in which she examines how silence mediates the role of art as a form of spirituality, particularly in a globalised world.
This concept is also what lies behind Austrian painter Robert Schaberl’s ‘Central Forms’ series, as he continuously challenges himself to discover a perfect combination of colours and forms that engender the meditative feeling and vibration that we all need today.
How can the play of colours and light produce a connection between viewers and the paintings? What materials are used to create paintings that constantly evolve, as viewers move around them? Lastly, find out how music and silence can both bring inspirations for the artist!
In what way does art speak about our society? How can art be used to tell stories and amplify voices that are less heard? In this episode, we speak to critically acclaimed Thai contemporary artist,Arin Rungjang on his 7-channel video installation ‘Ravisara’ (2018), which was shown as part of the exhibition ‘Aesthetics of silence’ which took place at Wei-Ling Contemporary in September 2021.
During his stay in Berlin in 2018, Rungjang developed this work with members of the city’s Thai community, whom he got to know, interviewed, observed and accompanied. By learning more about the protagonists and their stories, he was keen to explore how memories of trauma can be expressed through performative gestures and physical presence.
What is facial recognition? Did you realise how much we are surrounded by it in our daily lives? How do we take agency to prevent this technology from taking over our lives? Through this episode, Dr. Heather Dewey-Hagborg explains her artwork ‘How Do You See Me?’ as part of Wei-Ling Contemporary’s recent exhibition ‘Aesthetics of Silence’, exploring the risks of this technology. The work was commissioned as part of Data/Set/Match, a year-long Digital programme exploring the ever-evolving role and effects of scientific image datasets.
“I utilized adversarial processes, algorithms that are designed to deceive machine learning systems, to generate self-portraits that are recognized as my face, although they look nothing like me, or like any human face.” Through this episode, she discusses the dangers of the technology.
Dr. Heather is an artist and biohacker who is interested in art as research and technological critique. As an artist, Heather has shown work internationally, including at the World Economic Forum, the Daejeon Biennale, the Guangzhou Triennial, the Walker Center for Contemporary Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and PS1 MOMA. Her work is also held in prestigious public collections around the world.
This 12th episode, hosted by our very own Lim Wei-Ling, features photographer Roger Ballen. The collective exhibition ‘Aesthetics of Silence’ featured his series of photographs ‘Roger the Rat’. Photographed in Johannesburg between 2015 and 2020, Ballen created and documented a part-human, part-rat creature who lives an isolated life outside of the mainstream society. In the series of photos and videos ‘Roger the Rat’ we witness the absurd aspects of human existence and psyche. What relationship does it have with the self-isolation that many of us are currently experiencing? What drives Roger to explore the ‘unknown’? What other exciting project is Ballen working on right now? Learn all about it through this episode.
In this 11th Episode, we speak with Ivan Lam on his new artwork ‘Breathe’, part of his ongoing project ‘Curating Human Experiences’. Why did Ivan use TikTok as a medium for this work? How can all of us achieve a state of peace during these difficult times? Listen to find out all about it!
This artwork is featured in the international group show, ‘Aesthetics of Silence’ at Wei-Ling Contemporary. In case you miss it, learn about the artworks through this podcast, as we will be sharing more episodes inviting the participating artists of the show.
How does one start collecting art? What are the factors to consider when collecting an artwork or an artist?
How does one find the right place to start?
In our new podcast series, 'WLG Collectors Highlight', we invite collectors to share their personal stories and views when collecting art!
One of our gallery friends Mr. Akram shared his exciting journey in collecting: from buying art pieces from his travels, to selecting the suitable works for his architectural projects and own home... Mr Akram also also told us about his visits to Wei-Ling Galleries and how one of the works in the exhibition '100 Pieces: Art For All' touched him on a personal level, and made him realize what he really looks for in an artwork.
In this 9th episode of the Wei-Ling Gallery Podcast, Yau Bee Ling shares some insights on her new series of work “A Relentless Whirlwind – From Inside, Looking Out”. Curious about what she experienced during the pandemic, that inspired her to paint this series? Listen to find out!
Through her work, Yau challenges and ponders the questions that inhabit her mind and soul. Each series of paintings are charged with their own distinctive energy, reflective of her state of mind, her emotional well-being and the way she perceives her place in the world at the time. Her works are therefore a cathartic process for her, as she struggles to reconcile the meaning of life, through the layering of and scraping back of paint and colour, navigating her way through the twisting terrains of her paintings in the search for truth.
Bee Ling has exhibited extensively in exhibitions across China, Pakistan, Singapore, Bangladesh, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia and represented Malaysia at the Asian Art Biennial in Dhaka, Bangladesh and at the Fukuoka Triennale. Her works are in the permanent collections of numerous private and public collections including Mulpha, Maxis Berhad and the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum.
Amin Gulgee is a sculptor, curator and performance artist from Pakistan. His works possess a spirituality that transcend religion, exploring spiritual territories and narrative traditions, with their intersections bridging sculpture, installation and performance.
He has curated or co-curated many large-scale non-commercial exhibitions in his eponymous gallery and was chief curator of the first Karachi Biennale in 2017.
In the last decade he has staged over a dozen performance works in Karachi, Lahore, Dubai and Nagoya, as well as the Royal Albert Hall in London and has exhibited his sculptures and installations extensively across the USA, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
NFTs have been making headlines lately, some selling for millions of dollars. NFT stands for “non-fungible token,” and can technically contain anything digital: from graphic art, music, memes, to generated visuals. Using the blockchain, NFTs allow you to buy and sell ownership of these digital items and keep track of who owns them. To understand this phenomenon and its future through multiple perspectives, we have invited three speakers to share their views.
For our 6th episode of the WLG Podcast, we spoke to artist Dadang Christanto, and writer Dr Jean Couteau on the background and intentions behind Christanto’s Wuku, a series of aluminium and enamel-painted sculptures currently exhibited at Wei-Ling Gallery, Brickfields.
Wuku is a set of 7 days in the 210-day Javanese calendar system, which was organised based on the crop harvest season. The origin of Wuku derives from the mythology of Watugunung, a story that depicts a world of disorder before human consciousness. While Dadang talks about his discovery and fascination towards Wuku symbols, Jean talks about the belief that surrounds it, its prominence in the society, and how Dadang relates it to his personal memory and trauma.
Dr. Jean Couteau. was born in France but has resided in Bali since 1972. He was a cultural columnist for the Bali Post in the 90s and became a well-known writer on Indonesian art, eventually turning into a popular columnist with the national daily, Kompas. Dr Jean has received a doctoral degree for his thesis of art history and iconographic art in Bali. His most recent publication is a book called Myth Magic and Mystery in Bali (2017).
Welcome to the 5th episode of Wei-Ling Gallery Podcast! This time, we speak with gallery owner Lim Wei-Ling and writer Mae Chan, on what the role of an artist is today.
Artists evoke different reflections on our reality through their work. However, which of these artworks impact us? How many of them talk about our times and what we face as an individual or society? What importance does an artist’s creation hold in our lives? Most of all, how do you tell whether an artist is playing their role?
Through this conversation, the two speakers discuss how artists contribute in rewriting our history through the power of images, and how artworks can evoke multiple narratives, conversations and activism.
On this special episode, we spoke to Lim Wei-Ling about the exhibition '100 Pieces: Art for All', and her personal experience of collecting artworks. This exhibition is on view at Wei-Ling Contemporary until the 12th of May 2021.
The exhibition present 100 works by 28 established and up-coming artists. It serves a platform where those who are interested in starting to collect art, can begin. The exhibition also aims to reevaluate the misconception that art collecting is for the elite few. By offering artworks which start from RM 400, it hopes to make art collecting more accessible to the wider public.
Presenting works by internationally distinguished artists such as Yau Bee Ling, Michal Macků and Anurendra Jegadeva, 100 Pieces: Art for All advocates for artists with a constructed and developed practice, grounded in the variables of intellectual and imaginative inquiry. Each artwork is accompanied with narrative(s) involving personal identity, social relationships, different settings and physical realities.
Find out more by listening to this episode!
We spoke to Malaysian contemporary artist Ivan Lam about his exhibition at Wei-Ling Contemporary, ‘THE SOIL ON WHICH I BLEED’. The exhibition is on view until the 25th of April 2021.
In this exhibition, the artist presents three main oeuvres through which he collapses the boundaries between two contexts – his country and himself – raising fundamental questions that encourage us to reflect on what it means to be a citizen of a nation. Throughout the global pandemic, we have inevitably witnessed the fall of our healthcare systems, economy and government, yet as citizens, we are often placed at the periphery, acting merely as observers. As a master of dualities and dichotomies, both tension and harmony are equally embedded into Ivan Lam’s paintings, through the subject matter and compositions adopted.
We spoke to artist Choy Chun Wei about his exhibition ‘Encountering Mass Man’ for our second episode! The exhibition will be showing at Wei-Ling Gallery in Brickfields until 10 April 2021.
As an artist widely-acclaimed for his multi-layered collage work—one that draws constant inspiration from his environment and how he witnesses the evolution of society—the way the pandemic has shifted our way of being, thinking, and connecting, spurred him to create this monumental oeuvre.
Ever wondered what to ask when you walk into an art gallery? Many times we feel intimidated and awkward when we walk into an art gallery. As part of helping you the collector we kick off our first episode “Ten questions to ask a gallery - if you want to start collecting.” Hosted by our very own gallery associate Amanda. Enjoy this episode.