Beyond Kuala Lumpur, the National Art Gallery is working to make visual arts a highlight for visitors to Langkawi in Kedah, with programmes that connect artists and the local community while boosting the island’s appeal as a tourist destination.
“Langkawi is one of the country’s most treasured island getaways, and at the National Art Gallery, we are ready to position it as a place that inspires visual artists while also uplifting the local community,” said Amerrudin Ahmad, the gallery’s director-general.
“As an agency dedicated to promoting visual arts, our goal is to help the public – especially tourists – experience and understand Langkawi through visual storytelling,” he added.
Since opening in 2019 at Kuah’s Dayang Walk Commercial Square, the National Art Gallery Langkawi has steadily grown beyond an exhibition space – it is now a collaborative hub where artists, curators, and cultural workers converge to shape a shared artistic landscape reflecting both the island’s identity and Malaysian contemporary art.
During a recent trip to the island, Amerrudin officiated the PrintLab Festival, a contemporary art programme combining nature exploration with creative expression through printmaking.
“Art is a universal language,” he said. “It goes beyond words, allowing tourists to connect with the stories, legends, and myths of Langkawi.”
The inaugural festival, held from Aug 24-31 at the gallery, featured 26 Malaysian artists and one participant from Japan.
The inaugural PrintLab series, initiated by National Art Gallery Langkawi, featured 27 artists. Photo: National Art Gallery Langkawi
Themed “Celebrating the Natural Beauty and Ecology of Langkawi Through Contemporary Printmaking”, it focused on Pulau Tuba’s lush ecology and community identity, expressed through contemporary print works.
“Beyond printmaking, the National Art Gallery has also expanded its focus to sculpture, stone carving, and ceramics, further enriching arts activities on Langkawi,” said Amerrudin, noting that the programme allows visitors to discover local heritage and artworks inspired by nature and community life.
Through their exploration of Pulau Tuba, the artists produced works using techniques such as woodcut, lino, collagraph, and monotype. These pieces will be showcased in the PrintLab Festival exhibition at the National Art Gallery Langkawi until Feb 28, 2026.
“The National Art Gallery hopes this programme will enhance artistic experiences and position Langkawi as a key destination on the national visual arts map, in line with the aspirations of Visit Kedah Year 2025 and Visit Malaysia 2026,” concluded Amerrudin. – Bernama