Penang's New Exhibition Weaves Wildlife and Culture Through Art and Puppetry

A new exhibition in Penang is exploring the deep ties between Malaysia’s wildlife and its cultural traditions. Project Riwayat: Katha 1: Voices of the Vanishing opens on May 2 at Coex in Hin Bus Depot, blending embroidery and puppetry to highlight endangered species and fading stories. The exhibition features two main works. Christine Das presents Hanging by a Thread, a series of embroidered pieces depicting endangered species like the sunda pangolin, Malayan tapir, and Malayan tiger. Black threads in her work symbolise chaos and a broken ecosystem, while gold threads represent harmony and balance.

Bright Ong’s puppetry performances bring the Irrawaddy dolphin and helmeted hornbill to life, sharing their stories through interactive shows. These performances will run three times daily on weekends, between 10am and 5pm. The project kicks off on May 2 with a special puppetry show about the Irrawaddy dolphins, followed by a talk from Louisa Ponnampalam of MareCet. The exhibition remains open daily (except Wednesdays) from 10am to 6pm until May 17. *Project Riwayat* underscores how Malaysia’s cultural traditions—from storytelling to crafts—have always drawn inspiration from nature. As ecosystems decline, these traditions risk disappearing too.

The exhibition runs until May 17, offering a mix of visual art and live performances. Visitors can see the embroidery daily and catch puppetry shows on weekends. The event aims to raise awareness about the connection between environmental loss and the erosion of cultural heritage.