‘KITA’ exhibition explores how everyday spaces shape memory, identity and shared experiences

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — What if the most familiar spaces in our lives — the market, the kitchen, the home and the street — hold stories that define who we are?

That is the idea behind KITA: From Market to Kitchen, From Home to the Street, a group exhibition bringing together Malaysian artists whose diverse practices explore everyday life, memory, identity and the shared human experience.

Featuring works by Shah Nizam Zainudin Ithnin, Ryzalman Misran, Shaarim Sahat and Mohd Foad Hassan, alongside a special appearance by Dr Zakaria Ali, the exhibition transforms ordinary experiences into reflections on the cultural and social realities that shape communities.

Held at Ruang Teduh Gallery, Exchange 106, The Exchange TRX, Kuala Lumpur until July 18, 2026, KITA presents a dialogue between artists from different generations, backgrounds and creative disciplines.

While each artist approaches the subject through a distinct visual language, together they explore how familiar places and daily routines carry emotional, cultural and social significance.

Rather than focusing on grand historical narratives or extraordinary events, KITA turns its attention to the spaces that quietly shape everyday existence.

The market, the kitchen, the home and the street become symbolic sites where relationships are formed, traditions are passed down, identities evolve and communities navigate change.

Through painting, mixed media and sculptural practices, the exhibition encourages audiences to reconsider experiences often overlooked as routine or ordinary.

The exhibition title, KITA, meaning “us” or “we” in Malay, extends beyond the gathering of the artists. It reflects a broader exploration of collective experience and shared humanity, raising questions about who we are, how we live, what we inherit and how we respond to a rapidly changing society.

By examining familiar experiences through contemporary artistic perspectives, the exhibition presents everyday life as a record of memories, emotions and social realities.

Each participating artist contributes a unique interpretation of this central theme.

Shah Nizam Zainudin Ithnin creates imaginative visual worlds shaped by surrealism, symbolism and biomorphic forms. His paintings invite viewers into psychological landscapes where dreams, memory and reality intersect, encouraging deeper reflection on perception and the subconscious.

Working primarily in watercolour, Ryzalman Misran captures the quiet beauty of everyday moments through meticulous realism. His observations elevate ordinary subjects into contemplative images that highlight emotional details often overlooked in contemporary life.

Shaarim Sahat presents works that examine broader social realities through painting, sculpture and mixed media. Addressing themes including national identity, urban poverty, class disparity and structures of power, his practice offers a critical perspective on the social and political forces embedded within daily experiences.

Mohd Foad Hassan contributes a series of minimalist yet emotionally charged works inspired by the lives of ordinary people, particularly street artists and creative communities beyond mainstream visibility.

Through expressive new monochromatic compositions, as well as earlier works reflecting his relationships with old friends, street artists and buskers, he records stories of resilience, perseverance and dignity found within daily struggles.

Adding further depth to the exhibition is the special participation of Dr Zakaria Ali, one of Malaysia’s respected artists, writers and cultural intellectuals.

His recent works draw inspiration from domestic life, family and familiar surroundings, demonstrating how ordinary experiences can become profound artistic reflections.

His presence bridges visual art with literary thought, reinforcing the relevance of everyday narratives within Malaysian contemporary culture.

Collectively, the exhibition suggests that the spaces people inhabit daily are more than physical environments.

Markets become places of exchange and encounters; kitchens embody care, intimacy and cultural continuity; homes nurture identity and belonging; while streets reflect movement, public life and social transformation.

These interconnected spaces become stages where individual stories merge into a broader narrative of society.

In an increasingly fast-paced world, KITA invites audiences to slow down and rediscover the meaning hidden within ordinary experiences.

The exhibition highlights how beneath every routine lies a network of relationships, memories and lived experiences that shape individuals and communities.