Penang's New Exhibition Weaves Art and Ecology to Save Vanishing Species

A new exhibition in Penang is shining a light on the deep ties between Malaysia’s cultural heritage and its disappearing ecosystems. Project Riwayat: Katha 1: Voices of the Vanishing opens on May 2 at Coex in Hin Bus Depot, blending embroidery and puppetry to tell the stories of endangered species. The exhibition brings together two distinct art forms. Christine Das presents embroidery works featuring threatened animals like the Sunda pangolin, Malayan tapir, and Malayan tiger. Her pieces use black threads to depict environmental chaos and gold threads to represent a balanced ecosystem.

Bright Ong’s puppetry performances, held three times daily on weekends, focus on the Irrawaddy dolphin and helmeted hornbill. These shows engage audiences in the creatures’ struggles while weaving in traditional storytelling. The opening day includes a special puppetry performance about the Irrawaddy dolphin, followed by a talk from MareCet’s Louisa Ponnampalam. The event runs daily from 10am to 6pm (closed Wednesdays) until May 17. It explores how environmental loss threatens not just wildlife but also Malaysia’s cultural traditions—from dances and crafts to age-old narratives inspired by nature.

Through embroidery and puppetry, Project Riwayat highlights the urgent connection between ecological decline and fading traditions. Visitors can experience the exhibition at Hin Bus Depot until May 17, with weekend performances offering a closer look at the stories behind endangered species.