A visit to Temu House in Petaling Jaya brought together creative minds for a vibrant catch-up, set against the backdrop of an inspiring textile exhibition by Malaysian Institute of Art graduates, whose innovative designs reflected deep cultural influences.
Textile wonders at Temu House
I RECENTLY visited Temu House in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, where I met with friends from the creative industry for lively conversations about art, all while enjoying refreshments from the cafe, which is open only on weekends.
Our Grab car meandered through the well-known neighbourhoods of Petaling Jaya, passing lush greenery and affluent residences, until we arrived at Temu House – a beautifully restored bungalow tucked away at the end of a quiet avenue. The name Temu in Malay means “to come together” or “to meet”.
At this intimate arts space, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with Joe Sidek, founder of the George Town Festival; Sham Abu Bakar, batik master and textile design lecturer at the Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA); and Madelynn Sia, a former college mate from London who had flown in from Adelaide for our reunion.
The venue could not have been more perfect. We were surrounded by an incredible textile exhibition in a serene setting, with an uncluttered layout that allowed the art to truly shine.
The Textile & Fashion Design Department of MIA was showcasing its 2025 graduation exhibition – an artistic marvel that celebrated the extraordinary talent of 12 graduating students. Under the theme “Textile Art’sylum”, the exhibition felt like a sanctuary of creativity. It blended art, cultural references, Malaysia’s rich heritage, and the beauty of nature – flora and fauna alike – into boundary-pushing surface design. The textiles even incorporated Borneo motifs and a striking tribute to Teochew Opera.
The exhibited works featured a wide array of techniques, including batik, manual silk-screen printing, digital textile printing, and tie-dye.
These pieces highlighted not only the students’ unique perspectives but also their dedication to craftsmanship and experimentation. Each work stood as a testament to the learning and innovation developed during their studies.
The 12 talented MIA graduates whose works were featured in the exhibition included: Russell Chin, Lim Claudia, Kong Hiu Jade, Bubu, Ku Ying En, Renee, Lim Jia Xin, Diana Safika, Low Yi Ling, Emilia Alyssa Battisti, Zhiyu, and Lyvanne.
Although we missed the opening of the exhibition, which ran from April 12 to 27, we managed to visit just two days before it closed.
Sham graciously took us on a tour of the two-storey bungalow, sharing his insights into the textile arts. A Master of Arts graduate from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Sham first ventured into batik art when he joined MIA as a full-time lecturer in textiles in 1996.
His impressive portfolio includes the ASEAN Selection Award in 2016 under the theme “Innovative Craft of Textiles in ASEAN”, presented by SACICT in Bangkok, Thailand.
Sham explained that the batik pieces on display were created using a variety of techniques, including batik tulis, batik block, crackle, pointillism, shibori, and other mixed media. The hand-screened textiles, he elaborated, were especially meticulous – every step, from producing transparencies to exposing the silk screens, was done by hand in MIA’s textile workshop.
These textiles are crafted for various end products, from furnishing fabrics to fashion prints and even gallery-worthy art pieces. Sham emphasised that each design is tailored to suit its intended purpose.
“Each function has certain criteria that must be met for the design to be effective,” he said, adding that designers conduct thorough research before embarking on their creative assignments.
In the final phase of the programme, each student is tasked with creating a collection of textile designs based on a chosen theme, with the end product in mind. The designs are printed on suitable fabrics that meet the requirements of the finished piece.
When I asked Sham about his thoughts on this year’s graduating class, he shared his admiration: “This batch of students is both passionate and exceptionally talented. Their artwork clearly reflects their skill and creativity, and they explored the given theme with enthusiasm. The finished products were so successful that some of the pieces have already been sold.”
He concluded, “The Malaysian Institute of Art continues to produce the next generation of talented designers, and I’m hopeful they will help meet the industry’s growing need for skilled professionals.”
The textiles can now be viewed at MIA in Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur.
