Bringing together 400 artists from more than 20 countries, ‘Kita Orang: Blue & White 400’ arrives in Kuching as an immersive exhibition inspired by the historic Wanli Shipwreck. Showcased at ARTAVERN Art Space until 25 January 2026, the exhibition explores shared heritage, cultural exchange and collective creativity through contemporary interpretations of the timeless blue-and-white palette.
Celebrating unity, heritage, creative expression through art
FOLLOWING its successful presentations in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Lai Lai Art Gallery has brought the much-anticipated ‘Kita Orang Art Exhibition 2025: Blue & White 400’ to Kuching, Sarawak, where it will be open to the public until January 25, 2026.
This marks my second encounter with this remarkable exhibition, having first experienced it during its inaugural showing in Kuala Lumpur in 2025.
While some of the artworks that initially caught my attention have since been sold, the Kuching edition remains an impressive and immersive showcase. Beautifully curated within the elegant setting of ARTAVERN Art Space at La Promenade Mall, the exhibition features no fewer than 200 artworks, each well worth viewing and collecting.
With the exhibition running until 25 January, art lovers still have time to visit ARTAVERN at La Promenade in Samarahan, on the outskirts of Kuching, to engage with this meaningful body of work.
The opening ceremony was officiated by Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Sarawak’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts. His presence underscored the significance of the exhibition as an important cultural milestone for the state.
The event brought together artists, cultural representatives, international visitors and members of the public in a celebration of unity, heritage and creative expression through art.
Alice Chang Guerra, founder of Lai Lai Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur and Visual Arts Director for Delphic Malaysia, warmly welcomed several distinguished international guests. Among them were Sean McLeod, President of Delphic USA and President of the New York Institute of Dance and Education (NYIDE); Kierstyn Zaykoski, National Director of NYIDE and Delphic Director for New York State; Devon McLeod, President and CEO of Capital L Consulting; and Anita Tuccillo.
They expressed admiration for the exhibition and shared their enthusiasm for the possibility of showcasing Malaysian art in New York in the future – an encouraging prospect for local artists and the wider regional art scene.
This truly international exhibition brings together 400 artists from more than 20 countries, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Wanli Shipwreck. The ship, a Portuguese vessel carrying blue-and-white porcelain from Jingdezhen, China, sank off the coast of Terengganu.
Today, it stands as a powerful symbol of centuries-old maritime trade and cultural exchange between East and West. Through contemporary artistic interpretations, the exhibition reflects shared human history and enduring global connections.
Each artwork explores the timeless symbolism of blue and white, colours that transcend geography and generations and represent tradition, purity, continuity and renewal.
Recognised under the UNESCO Silk Roads Programme, the story of the Wanli Shipwreck highlights historic trade routes that once connected distant cultures. ‘Kita Orang: Blue & White 400’ reimagines these connections through art, emphasising shared narratives, cultural dialogue and collective memory.
The exhibition also features works by Sarawakian artists, David Chew, Ng Paik San and Angelina Bong – the three partners of ARTAVERN Art Space – alongside Gerald Goh, Melton Kais, Sebastian Jong, Lily Metom, Clement Jimel, Jane Ling, Tan Lee Lee, Chee Hui Shee, Sheila Kho, George Schneider, Aloysius Ho, Leonard Darimi and Chen Li Li.
Their participation adds a strong Sarawakian presence to the exhibition, which is simply yet meaningfully titled ‘Kita Orang’, a phrase that resonates deeply with its message of unity and belonging.
An integral and engaging component of the exhibition is the participatory initiative titled ‘The Pieces of Us’. This interactive artwork has been a highlight of all previous editions of ‘Kita Orang: Blue & White 400’, including those in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Visitors are invited to paint on broken porcelain plates, transforming fragments into expressions of personal creativity. These individual contributions then become part of a shared artistic journey.
During the opening, Datuk Sebastian Ting, Datin Sri Donna Drury and Dr Elena Chai were seen actively participating, painting on pieces of broken ceramic – an act that beautifully embodied the spirit of inclusivity and shared creation.
The painted fragments are collected by Lai Lai Art Gallery and later assembled into a large-scale collective installation. The final artwork symbolises unity, healing and shared creativity, reinforcing the exhibition’s core message: that diverse voices and experiences, when brought together, can form a powerful and meaningful whole.
“‘Kita Orang’ means ‘We, the People’,” said Alice Chang Guerra. “This exhibition reminds us that art is a shared language. Through initiatives like ‘The Pieces of Us’, everyone becomes part of the story, contributing their voice to a collective work that celebrates connection and humanity.”
In every sense, ‘Kita Orang: Blue & White 400’ is more than an exhibition. It is a living dialogue between past and present, tradition and innovation, and individual and community – reminding us that through art, we are always connected.
Alice Chang Guerra is a Malaysian contemporary artist and the founder of Lai Lai Art Gallery and Studio, based in Kuala Ampang, Selangor. She is known for her multifaceted practice as a painter, mosaic artist, sculptor and art event organiser. She trained under art tutor, John W. Skelcher, in Italy and later studied with art historian, Professor Yves Larches, of Walk The Art in both Italy and New York, further deepening her artistic skills and perspective.
