"Nuqtah" khat exhibition at Chandan art gallery, Damansara Heights

On to something very recent.

Just a few hours ago me and family went to this place in Bukit Damansara or Damansara Heights.

The place is called Galeri Chandan, the Chandan art gallery.

We came for a function invited by a friend.

Notice the Arabic writings? The one on the right spelt the word "Nuqtah".

Also (and more popularly) spelt as Noktah, it literarily refers to the full stop.

"Nuqtah" here refers to a currently running art exhibition. While the word still refers to the full stop, as title to the exhibition it carries a richer philosophical meaning. The organisers waxed lyrical about how from a full stop written or drawn as a point it can be extended to become a line and many other things.

"Nuqtah" the exhibition features works of khat (excuse the pun... :]), Islamic caligraphy by six Malaysian artistes well-versed in the field...

Seen to the left are some of the artistes.

My wife (in  blue) posing with some friends.

An artiste showing his work (not part of the exhibition) on a giant sea shell.

The girls posing with artistes (all male) and another visitor.

OK. This exhibition was started two weeks ago and is scheduled to end in another two days...

We were invited to the launching on 27th April but could not make it due to other commitments.

Yesterday they organised a buka puasa or breaking fast function alongside the exhibition and this time we could make it.

There, people waiting for time to break fast. 

For the record it was the 21st day of the Ramadhan, the time when every Muslim is obligated to fast for  the whole month from before dawn till sundown.

A quick night look of Muar

Returning back to Malaysia...

Last weekend me and family made a trip to my native hometown, Muar.

Muar was recently declared the royal town of the state of Johor. I grew up here  from 1970 till I left for boarding school in Kluang 1982. From then on I only returned to Muar for holidays until I shifted back to a local school end of 1986. But I only practically left Muar for good when I started studying in England 1991.

Muar has changed much since then. This tower only came to existence a few years ago.

Another recent edition is the night market simply known as 'uptown'.

It emulates many other 'uptowns' which have sprouted in urban areas all over Malaysia within the last decade or so.

Muar now also has its own covered pedestrian mall area. While it has not been fully completed it is a landmark which should make locals proud. If I remember correctly the first such structure in Malaysia was made to cover Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur about 15 years ago. Later it was set up in Masjid India followed by one at Central Market about 2-3 years ago.