The National Art Gallery announced the 1st Kuala Lumpur Biennale with the theme of BELAS or Be Loved that which recognizes, embraces and echoes societal values. This international exhibition is scheduled to be held from 1 November 2017 to 31 March 2018 at multiple sites in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Central to the KL Biennale are stories of BELAS (Be Loved), presented through a specially-curate exhibition modern and contemporary art works.

The 1st Kuala Lumpur Biennale will see a shift in the way of experiencing art: not to revere the art or the artist alone but to rejoice in the narrative or stories presented by the unsung heroes, conservationists, architects, art activists, practitioners, environmentalists, scientists, organizations, communities and various personalities.
Featuring a stellar line-up of artists from Southeast Asia, China, South Korea, Japan and India, the KL Biennale is anticipated by Malaysians and visitors as a highlight on the city’s cultural calendar, for its active international and local collaboration and a meaningful exchange of ideas. It is anticipated to invigorate the local cultural sector via the ‘Biennale’ brand and amplify Kuala Lumpur’s position on the global cultural map.

The 1st Kuala Lumpur Biennale is poised to attract more than 250,000 visitors over the five-month period. Besides the main exhibitions and international dialogue on contemporary art, several outreach, charity and community-based projects will be made accessible to visitors. Over a thousand teenagers including students are to be actively engaged in talks and workshops with social activists, artists, academics and curators.