Past Exhibitions > Opening Ceremony of Ethereal Echoes: Sketches and Recent Works by Lai Loong Sung
Physical Exhibition: 25 April 2025 - 8 June 2025

Opening Ceremony of Ethereal Echoes: Sketches and Recent Works by Lai Loong Sung

Ethereal Echoes: Sketches and Recent Works by Lai Loong Sung Click Here

Event Highlight

Lilian Goh, the guest of honour, officially opens the exhibition. The artist Lai Loong Sung (4th from left) and SGM General Director Koh Sia Feai (1st from left), witnessed the event.

Lilian Goh with artist Lai Loong Sung (right) and the SGM General Director Koh Sia Feai (left).

Group photo of the exhibition team.
From left to right: ADMD Director Tanker Lee, Papan Haus co-founders Pam Lim, Khoo Boon Want, and Taka Chang, SGM General Director Koh Sia Feai, Guest of Honour Lilian Goh, artist Lai Loong Sung, founder of Unilifesity foundation Lai Chee Fong, Publishing Director of Unilifesity Chan Yong Sin, Head of SGM Art & Exhibition Department Vicky Ho, and Curriculum Director of Unilifesity Lin Siow Wei.

Lai Loong Sung provided Lilian Goh with a guided tour of the exhibition.

Guests viewing the exhibition during the opening day.

Guests viewing the exhibition during the opening day.

Guests viewing the exhibition during the opening day.

Guests viewing the exhibition during the opening day.

Guests viewing the exhibition during the opening day.

The “Ethereal Echoes – Sketches and Recent Works by Lai Loong Sung” exhibition was officially launched at the Wisma Kebudayaan SGM (WKSGM) on 26 April, drawing over 200 art enthusiasts eager to celebrate this significant moment with the veteran Malaysian artist.

The exhibition showcases Lai Loong Sung’s representative oil and ink paintings, as well as 76 sketches spanning his over 40-year artistic career. These works cover eight major themes, addressing issues such as human nature, war, technology and the environment, reflecting the artist’s enduring humanistic concern and artistic conscience.

The exhibition’s official opening was marked by a symbolic act: Guest of honour Lilian Goh, CEO of Unilifesity (an organisation that provides a learning platform for seniors) painted over negative words on a board, revealing only positive ones – a gesture echoing Mr Lai’s creative method of blacking out text and his call to confront crises. In her speech, she recalled her long-standing friendship with Mr Lai and praised the profound strength and emotional warmth of his artworks, which poignantly express his concerns for society and the environment.

SGM General Director Koh Sia Feai reflected on Mr Lai’s creative journey since his first exhibition hosted by SGM a decade ago. Mr Koh praised his unwavering belief that “life is about creation,” noting that Mr Lai’s works serve to bear witness to the times.

Mr Lai explained that the theme “Ethereal Echoes” symbolises the sound from the depths of the universe and the inner voice of his creative spirit. He highlighted recurring motifs of death and introspection in his works, expressing his belief that confronting reality’s crises is essential to living a life of genuine warmth.

Prior to the opening, an art talk was delivered by Mr Lai on 19 April. During the exhibition period, he created a live artwork outside the hall, offering the public an intimate view of his creative process. He later presented the completed piece to SGM as a gift.