{
  "id": 2675157,
  "title": "Calvin Chua’s Malaysia is carefree, colourful and connected",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/calvin-chuas-malaysia-is-carefree-colourful-and-connected-2675157",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-22T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/08/23/calvin-chuas-malaysia-is-carefree-colourful-and-connected"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysian artist Calvin Chua believes Merdeka is about more than just flags and parades - it's about celebrating what makes Malaysia distinct. For Chua, that means recognising the country's people, cultures, landscapes and simple ways Malaysians connect. This theme is evident in his latest solo exhibition, \"Forestborn\", at AweGallery. Featuring more than 30 paintings and sketches, the show is centered on rainforest landscapes, indigenous communities, and children. Chua, a fine-art graduate from Kuala Lumpur College of Art, grew up in a small town surrounded by paddy fields, orchards, and rivers - experiences that deeply influenced his work. While he has painted Orang Asli communities for over 20 years, Chua began focusing specifically on rainforest children about five years ago. He finds their carefree relationship with nature particularly inspiring, as it reminds him of his own childhood. To create \"Forestborn\", Chua visited indigenous communities, staying for several days to observe and sketch their way of life. The exhibition's vibrant colours, dots, and energetic brushstrokes convey the joy and interconnectedness of people and nature, reflecting Chua's belief that these elements belong to the same story. Two standout pieces depict Iban children happily enjoying ice cream and two sisters playing by a river, both evoking memories of Chua's own childhood in Alor Setar. Through \"Forestborn\", Chua hopes to showcase the harmony and beauty of Malaysia beyond the rainforest, emphasizing that the country's special qualities are already present in its people, cultures, children, and landscapes. The exhibition runs until September 3 at AweGallery in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.",
  "summary": "From rainforest communities to children playing by rivers, ‘Forestborn’ celebrates the everyday beauty of a multicultural nation.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Calvin Chua’s Malaysia is carefree, colourful and connected",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/calvin-chuas-malaysia-is-carefree-colourful-and-connected",
        "published": "2026-08-22T23:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}