Intan_Maizura_Ahmad_Kamal

NATURE has always been an artist’s muse — from the fluid lines of landscapes to the fleeting beauty of flowers in bloom. At AweGallery, Petaling Jaya, that timeless inspiration takes on new life through Rhythm of Nature, a curated art exhibition that brings together four distinct voices, united by friendship, creativity, and a deep love for the natural world.

AT first glance, it’s just a doll — a small, unassuming albeit cute animal creation made of socks, buttons for eyes and a stitched-on smile. But to Cordelia Lee Suet Fun, or Cordy as she’s fondly known, each doll carries a heartbeat, a memory, and a story stitched into its seams.

IT’S a bit surreal, to be honest. One moment, I’m brushing shoulders with the likes of Agassi, the Johns brothers, McGuffin, Bright, Buckner and Wang — all pickleball (and tennis) royalty converging in Vietnam.

“ADRIANNNN… That’s himmmm! Jommmm!” I squeal, my voice taking on the high-pitched thrill of a teenage superfan spotting her boyband crush. The athletes are stepping out of their rides — larger-than-life figures with laughter and camaraderie, their eyes shielded from the blistering Vietnam sun by sleek shades and caps jauntily perched on their heads.

AS I sit quietly, lost in thought, I can almost see it all again. The scene unfolds like a long-forgotten memory I wish I could relive. A little girl, clad in a simple baju kurung dotted with tiny, delicate flowers, her hair combed neatly for the occasion, stands sheepishly on the sofa, eyes wide with wonder.

IT was a message that seemed impossible; a call that transcended the mundane and reached for the cosmos itself.

SCRAMBLING out of my car after successfully steering it into a tight parking space in front of an elegant building on Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, I step out to the blaring sounds of honking horns. The impatient drivers, caught behind a large truck inching its way out of a roadside parking space, are clearly irked by its slow progress, adding a sense of urgency to the already bustling scene.

IF you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Amsterdam, there are some things you simply must do. Yes, the canals are beautiful, the architecture is stunning, but there’s one stop that stands above all others: the Van Gogh Museum.