Independence Square by Lihuà — a woman in a wind-blown blue and orange batik-patterned costume, from the Busana Malaysia series.

Kuala Lumpur — Paris

WEST ART
EAST

Born East. Shine West.

A Kuala Lumpur project space with a Paris address.

See past exhibitions Get in touch

Independence Square
Lihuà — watercolour on paper — Busana Malaysia, 2023

On the wall

Two hundred and ten works, one hang.

La Madrina, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà.

La MadrinaDaydreams

Marilyn Monroe, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà.

Marilyn MonroeStrokes of Fashion

Lorenzo Mattotti poster for La Biennale di Venezia, 2022.

La Biennale di VeneziaGalerie Martel

Edgy Nyonya — Blue, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà.

Edgy Nyonya — BlueBusana Malaysia

Madame Wong, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà.

Madame WongDaydreams

Safe Space, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà.

Safe SpaceDaydreams

Thanks Mr Santa, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà.

Thanks Mr SantaDaydreams

Jelly Bean, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà.

Jelly BeanDaydreams

Daydreams, in colour

Marilyn Monroe, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà, ink calligraphy in the background.

"Art captivates me because it gives me the space, freedom and ability to express my thoughts and feelings."
Lihuà

Our perspective

Kuala Lumpur meets Paris.

Founded around Lihuà (Wong Lai Wah), a Malaysian illustrator working Chinese calligraphy into Western watercolour. Co-founder Simone Mattotti connects Paris and Brussels through Galerie Martel; his cousin, co-founder and CEO Michele Mattotti, runs Kuala Lumpur day to day.

Lihuà in her studio, standing between two large watercolour paintings on easels.

Exhibitions

Between shows

No exhibition currently on view. Past works available by appointment — reach out.

Nov – Dec 2024

Day Dreams

Palillos Yakitori Bar, Kuala Lumpur

142 watercolours, named colour-moods — Lihuà's largest show to date.

Read the colour studies

Jun 2024

BIBF

Beijing, China

May 2024

Dire Fare Baciare

Villa Farsetti, Padova, Italy

Sep 2023

Colour dalla Malesia

Galleria La Loggia, Italy

5 Aug – 3 Sep 2023

Busana Malaysia & Galerie Martel Collection

China House, Penang

Jul – Aug 2023

Galerie Martel — 15 Years of Graphic Art

Starhill, Eslite Spectrum, Kuala Lumpur

Jul 2023

Busana Malaysia — debut

Starhill, Eslite Spectrum, Kuala Lumpur

The collection

Collect without borders.

210 works — Daydreams, Busana Malaysia, Strokes of Fashion, Galerie Martel.

La Madrina, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — La MadrinaDaydreams

Marilyn Monroe, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Strokes of Fashion series. — Marilyn MonroeStrokes of Fashion

Edgy Nyonya — Blue, a watercolour fashion illustration by Lihuà from the Busana Malaysia series. — Edgy Nyonya — BlueBusana Malaysia

Lorenzo Mattotti illustration for The New Yorker, Toscana. — The New Yorker — ToscanaGalerie Martel

Madame Wong, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — Madame WongDaydreams

YSL, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Strokes of Fashion series. — YSLStrokes of Fashion

Kebaya Emotion, a watercolour fashion illustration by Lihuà from the Busana Malaysia series. — Kebaya EmotionBusana Malaysia

01 — 08

Browse the full catalogue

A longer walk through the wall.

1800 Your Loss, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **1800 Your Loss**Daydreams

Brickfields, a watercolour fashion illustration by Lihuà from the Busana Malaysia series. — **Brickfields**Busana Malaysia

Lorenzo Mattotti illustration for The New Yorker, Memories, 2015. — **The New Yorker — Memories**Galerie Martel

Venus Sassoon, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **Venus Sassoon**Daydreams

Legendary 2, a watercolour fashion illustration by Lihuà from the Strokes of Fashion series. — **Legendary 2**Strokes of Fashion

New York New York, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **New York New York**Daydreams

Lorenzo Mattotti illustration, Guardando il Bosco, 2022. — **Guardando il Bosco**Galerie Martel

The Thinker, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **The Thinker**Daydreams

Saree Safaree, a watercolour fashion illustration by Lihuà from the Busana Malaysia series. — **Saree Safaree**Busana Malaysia

Brushworks 1, a watercolour fashion illustration by Lihuà from the Strokes of Fashion series. — **Brushworks 1**Strokes of Fashion

Corporate Jungle, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **Corporate Jungle**Daydreams

Lorenzo Mattotti illustration, La Biennale di Venezia. — **La Biennale di Venezia**Galerie Martel

Jagger, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **Jagger**Daydreams

Doge In Love, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **Doge In Love**Daydreams

Dancing Silhouette 5, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Strokes of Fashion collection. — **Dancing Silhouette 5**Strokes of Fashion

Ling Ling 2, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Busana Malaysia collection. — **Ling Ling 2**Busana Malaysia

Cruise Girls, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **Cruise Girls**Daydreams

Vroom With A View, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **Vroom With A View**Daydreams

Day Off, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **Day Off**Daydreams

Opera Nyonya Sewing, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Busana Malaysia collection. — **Opera Nyonya Sewing**Busana Malaysia

Lorenzo Mattotti illustration, Il Belvedere. — **Il Belvedere**Galerie Martel

In The Mood For Love, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **In The Mood For Love**Daydreams

Michelle Can You Handle It, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **Michelle Can You Handle It**Daydreams

Aperol S Cinderella, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **Aperol S Cinderella**Daydreams

Golden, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Strokes of Fashion collection. — **Golden**Strokes of Fashion

Build Me Up Buttercup, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **Build Me Up Buttercup**Daydreams

Chulaap, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Strokes of Fashion collection. — **Chulaap**Strokes of Fashion

Ayu Kebaya 1, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Busana Malaysia collection. — **Ayu Kebaya 1**Busana Malaysia

Rebel Without A Cause, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Daydreams collection. — **Rebel Without A Cause**Daydreams

Robert Wun Purple, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Strokes of Fashion collection. — **Robert Wun Purple**Strokes of Fashion

Lorenzo Mattotti illustration, Anonyme, Lelasi. — **Anonyme, Lelasi**Galerie Martel

Lenggang Kangkung, a watercolour illustration by Lihuà from the Busana Malaysia collection. — **Lenggang Kangkung**Busana Malaysia

Explore all 216 works →

The artist

"My paintings are meant to be open invitations for all — places for your imagination to wander and discover what it means to you."Lihuà, from her Day Dreams artist statement

Est. 2010 — Chinese calligraphy meets Western watercolour, Kuala Lumpur to Italy.

Meet Lihuà

Galerie Martel — Paris, est. 2008. Anchored by Lorenzo Mattotti: Venice Biennale, The New Yorker.

See Galerie Martel

Journal

Stories from the atelier.

Lavender Dress, a watercolour fashion illustration by Lihuà.

The Client Files

Artists, brands, collectors — say hello.

By appointment — Kuala Lumpur and Paris.

Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp / Call: +60 14 638 9453
Instagram: @wmartegallery

WEST ART
EAST

Kuala Lumpur meets Paris.