From Shipwreck to Street Art: Ming Pottery Shards Spark Creativity in Kuala Lumpur

In Kuala Lumpur’s bustling Chinatown, a unique art exhibition is weaving ancient history into modern form. Artist Alice Chang has assembled more than 9,000 Ming Dynasty pottery shards into captivating mosaic sculptures that attract tourists and locals alike.

The fragments originate from the Wanli shipwreck off the Malaysian coast, dating back to the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Underwater Heritage Site under its Silk Roads Programme, the wreck sank in a battle between Portuguese and Dutch ships.

Through these artworks, Chang links modern-day creativity to the ancient Silk Road and underscores Malaysia’s historic role as a global trade crossroads during the Ming Dynasty.

The project’s highlights include:

• 9,000+ porcelain shards from the Wanli period.
• UNESCO-listed underwater heritage under the Silk Roads Programme.
• Sculptures blending classical blue-and-white motifs with contemporary design.

For global citizens and art enthusiasts, the exhibit offers a fresh perspective on cultural exchange. Each sculpture invites viewers to consider how trade, travel, and creativity have always crossed borders—then and now.

The show is now on display in the heart of Chinatown, inviting travelers, digital nomads, and art lovers to explore where history meets innovation.

Reference(s):

Ming pottery shards turned into to art

cgtn.com