From the filmy haze of my slumber, I see the magic words: C-O-F-F-E-E. Or more accurately, Bask Bear Coffee. Whatever. Scrambling up from my earlier position as a lifeless sack of potato draped against the back seat of the large MPV that I'm in, I sit up before casting an expectant look at my friend Stefani, who's seated on the passenger seat at the front. Unlike me, she's as perky as a fresh daisy.
"Getting off here?" I mumble to her, unable to hide the quiver of desperation from entering my voice. It's been a long morning driving around in Muar, Johor and I've not downed a cuppa yet. Her grin — and the sound of the engine being killed — is all the answer I need as I quickly free myself from the seatbelt restraining me and jump out the moment the door slides open.
Eh wait. Muar Art Gallery? Perhaps the haze hadn't quite cleared but the words emblazoned across the shop's façade causes me to stop in my tracks. Why is it so difficult to get coffee around here, I grumble to myself, before finding perky daisy, a.k.a. Stefani excitedly motioning for me — and the rest of my group — to follow her in. "Come, this is a gallery AND a café!" she exclaims, pushing the entrance door open with a flourish.
The absence of the aroma of coffee inside is discernible but I'm more taken by the unexpected sight of a very pleasing-looking café, bathed in an airy glow from the sunlight filtering in through its glass windows.
Contemporary and spacious — these two words come to mind as a bespectacled, tudung-clad young lady ambles over and leads us into the café's inner sanctum where framed paintings and sketches adorn the walls and the furniture themselves appear to be works of art too.
Further in, there appears to be another "room", which, from where I'm standing, looks like an activities centre of sorts. "Let's sit around here," says Nabila Zaidi, the gallery's manager, pointing to a round table in the corner.
Nodding, I cast a furtive look at the rest of my group who are already making a beeline for the "activities" room, no doubt lured by the raucous bustle that seems to be emanating from within. "Never mind, we'll join them later. That's the Art Space," explains Nabila, smiling broadly.
ONE-STOP CENTRE
The Muar Art Gallery has been opened in this tranquil neighbourhood of Taman Junid Perdana since 2016. And the café followed soon after. "The gallery is something like a CSR initiative by our parent company, SJY Furniture. The founder wanted to spur and encourage creativity here in our town," begins Nabila, as a cup of traditional Muar black coffee magically appears on the table in front of me.
I lob a beam of gratitude to the waiter as Nabila chuckles goodnaturedly before exclaiming: "Sila, sila (try it), you'll like this coffee. It's Muar's 434 coffee, which is really popular with the locals and around the country too. Sedap (delicious)!"
Of course, I didn't need a second invitation. Nodding her approval, the Muar-born Nabila, a manager here for just under two years, continues with her story. "As I was saying, our owners, SJY Furniture, an award-winning furniture maker from this very town, wanted to create a place where our local artists could come and do their art, have them displayed and even sell them. The owners have always been keen to champion works and events that are culturally engaged. They want to turn Muar into a vibrant and progressive little town."
SJY Furniture, established in 1983, initially started out as a manufacturer and exporter of wood and rattan furniture to the international market. Today, I discover from Nabila, it provides a globalised service and has factories in Malaysia, China, Indonesia and the Philippines.
And here's an interesting aside. Did you know that Muar is the country's foremost furniture hub? There are 800 factories here and they account for some 55 to 60 per cent of Malaysia's furniture export. Now we know!
"Ahh, that explains all these exquisite pieces (of furniture) that dot the café," I exclaim to Nabila, pointing to one just across from where we're sitting, which had caught my eye the moment I sat down. It's a wooden high chair whose frames appear to be fashioned from a wheel and a bicycle handlebar, complete with a classic bell!
Again, Nabila smiles. "Anyone who's interested to purchase any of the furniture or art work in this place can do so," she shares enthusiastically, adding: "In fact, almost everything is for sale! Just take a photo of the item or items and send to us. We'll facilitate the rest."
Returning to her story on the early days of the gallery, she says that the space was initially reserved for local artists to explore their creativity. Continues Nabila: "Then we decided it would be a good idea to add in the F&B element in order to offer a more complete experience for our customers. We wanted to create a one-stop centre where people could come to indulge their creativity, enjoy exhibitions and also savour good local food and coffee."
Adding, she shares that over the years, the business grew and one shoplot became three. "Where we're at now is the third one," says Nabila, smiling proudly. The location, in a serene residential area, I have to admit, is pretty strategic. Being by the roadside makes it very accessible and there's also ample parking. I'm duly informed that there are also plenty of government offices and agencies nearby.
Prior to the Movement Control Order (MCO), the gallery space used to bustle with activities, shares Nabila, elaborating: "We had regular art markets, art classes and even music classes. But we've had to stop all that for now."
EAT LIKE THE MUAR-IANS
Google Muar and chances are, the Muar Art Gallery and Café will feature somewhere at the top of the list of attractions to check out in this small town. "Even the Sultan of Johor and his Permaisuri have frequented this place too," says Nabila, eyes behind her glasses lighting up with pride.
Adding, she shares that prior to the MCO, the gallery and café enjoyed a steady stream of visitors from out of town on the weekends. "They like the fact that they can have everything under one roof. Most of all, they enjoy the Muar specials that we offer and the fact that they can savour it in airconditioned surroundings."
A quick glance at the menu leaves me feeling ravenous. Not only is there an interesting selection of local Muar favourites such as satay, lontong, and mee bandung, there's also vegetarian options in addition to Dim Sum and noodles. "Our yellow noodles are made in-house by our chefs, by the way," Nabila chips in proudly before inviting me to make my order from the menu.
"If you want to eat like the 'Muar-ians', then you need to come over very early in the morning — like 7.30am — and order a hefty breakfast of satay, lontong, toasts with kaya, mee bandung and finish it all off with a cup of local coffee!" recommends the genial gallery manager, breathlessly reeling off a list, before grinning at my expression of disbelief.
No wonder Muar, one of the oldest cities in Johor, is synonymous for being a food haven! Muar-ians REALLY know how to eat.
GET CREATIVE
A sudden shriek, followed by rowdy laughter emanating from the Art Space, piques my curiosity. It sounds a lot like my group! Turning to Nabila, I ask whether we could adjourn to the room to see what all the commotion is about.
"Sure," she replies, beaming in response. "They're probably playing a board game in there," she adds, before leading me in. Sure enough, crowding around a wooden table in the centre of the room are my friends, happily indulging in what looks like a game requiring a lot of brainwork! The board and the pieces, I note, are all made of wood.
In fact, it suddenly dawns that every nook of this space is filled with products and items made of wood — from all kinds of board games to unique pieces of furniture, right to samples of rubber wood. There's even a large board along the wall detailing a step-by-step manufacturing process for crafting a wooden desk. Another wall, meanwhile, offers an insight into Malaysia's standings in the furniture industry today.
"All the wooden furniture or items that you're seeing in here have actually been made from left-over or unused wood from those furniture items that we'd been commissioned to make," explains Nabila, adding that the company strives to recycle all unused materials.
"Whatever we don't use, we sometimes turn them into games pieces for children to play with or for university students to come and work on," she continues before motioning for me to follow her deeper inside where there are rows of tables with tubes of paint and wooden key chain templates scattered on them.
"This is where the workshops are conducted by Art Space, one of our tenants," shares Nabila, adding that they regularly invite relevant tenants to utilise their gallery space so they can create a bustling hub for art.
If you happen to come with a large group, there's a bigger studio that you can utilise, which can accommodate up to 80 people. "Actually, this place is spread over two floors," shares Nabila, leading me out to the café area once more.
Smiling, she asks whether I'd like to head upstairs where the furniture gallery is. "You'll love it!" she exclaims, sensing my hesitation as I cast another furtive look at the "fun" that seems to permeate the Art Space.
Adding, she cajoles: "The collection of furniture upstairs have actually been made and designed especially for international competitions. Some are award-winning pieces. All made of rattan. I promise you, you'll be charmed!"
How could I possibly say no to Nabila's very persuasive invitation? It would be an opportunity missed not to check out yet another pride of Muar — its wide range of high quality furniture. After all, this royal town has earned the distinction of being the "Furniture City of Malaysia". And I'm sure SJY Furniture has played its part in that.
As our footsteps echo noisily on the stairs as we make our way up to the first floor, I couldn't help but smile at the thought that contrary to my initial misgivings about laidback Muar. It's turning out to be a most exciting trip on our southern sojourn!
MUAR ART GALLERY AND CAFÉ
Where: 66-1, Jalan Hang Tuah, Taman Junid Perdana, Muar, Johor
Go to www.muarart.com for details.
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