Where art meets dessert: Cake Piknik joins CIMB Art & Soul: Artober 2025

Forget what you know about cakes being just birthday centrepieces or sweet endings to a meal.

At CIMB Art & Soul: Artober 2025 this Sept 27 held at MITEC Hall 1, cakes will take centre stage as edible masterpieces, crafted with the same imagination and precision as paintings or sculptures.

Leading this deliciously unexpected cake exhibition is Cake Piknik, the cake community event company co-founded by Nadia Halim.

Known for pushing creative boundaries in Malaysia’s baking scene, Cake Piknik is set to transform flour, sugar and butter into art that’s as awe-inspiring as it is edible.

The invitation to participate with CIMB Art & Soul: Artober 2025 came as both a surprise and an honour, said Nadia.

“Humbly, gratefully to our surprise, happily – we were approached by the CIMB Artober team themselves about four months ago. We presented our ideas to their theme, they loved it, and incredibly we’re part of this prestigious event!” she said. 

For the collaboration, Cake Piknik handpicked a group of bakers and cake artists, including some of the country’s most established names, to interpret the festival’s theme through cake design.

Photo: Cake Piknik

Each participant has been guided through a meticulous process from conceptual sketches and structural planning to final execution - ensuring that their creations will be more than just showpieces, but true works of art.

Visitors can expect a kaleidoscope of techniques and styles on display. Think towering tiered cakes adorned with intricate piping, fondant modelling shaped into delicate forms, hand-painted designs resembling fine brushwork, glossy mirror glaze finishes, and even sugar art sculptures that defy gravity.

“From creativity, skills and techniques that are going to be showcased on the table, we can expect everything from elaborate structures to delicate details,” Nadia said.

Their showcase is set to blur the lines between patisserie and performance, offering festivalgoers a sensory experience that extends beyond the visual.

From Sept 26 to 28, CIMB Artober will spotlight artistic excellence through a dynamic showcase. Among the key highlights are a special exhibition featuring never-before-seen works by the late legendary Datuk Ibrahim Hussein, alongside Art Talks led by distinguished speakers including Tengku Ampuan Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

More than 30 galleries and merchants, together with over 100 emerging and established artists, will present their works, reflecting the breadth and diversity of Malaysia’s creative landscape.