A photograph titled 'Masuk Hutan', which is part of the 'Hep Ka-Wot Enggang Le-Wei' (Forests, Hornbills And Honey) exhibition. Photo: Marisan A/K Pandak/MNS
PHOTOGRAPHY: HEP KA-WOT ENGGANG LE-WEI
Venue: GMBB, KL (Dec 17) and CMIS, Universiti Malaya (Dec 18)
Hep Ka-Wot Enggang Le-Wei (Forests, Hornbills And Honey) is an arts exhibition featuring photographs by six indigenous Jahai and Temiar people of Belum-Temenggor Forests in upper Perak state. They are collectively known as the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Orang Asli Hornbill Guardians.
The exhibition, which will be shown at two venues – GMBB mall this Saturday (11am-6pm) and Universiti Malaya’s bungalow venue Center Of Indigenous Studies on Sunday (11am-6pm) – is part of the “Safeguarding the Central Forest Spine: Trees for the Future” Project. It highlights how the Orang Asli protect the hornbills for their roles as farmers of the forest. The hornbills ensure a healthy forest.
A healthy forest means food for the bees (hornbills and wildlife as well), which provide Tualang honey for the Orang Asli. In turn, the Orang Asli monitors the population of hornbills, which help create a thriving ecosystem.
The events will also feature pop-up craft and book kiosks, talks and film screenings.
More info here.
RENTAK BUMI 2.0 – WHEN DANCE VIDEOS COME ALIVE!
Venue: Panggung Bandaraya DBKL, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Dec 16-18
A dance spectacle (six diverse works) will feature at the Rentak Bumi 2.0 show, a collaboration between three of Malaysia’s prominent dance companies, Dua Space Dance Theatre, Sutra Foundation and DiDance.
Last year, during the several Covid lockdowns, Sutra Foundation together with Dua Space Dance Theatre and DiDance, featured six virtual dance presentations under the title Rentak Bumi. These online presentations were created by artistic directors Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, Zaridah Abdul Mallik, Anthony Meh and Aman Yap, as part of ArtsFAS, an initiative of Yayasan Hasanah.
Rentak Bumi, the online initiative, succeeded in bringing, national and international awareness, to the rich diversity of Malaysian dance during the challenging pandemic period. This weekend, under the continual support of ArtsFAS 2022, the three dance companies will once again synergise their efforts in transforming these dance videos into a compelling live performance, Rentak Bumi 2.0.
Rentak Bumi 2.0 is also the show to close this year’s ArtsFAS season.
More info here.
A general view of the 'Boomzoomroom' exhibition at the APW creative space in Bangsar, KL. Photo: Boomzoomroom
EXHIBITION: BOOMZOOMROOM
Venue: APW, Bangsar, KL
Date: ends Dec 18
The general idea of an art exhibition is rapidly changing as we speak, especially with creative boundaries being blurred.
BOOMZOOMROOM takes its lead from these developments as it presents a visual art showcase featuring a diverse collection of artists and creatives across artistic practises, including visual arts, photography, theatre, and musicians, unpacking generational conversations in response to a research study titled Life Of Z by R+ of GDP Architects.
Apart from the exhibition, there will be a talk session What Would We Remember? (Dec 18, 3pm), which offers a conversation between the artists as they reflect on the personal nature of their artwork and how they situate themselves within generational relationships.
From textile art and comics right to lecture performances and punk music (with a Kelantanese accent), this exhibition offers a glimpse of how diverse communities and creative mediums in Malaysia can forge new relationships and come together.
The exhibition line-up includes Alvin Lau, Ang Xia Yi, Cloud Projects, Okui Lala, Mark Teh, No Good, Ellen Ang and others.
Free admission to the exhibition.
More info here.
Danny Lim, author of 'We Are Marching Now: The Inside Story Of Bersih 1.0' book, is part of this weekend's Readings@Seksan line-up. Photo: Chong See Ming
READINGS@SEKSAN
Venue: Seksan Gallery, 67, Jalan Tempinis 1, Lucky Garden, Bangsar, KL
Date: Dec 17
Longstanding literature community event Readings in KL closes out the year with an eye-catching list of participants, who will share their works - poetry, fiction, hip hop, politics, storytelling and more - at this Saturday's afternoon event (3.30pm-6pm).
The upcoming Readings session, hosted by Sumitra Selvaraj, will see Daryl Kho (author of Mist-Bound: How To Glue Back Grandpa), journalist Danny Lim (author of We Are Marching Now: The Inside Story Of Bersih 1.0) singer-songwriter/guitarist/writer Anna Salleh, Zhou Sivan (author of three chapbooks of poetry), Hesh (an Australian conscious rap artist), Zu Anjalika Kamis Gunnulfsen (author/self-development coach) and novelist Dipika Mukherjee taking turns to delight the crowd, and also share their experiences in the publishing world.
Free admission event.
More info here.
Miriam Omar's 'Gadis Picnic' (acrylic on canvas, 2022). Photo: Zhan Art Space
ART: MIRIAM OMAR’S ‘DAYDREAMS’
Venue: Zhan Art Space, The School, Jaya One, Petaling Jaya
Date: ends Jan 7, 2023
The Zhan Art Space has been transformed into a leafy wonderland with artist Miriam Omar’s first solo exhibit Daydreams.
The exhibit is inspired by her love for landscapes, nature and vibrant colours, serving up an optimistic show to close off the PJ-based gallery’s year. The works in Daydreams also helped her cope with anxieties and stress throughout the pandemic, where Miriam found her groove as an artist and prolific printmaker.
The Daydreams exhibition comprises over 16 unique artworks exploring the themes of distorted memories, imagination and daydreams which blurs the lines between reality and imagination.
More info here.
This Saturday, Indonesian film 'Tropic Fever' will be screened (at 2pm, free admission) at the 'Measure Of Seeds' exhibition’s auditorium space at Rimba Ilmu, Universiti Malaya. Photo: Handout
ART: SYARIFAH NADHIRAH’S ‘MEASURE OF SEEDS’
Venue: Rimba Ilmu, Universiti Malaya, KL
Date: ends Dec 25
Visual artist and writer Syarifah Nadhirah is exhibiting her latest works Measure Of Seeds at the Rimba Ilmu space in Universiti Malaya. It is a mini showcase featuring a five-part etching series, sewn installation and a collection of curiosities.
This Saturday, Indonesian film Tropic Fever will be screened (at 2pm, free admission) at the exhibit’s auditorium space.
It recounts the progression of Dutch colonialism by considering the hierarchy and changing architecture of plantation life as well as the island of Sumatra itself.
Syarifah has also released a limited edition fanzine-catalogue to accompany this Measure Of Seeds exhibition.
The Measure Of Seeds exhibition, in collaboration with Rimba Ilmu and supported by Cendana, is open Tuesday to Thursday (11am to 4pm) and weekends (11am to 5pm). Free admission.
More info here.
