A close-up of Rafiee Ghani's artwork titled 'Bumi Bertuah I' (acrylic on canvas, 2022), which is featured in his 'Bumi Bertuah' exhibition at G13 Gallery in Petaling Jaya. Photo: G13 Gallery
ART: RAFIEE GHANI'S 'BUMI BERTUAH'
Venue: G13 Gallery, Petaling Jaya
Date: Jan 7-20
Bumi Bertuah, a new solo exhibition by abstract art favourite Rafiee Ghani, opens up G13's exhibition line-up for the year. It presents a colourful look at Rafiee’s travels, which have been translated vividly on canvas.
This new series of 36 paintings captures his experiences and his memories alongside his long travels across several continents, countries and places where he encountered all kinds of people from various ethnic groups and cultures, walked in the footsteps of famous European artists.
In this series, Rafiee challenged himself to use acrylic, as opposed to oil paint, his signature medium. He believes painters should be versatile, and he does not want to restrict himself to just one technique or style.
Rafiee will be presenting an hour-long art talk this Saturday, starting 2pm.
More info here.
Mami Ita, a storyteller and tapai brewer from Keningau, Sabah. Photo: Harold Egn Eswar
TAPAI-MAKING WORKSHOP WITH MAMI ITA
Venue: Zhongshan building, KL
Date: Jan 7 and 8
Mami Ita, a tapai-brewer from Keningau, Sabah, will be flying in to conduct a workshop on the art of brewing tapai in the traditional way. Tapai is the ceremonial rice wine of Sabah, cousin to lihing (Sabah) and tuak (Sarawak).
The workshop, with loads of storytelling included, will take place over two days, with an evening session on the first day (knowledge sharing and tapai-making) and a morning wrap-up session on the second day. Mami will go into depth about the history and customs of tapai, and provide insider scoop on the do’s and don’ts of drinking tapai.
Mami's traditional tapai brewing two-day workshop series: Jan 7 (4pm-9pm) and Jan 8 (8am-10.30am). Ticketed event (RM300 per pax). Email: ellenlee.jl@gmail.com.
More info here.
Red Hong Yi's site-specific exhibition 'Once Upon A Longtang', which can be viewed at the National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Red Hong Yi
Venue: National Art Gallery, KL
Date: ends March 2023
The National Art Gallery has gone all old world Shanghai with multi-disciplinary artist Red Hong Yi's latest site-specific exhibition Once Upon A Longtang.
The installation features a series of artworks "painted" with burnt Chinese calligraphy paper, and features scenes inspired by old alleyway houses – or ‘Longtang’ houses in Shanghai.
"These houses are dear to me because my father and grandparents lived there, and I got to live there and reconnect with my roots in 2011-2013. These old houses are also quickly disappearing to make way for urban development," says Red Hong Yi about the new installation.
"Bamboo scaffolding is used in these old quarters for renovation works. Fresh laundry can be seen hung all over in these narrow alleyways. To me, laundry is a sign of human life - it shows glimpses of the type of people who live there," she adds.
Free admission to the National Art Gallery.
More info here.
Gerakbudaya bookshop is hosting the 'Life After: Oral Histories Of The May 13 Incident' book launch and sharing session this Saturday. Photo: Gerakbudaya
BOOK LAUNCH: LIFE AFTER: ORAL HISTORIES OF THE MAY 13 INCIDENT
Venue: Gerakbudaya, Petaling Jaya
Date: Jan 7, 2pm
Gerakbudaya bookshop is hosting the official launch of Life After: Oral Histories Of The May 13 Incident book, which collects the narratives of those who survived that dark episode of our national history.
The launch will also feature a panel discussion with members of the May 13 Oral History Group, along with academic Sharifah Munirah Alatas and contemporary artist Sharon Chin.
"A must-read, especially for students and scholars of identity politics and communal violence, and generally, for all who appreciate the value of oral history and memory studies,” reads Sharifah's description of the book.
Free admission.
More info here.
The Godown in KL starts off the year with the 'Bakul' exhibition. - Handout
EXHIBITION: BAKUL: EVERYDAY BASKETS FROM SABAH
Venue: The Godown, KL
Date: Jan 7 to Feb 23
The Godown arts space in KL begins the year with the Bakul exhibition, which features a collection of traditional Sabah baskets from Sabahan author and collector Jennifer P Linggi.
At this show, you can learn more about Tadang, Reng, Takiding, Wakid, Barait, Saiyon and other everyday baskets, which are used for domestic activity, farming, hunting, gathering and ritualistic practices. They are among the many bakul exhibits on show at the main hall of The Godown. A selection of photos and items collected from an excursion to Kampung Bakuku in Sabah are also on display as part of the exhibition.
"To know these baskets is to go into their world. And this world springs from rattan, bamboo, bemban, mengkuang and other plants from the jungle. It is also from the sun, the rain, the mud, the leeches, the insects, the microbes, the things that make up the fierce forest. Each basket is a kind of fresh wonder, a transformation," reads exhibition director Ling Hao's notes.
This is a no-shoes exhibition at The Godown. Opens daily noon-6pm (Monday-Thursday) and noon-7pm (Friday-Sunday). Admission is free, with registration here.
More info here.
MUSICAL: THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Venue: Istana Budaya, KL
Date: ends Jan 15
The Sound Of Music, one of the world’s best-loved musicals, is back in KL with a brand new international production.
This original production tells the uplifting true story of Maria, the fun-loving governess who changed the lives of the widowed Captain von Trapp and his seven children by re-introducing them to music, and culminating the family’s flight across the Austrian mountains as tensions rise prior to the outbreak of WWII.
Produced by Broadway International Group and presented by Base Entertainment Asia, The Sound Of Music international tour is directed by three-time Tony Award-winner and Broadway veteran Jack O’Brien, choreographed by Danny Mefford, features music supervision by Andy Einhorn and also includes an all-Broadway creative, design and production team.
In KL, the musical also features 17 talented local children for the roles of the von Trapp children to share the stage alongside extraordinary Broadway cast members – Jill Christine Wiley (Maria), Trevor Martin (Captain Von Trapp), and Lauren Kidwell (Mother Abbess).
More info here.
