‘Mixtape For Maz’ is a memory play directed by Tung Jit Yang (centre). Presented by Perempuan Productions and KongsiKL, the cast comprises (from left): Farah Rani (Maz), Nabil Zakaria (Hisham), Mia Sabrina Mahadir (Rokiah) and Faiq Syazwan Kuhiri (Edi). Photo: The Star/Art Chen
THEATRE: MIXTAPE FOR MAZ
Venue: KongsiKL, Jalan Klang Lama, KL
Date: July 27-30
Don't rub your eyes! This is not some "Throwback Thursday" boomerang.
Back in May, Mixtape For Maz, a new Malaysian play written by Adiwijaya Iskandar, had to make the tough decision to cancel its opening run (after just three shows) due to the cast members contracting Covid 19.
The show is back on at KongsiKL this week, with the actors now recovered and raring to finish its run.
Mixtape For Maz, which is a raw and tender tale of youth, indivuality and peer pressure, is directed by Tung Jit Yang and stars Farah Rani (Parah, Nadirah) as Maz alongside Faiq Syazwan Kuhiri, Mia Sabrina Mahadir and Nabil Zakaria.
The work written in Northern Bahasa Malaysia (Bahasa Utara) and English, captures the story of Maz and Edi, teenage siblings who have returned to a rural state town in north Malaysia in the late 1990s after years of growing up abroad.
Not only do they face the stresses of secondary school life, they must also navigate the contradictions between their western influences (early Internet culture, 1990s music and video games) and the conservative society engulfing them.
As their identities are challenged and redefined, will they learn to reconcile the shattered fragments of themselves or will they succumb to the pressures of conformity?
For those looking for interesting contemporary and edgy Malaysian theatre works, Mixtape For Maz is worth an investigation. The grunge warehouse atmosphere at the KongsiKL venue adds to the restless vibe.
More info here.
Wong Chee Meng's 'Together Towards Growth' (acrylic on canvas, 2022). Photo: Wei-Ling Gallery
EXHIBITION: WONG CHEE MENG'S 'RASA SAYANG'
Venue: Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends Aug 19
At Wei-Ling Gallery in KL, Wong Chee Meng's fifth solo exhibition Rasa Sayang delves into the very essence of what defines our country as "Malaysia" and why it is crucial to reflect upon these elements.
This transformative exhibition stands as a visual cornerstone, honouring the splendour of traditions and the connecting threads that bind us as a nation, with a special focus on the significance of cultural preservation and adaptation.
With a keen focus on innovation, this exhibition seamlessly incorporates augmented reality (AR) to elevate and enhance the viewing experience, embracing the dynamic realm of modernity. As a friendly reminder, bring your smartphones with you to fully interact in the AR aspects that accompany the artworks.
The exhibition is open by appointment only. Contact: 03-22601106 or email: siewboon@weiling-gallery.com.
More info here.
'Opium By Any Other Name' is a classic tale of betrayal, romance and tragedy. Photo: Engku Armand
THEATRE: OPIUM BY ANY OTHER NAME
Venue: Black Box, DPAC, Petaling Jaya
Date: Jul 27-30; Aug 2-6
In the shadows of British Malaya, the secret societies of Ghee Hin and Hai San tussle over their decades-old grudge.
Two families embroiled in the feud face off in 1890s Taiping amid times of economic uncertainty and existential threats. In this chaos, two young lovers find that their passions could make for the foundation of peace in Perak – but at what cost?
Opium by Any Other Name is the second entry in the ‘Opium’ series by Tarrant Kwok. Thematically centred around the opium economy of colonial Malaya, the play draws beats from beloved Shakepearean tragedy Romeo And Juliet, but with a gritty, local flavour.
With characters portrayed by Shi Hoong, Celeste Low, Veronica Boh, Adry Nasution, Charles Roberts and Dennis Lim, the production presents political drama, family honour and women’s issues in a gripping storyline.
Surtitles and music accompany this tale of forbidden love as looming danger threatens to destroy everything the lovers hold dear.
More info here.
Osman Akbar Long, a veteran water colour artist, is part of the line-up at the 'Art Attack' event, presented by the Bookstreet community, at Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya. Photo: Handout
COMMUNITY ARTS: 'ART ATTACK' AT BOOKSTREET
Venue: Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya
Date: July 29 and 30
This weekend, Amcorp Mall's BookStreet series is presenting its "Art Attack" edition.
A line-up of 15 visual artists has been sorted for pocket exhibitions, mini workshops and "meet-the-artist" sessions. They include Osman Akbar Long, a veteran painter in the Malaysian art scene, alongside Harris Ribut, Huda Mazli, Wan Hairuddin, Ismail Itam, Rashid Matop, Cindy Candy, Anuar Dan, Abey Zoul and others.
"Immerse yourself in a world of creativity, inspiration, and cultural diversity," reads the event notes.
As with any Bookstreet community event, there will be a pop-up book market - new and used titles. Visitors can discover a treasure trove of books that celebrate the arts, from captivating paintings to inspiring stories of renowned artists.
Not to forget, the coffee vendors on hand to keep the event and conversations chugging along nicely.
Free admission event (10am-8pm).
More info here.
MUSICAL COMEDY: THE PRODUCERS
Venue: KLPac
Date: ends Aug 6
If you are looking for a show to make you laugh and sing, then Pan Productions’ take on the Broadway favourite The Producers, featuring an all-Malaysian cast, is just what you need to check out at KLPac.
The plot is simple: a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant come up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history, thereby bilking their backers (all "little old ladies") out of millions of dollars.
Only one thing goes awry: the show is a smash hit! The antics of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom as they maneuver their way fecklessly through finding a show (the gloriously offensive "Springtime for Hitler"), hiring a director, raising the money and finally going to prison for their misdeeds is a lesson in broad comic construction. At the core of the insanely funny adventure is a poignant emotional journey of two very different men who become friends.
With a truly hysterical book co-written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan (Annie) and music and lyrics by Brooks, The Producers skewers Broadway traditions and takes no prisoners as it proudly proclaims itself an "equal opportunity offender!"
More info here.
Hasanul's artwork 'Alphard Glow' (acrylic guoache and guoache on cotton paper (2022-2023). Photo: Rissim Contemporary/Richard Koh Fine Art
EXHIBITION: HASANUL ISYRAF IDRIS - NIGHTWALKING
Venue: Rissim Contemporary, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends Aug 6
Penang-based contemporary artist Hasanul Isyraf Idris is making a welcome return with a new solo exhibition titled Nightwalking at Rissim Contemporary, a boutique art space in Kuala Lumpur.
Hasanul’s exhibition - Rissim in collaboration with Richard Koh Fine Art - features a series of new paintings of moths against backgrounds of the celestial night sky. During the pandemic, Hasanul maintained a daily routine of going out at night on walks around his home in the suburbs of George Town and also began rearing insects in his garden.
The wildlife of Penang has been a frequent subject in his recent works. But as subjects, they are not painted as mere observational studies; rather, their behaviours and habits are suffused with symbolic resonance. In the paintings of Nightwalking, the transient, self-destructive nature of moths and the brilliant, melancholic blue of night time come together to visualise the ecstatic cycle of life, death, and regeneration.
More info here.
Syahnan Anuar's 'Awas, Gosok-Gosok' (silkscreen on cotton paper, 2023), which is a part of the 'New Edition' exhibition at Chetak 17. Photo: Chetak 17
EXHIBITION: 'NEW EDITION' PRINTMAKING SHOW
Venue: Chetak 17, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends Aug 12
After a series of tributes and masterclasses in the last few months, the artist-run studio and gallery Chetak 17 is now highlighting a line-up of printmakers - in their 20s and early 30s - who look ready for a crossover audience in the local art scene.
The idea behind this show is to introduce new works from this next generation of print artists such as Asmida Ariffin, Faizal Wahab, Luqman Yusry, Rico Leong, Syahnan Anuar and Iwadh S.
They might hail from different backgrounds (some self-taught), but at the Chetak 17 gallery, you will find that the unifying factor is that each artist is offering printmaking works that reflect a progressive mindset in visual literacy.
Be it playful, political, quirky or sharp-witted prints, it's certain that visitors to the exhibition will come home with a broader appreciation of printmaking and the art medium's diversity.
The printmaking techniques at this exhibition include silkscreen, linocut, aquatint, etching (viscosity print) and more.
More info here.
