THEATRE: 'PERHIASAN KACA'
Venue: Pentas 2, KLPac
Date: June 29 and 30, July 3-7
The Actors Studio Foundation continues its "Kembali Ke Pangkuan" season with a Bahasa Malaysia adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ classic play, The Glass Menagerie. This rendition promises to bring a fresh cultural perspective to the timeless tale of familial bonds and fragile dreams, engaging audiences with its evocative performances.
Christopher Ling directs Perhiasan Kaca, a poignant semi-autobiographical drama focusing on a family of three. The story, translated into Bahasa Malaysia by Marlenny Deenerwan, delves into the lives of a mother (Tria Aziz) lost in nostalgia, a reclusive daughter (Cahaya Jais) absorbed in her collection of glass animals, and a son (Aidil Rosli) aspiring to be a poet. Despite their yearning for a brighter future, each character retreats into their own personal "glass menagerie," seeking refuge from their inner turmoil and pain. Azwan Ahmadi completes the cast.
This year, the Actors Studio Foundation (established in 2021) is presenting the inaugural season of "Kembali Ke Pangkuan", which is curated by Ling, its new associate artistic director.
More info here.
A view of Japanese photographer Yumiko Utsu’s Wunderkammer book, which brings together 190 recent surrealistic and colourful works from various different series. Photo: Fugensha
JAPANESE PHOTOBOOK EXHIBITION
Venue: Level 3A, GMBB, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends June 30
The “Japanese Photobook Exhibition”, which is showing at the GMBB creative mall, presents a rare opportunity for the public to view more than 50 Japanese photobooks from independent publishers, and promises to be an eye-opening experience for professional and amateur photographers, visual artists, designers, and Japanese art and culture enthusiasts.
In addition to the exhibition, there will be two insightful talks about the “Japanese Photobook Industry” by Yoshihiro Ikka, exhibition organiser, curator, and founder of the independent publishing company Libro Arte. There will also be projections of street photographer Tadashi Onishi’s works, and a unique Mini Riso Photo-Zine Workshop hosted by risograph specialists Bang Bang Zine.
The “Japanese Photobook Exhibition” is organised by Photobook Club Kuala Lumpur (PBCKL), Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur (JFKL) and GMBB. Tickets are priced at RM10 for a day pass.
More info here.
A view of The Back Room gallery's pop-up exhibition titled 'Lost In Translation' at the CIMB Hotel Art Fair. It features artists such as CC Kua, chi too, Dipali Gupta, Galih Johar, Hoo Fan Chon, Jun Kit, Lee Mok Yee, Liew Kwai Fei, Octo Cornelius, Ong Hieng Fuong, Syahnan Anuar and W. Rajaie. Photo: The Back Room
CIMB HOTEL ART FAIR
Venue: Four Points By Sheraton, KL city centre
Date: June 29 and 30, 11am-7pm
More than 20 art galleries and cultural entrepreneurs are set to participate in this weekend's CIMB Hotel Art Fair, bringing their diverse collections to a new hotel located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
Participating galleries include notable players in the Klang Valley contemporary art scene, such as The Back Room KL, G13 Gallery, A+ Works of Art, Cult Gallery, Zhan Art Space, Suma Orientalis, Sutra Foundation and Core Design Gallery.
This event offers an exciting opportunity for these galleries to showcase a range of artists, from emerging talents to established names, in an intimate and accessible setting. By transforming hotel rooms into temporary gallery spaces, each gallery is set to create a pop-up environment where art can be appreciated in a new, playful and creative context.
Visitors will have the chance to engage with artworks (paintings, multimedia art, installations, pottery, photography and more) up close, discovering pieces they might not encounter in traditional gallery settings. If you're lucky, some galleries will also have their featured artists present, allowing you to discuss their works and artistic practices directly with them.
Free admission event, with a series of public talks, book readings and art book launches over the weekend.
More info here.
This Sunday, nature lovers and art enthusiasts can visit Rimbun Dahan's Open Day, focusing on history and memory. Not to forget a chance to experience part of the art centre's 6ha tropical garden. Photo: Rimbun Dahan
RIMBUN DAHAN OPEN DAY
Venue: Rimbun Dahan, Kuang, Selangor
Date: June 30, 9am-6pm
For this month’s Open Day, Rimbun Dahan arts centre will be open to the public with a programme of events investigating fiction, documentary film and the archive, curated by current Malaysian resident writer William Tham, as well as an installation art project by resident visual artist Faye Abantao from the Philippines.
Tham will be hosting “Imagining Historically: Conversations About Fiction, Film, and (Informal) Archives,” a walk-in, free admission session that will be held this Sunday from 2.30pm-6pm. He will be reading an excerpt from his new short story, The Boundaries In Men’s Hearts, set during Rabindranath Tagore’s 1927 visit to South-East Asia.
Tham will then moderate a session with lawyer-heritage consultant Caleb Goh on the appeal of “thinking archivally,” followed by filmmaker Chan Seong Foong discussing documentary-making.
Visitors can also come early and check out out Abantao's open studio, featuring her installation titled "What Becomes of Memories If There’s No One Around To Remember Them?". This collage-based, wall-bound mural talks about the ephemeral nature of memory and the existential query surrounding its legacy in the absence of witness.
Rimbun Dahan is private property, and is only open to the public on Open Days.
More info here.
This Sunday, the 'People Library' series will feature the early morning “Pantun And Pantoun” public event, featuring poetry-based works from France and Malaysia. Photo: Friends of Taman Tugu
POETRY READING: 'PANTUN AND PANTOUN'
Venue: Taman Tugu Nursery, Kuala Lumpur
Date: June 30, 9.30am
This Sunday, the Friends of Taman Tugu is rolling out a community tribute to poetry, showcasing works from Malaysia and France. The “Pantun And Pantoun” event will take place at the “People Library” series at the Taman Tugu Nursery. The free admission event runs from 9.30am to 12.30pm, so be early to grab the best seats.
This unique gathering will feature poetry readings and literary language discussions by Serge Jardin, Datuk Anwar Ridhwan, Georges Voisset, Dr Mohamad Shahidan, Renuka Devi Naidu, Shamina Dubois, and Jerome Bouchaud.
Through the session, each participant will recite their handpicked works and discuss the origins, connections, and significance of the Malay pantun and its French derivative, the pantoun.
More info here.
A visitor looks at Husin Othman's 'Balada Osman Tikus' painting at the M.Nasir tribute exhibition at Galeri Puteh in KL. Photo: Azlina Abdullah/The Star
EXHIBITION: 'SESAT DI KUALA LUMPUR'
Venue: Galeri Puteh, KL Eco City Mall, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends June 30
It's the last weekend to catch Galeri Puteh's Sesat Di Kuala Lumpur: Lagunya Begini, Tampaknya Begitu ... M. Nasir, an exhibition showcasing nearly 60 artists inspired by legendary Malaysian singer, songwriter, and actor Datuk M. Nasir.
The exhibition also references his song from the 1986 cult classic movie Kembara Seniman Jalanan. Each artist reimagines the themes of his music, which range from urban street life and spirituality to family, politics, Nusantara roots and more.
Across the gallery floor, art lovers and music fans can check out a multi-generational line-up, including Rafiee Ghani, Abdullah Jones, Al-Khuzairie Ali, Samsuddin Wahab, Fendy Zakri, Najib Bamadhaj, Shafiq Nordin, Hisyamuddin Abdullah, Kide Baharudin, Ika Sharom, Mustaffa Ahmad Hidzir (aka Tapa Otai), Azad Daniel Harris, Issarezal Ismail and others.
The exhibition features a range of mediums, including paintings, mixed media art, wall installations, and photographs.
More info here.
Poet and co-founder of Jalan Dalam, Raaja Rao (centre), urges the crowd to decide the winner during a recent poetry slam. Photo: Handout
POETRY: JALAN DALAM’S POETRY SLAM SUNDAY
Venue: Bartolo Lisboa Bakehouse, Central Market, KL
Date: June 30, 5.30pm
Sundays are for slam poetry, as Jalan Dalam, a performing arts collective, hosts its third tournament-style event in Central Market, KL’s cultural hub.
This competition pits poets against each other - Idris Aruthr, Rutirran, Zishan, Farhana Aleya, Kishana, and Lillian Lai - where audience applause determines who advances and who gets knocked out. To kick things off, "sacrificial poet" Pavithrah Sambu, a seasoned poetry slam competitor since 2015, will perform a piece to set the stage.
The champion of this edition will advance to an "all-star tournament" with winners from previous slams later in the year. Admission is free.
More info here.
