South Korean author Hwang Bo-reum will be Kuala Lumpur for whirlwind book tour on July 14 and 15. Photo: Bloomsbury
BOOK TOUR: HWANG BO-REUM'S 'WELCOME TO THE HYUNAM-DONG BOOKSHOP'
Venue: Various major bookshops in KL
Date: July 14 and 15
Fans of Hwang Bo-reum’s international runaway hit Welcome To The Hyunam-dong Bookshop won’t want to miss the Korean author’s two-day book tour in Kuala Lumpur, starting this Sunday.
Hwang will be joined by Shanna Tan, the Singaporean translator who translated the book from Korean to English.
In Hwang’s heartwarming debut, Yeongju is living every book lover’s dream: she runs a quiet independent bookstore in Hyunam-dong. But it took a lot for her to get there. As Yeongju learns to write a new story for herself, the Hyunam-dong Bookshop becomes an inviting space for lost souls to rest, heal, and remember that it's never too late to scrap the plot and start again.
Grab a copy of the book’s "Spring" edition and get it signed at: Kinokuniya Suria KLCC (12pm, noon) and Popular Sunway Pyramid (4pm, RSVP required) on July 14; Tsutaya Pavilion Bukit Jalil (11am), Eslite Bukit Bintang (3pm) and MPH TRX (7pm, RSVP required) on July 15.
Check the social media channels for each bookstore for more details.
More info here.
THEATRE: 'FIGURES OF HISTORY AND THE GROUNDS OF INTELLIGENCE'
Venue: Five Arts Centre, GMBB mall, KL
Date: July 14 and 15
Pen this one in your diary if you want theatre with a difference. Singaporean artist and writer Ho Rui An, known for weaving contemporary art, cinema, performance, and theory, is set to return to Kuala Lumpur to debut his new work, Figures Of History And The Grounds Of Intelligence, at Five Arts Centre next week.
This lecture performance, incorporating generative AI, is part of Five Arts Centre’s 40th anniversary programme. It promises to be a treat for arts enthusiasts, as Ho is premiering this work in KL ahead of a run at the Centre Pompidou in Paris later this year.
In this lecture-performance, Ho examines how historical figurations shape the "intelligence" behind today's generative AI models. The performance will reflect on AI drawing from "memory" not to narrate history but to endlessly generate and regenerate patterns.
Figures Of History And The Grounds Of Intelligence is co-commissioned by Centre Pompidou, Paris, and Kadist, San Francisco and Paris.
More info here.
THEATRE: 'JINGJU MAGIC: LOVE AND BEWILDERMENT'
Venue: Pentas 1, KLPac
Date: July 12-14
Here's a treat for opera fans! The world-renowned GuoGuang Opera Company from Taiwan is premiering Jingju Magic - Love & Bewilderment in Malaysia with two double bills featuring "Zhuangzi Tests His Wife," "Lu Wenlong," "The Death of Zhou Yu," and "Guiying’s Accusation of Wang Kuei at the Temple" at KLPac's Pentas 1 this weekend.
Celebrating its return to KL after nine years, these special excerpts highlight the enchanting stories and spellbinding techniques of Jingju (Peking opera), from literary classics like "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" to martial arts combat scenes and ghostly movements.
As Taiwan’s premier Peking opera troupe, GuoGuang Opera Company has captivated global audiences for nearly three decades with their modern yet traditional performances, offering a unique gateway to age-old culture and traditions.
Performed in Mandarin with English and Mandarin surtitles by a cast of 29 actors and musicians.
More info here.
ROYAL SELANGOR JAZZ FESTIVAL
Venue: Royal Selangor Visitor Centre, Setapak Jaya, Kuala Lumpur
Date: July 14, 10am to 10pm
It's all about groove and jazzy rhythms at the Royal Selangor Jazz Festival this Sunday. Experience back-to-back music across four stages, with 17 mainstream jazz artistes, featuring Tay Cher Siang, Shang Sisters, Az Samad, Janet Lee, Junji Delfino, David Gomes, The Frankie Sixes, FAZZ, WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble and more.
Witness the magic of musical improvisation by engaging in lively jam sessions with other festival-goers. For those craving a bit of cinematic indulgence, the festival's jazz film screenings promise to whisk you away on a visual journey through the rich history and vibrant culture of jazz.
With quizzes, a vinyl record pop-up, food trucks and many other fun activities, the Royal Selangor Jazz Festival celebrates the community spirit of jazz. General admission is RM150.
More info here.
The 'Not Just In Black And White' exhibition at the new GDP Campus showcases nearly 80 large-scale artworks (across two floors), reflecting Wong's preference for impactful, provocative, political and also, highly reflective pieces. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon
EXHIBITION: 'NOT JUST IN BLACK AND WHITE'
Venue: GDP Campus, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends Aug 11
In Malaysia, art collectors are beginning to play a pivotal role in shaping exhibitions, often reflecting their personal tastes and curatorial vision. The Not Just In Black And White exhibition is a prime example, featuring contemporary Malaysian and South-East Asian artwork from the Steve Wong collection.
This free admission exhibition at the new GDP Campus showcases nearly 80 large-scale artworks (across two floors), reflecting Wong's preference for impactful, provocative, political and also, highly reflective pieces. Curated by Beverly Yong (Rogue Art), this diverse collection spans more than 30 years, weaving a rich narrative of Malaysia's evolving art landscape, with a dash of regional flavour added to the exhibition.
It features works from prominent artists such as Wong Hoy Cheong, Yee I-Lann, Saiful Razman, Ahmad Fuad Osman, Latiff Mohidin, Ahmad Zakii Anwar, Bayu Utomo Radjikin, Chong Siew Ying, Kide Baharudin, Chang Yoong Chia, Justin Lim, Nadiah Bamadhaj, Hasanul Isyraf Idris, Samsudin Wahab, Zelin Seah, Yeoh Choo Kuan, Pangrok Sulap, Yim Yen Sum, Zac Lee, and others, ensuring a captivating experience for visitors.
Exhibition is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
More info here.
At The Back Room gallery, Fitton's solo exhibition 'Shadows In Time' features 13 new ink drawings made with pieces from broken ceramic plates. Photo: The Star/Azlina Abdullah
EXHIBITION: JOSHUA FITTON’S ‘SHADOWS IN TIME’
Venue: The Back Room, Zhongshan building, KL
Date: ends July 28
Artist/fashion designer Joshua Fitton returns to The Back Room gallery with his second solo exhibition, Shadows In Time, featuring 13 new ink drawings made with pieces of broken ceramic plates from his own personal collection.
From the existing illustrations on the ceramic fragments, Fitton uses a pen to create imaginary worlds inspired by his own memories and experiences.
Look closely at the pieces and you’ll encounter anachronisms of architectural styles from different periods and nations sitting alongside each other in a single composition, such as the ruins of classical Greek structures next to stately English country houses, or the curved eaves of Chinese temples adorning a modern shophouse, or a 19th-century German castle that’s the stuff of fairy tales appearing in a tropical jungle scene.
Through these works, Fitton also explores questions of storytelling and identity that perhaps trail anyone who has any serious interest in history, attempting in the process not to arrive at any hard truths but instead to make sense of one’s own life and times, as faithfully as one is able to.
More info here.
A close-up of Ken Matsubara's installation work ‘Repetition - Book, Oura Tenshudo Church’ (2014), currently showcased in ‘And The Invader's Fear Of Memories’ exhibition at Wei-Ling Contemporary in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Wei-Ling Gallery
EXHIBITION: 'AND THE INVADER'S FEAR OF MEMORIES'
Venue: Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends Aug 10
Wei-Ling Gallery's new group show, titled And The Invader's Fear Of Memories, looks to be the buzz exhibition of the month.
This exhibition, curated by Line Dalile, brings together seven internationally acclaimed contemporary artists: Dadang Christanto, FX Harsono, Ken Matsubara, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Sean Lean, Suzann Victor, and Wei Leng Tay.
Inspired by Mahmoud Darwish's poem, On This Land, the show will see each artist presenting works that examine personal memory as a powerful tool in resistance against oppressive forces. The month-long exhibition features multimedia installations, photography, and sculptures that offer diverse perspectives, prompting introspection and confronting suppressed narratives.
And The Invader's Fear Of Memories welcomes public viewing by appointment. If you're planning to visit, make sure to book a visit.
More info here.
A gallery view of Tan Zi Hao's new solo exhibition 'The Tongue Has No Bones' at A+ Works of Art in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: A+ Works of Art
EXHIBITION: TAN ZI HAO'S 'THE TONGUE HAS NO BONES'
Venue: A+ Works of Art gallery, Sentul, KL
Date: ends July 27
Artist, researcher, and educator Tan Zi Hao’s second solo exhibition at A+ Works of Art is set to spark lively conversations among the discerning art crowd.
Featuring new media installations, installations and typography, Tan explores his preoccupation with language politics, diving into the complexities of multilingualism in Malaysia.
For the artist, the diversity and unpredictability of languages represent both a challenge and an opportunity, shaping cultural dynamics and personal expression.
In The Tongue Has No Bones, Tan creates a public discussion space that navigates the intricate relationship between language and national identity amid escalating ethnic and generational divisions in Malaysia.
The exhibition also includes a programme with talks related to the show, featuring guest speakers such as Weng Choy Lee, David Ho and Louie Lee from Huruf, and Fiona Lee from the Department of English, Universiti Malaya.
More info here.
