The 'Rattan Weaving x Contemporary Dance' performance pays tribute to rattan weaver Ng, who died in September. He shared some of his techniques with attendees during his rattan-making workshops throughout the 'Beyond Moving With Artisans' project this year. Photo: JinnD Productions
This weekend (Nov 9 and 10), The Godown Arts Centre in Kuala Lumpur will host Rattan Weaving x Contemporary Dance, a performance that uses movement to spark a deeper conversation on how the performing arts can illuminate and preserve heritage crafts.
Through the fluid motions of contemporary dance, the performance seeks to embody and celebrate the intricate art of rattan weaving, drawing attention to the cultural value of traditional trades in a rapidly modernising world.
Organised by the KL-based interdisciplinary arts collective JinnD Productions, this 90-minute performance marks the culmination of this year's Beyond Moving With Artisans series – a nine-month initiative where dancers have immersed themselves in the world of traditional artisans.
Arts and community research
Through extended periods of close observation, these dance practitioners have studied the intricate movements and practices of a skilled craftsman, translating their experiences into interpretive dance pieces that bring these fading traditions to life on stage.
The upcoming performance brings together dance artist Xue Li and sound artist Kent Lee in a richly layered production, directed and shaped by Lau Beh Chin, JinnD Productions founder.
This multifaceted work merges movement, sound, and narrative (by theatremaker-playwright Ridhwan Saidi) to explore the textures of traditional craftsmanship. Beyond the live performance, audiences are invited to experience a large-scale sculpture led by installation artists Li Cheng and Natalia Tan (from Singapore).
A rehearsal of the dance performance titled 'Rattan Weaving x Contemporary Dance', featuring dance artist Xue Li, which will be showcased this weekend at The Godown Arts Centre. Photo: JinnD Productions
This immersive piece, placed in The Godown space, weaves together bamboo structures, rattan, textiles, and various other materials, offering a tactile tribute to heritage crafts and an evocative space for reflection.
Guided by Lau, 41, the project aims to connect the public with traditional artisans whose crafts face decline due to technology, industrialisation, and a shortage of successors.
“Now in its fifth edition, I wanted Beyond Moving With Artisans to create a lasting impact by involving refugee and B40 communities in our workshops. This approach fosters a deeper sense of connection, bringing together communities in a truly meaningful way,” said Lau, trained as a chemical engineer and dancer, in a recent interview.
“The first step in transforming craftwork into dance is through body archiving – closely studying the artisan’s movements and reinterpreting them within a specific dance genre,” she added.
Preparations for the bamboo and rattan installation at The Godown Arts Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The installation will be featured alongside a live dance performance this weekend. Photo: JinnD Productions
Last year, JinnD Productions, a dance and art platform founded in 2016, launched a coffee culture-themed edition of Beyond Moving With Artisans at GMBB in Kuala Lumpur, alongside an ethnographic research series that culminated in the Saji Kanji exhibition at Papan Haus in Petaling Jaya. Building on the exploration of coffee and food culture among various communities in Malaysia, this year the focus has shifted to heritage trades.
Legacy of a rattan master
For this year's Beyond Moving With Artisans edition, the group focused on Ng Kim Loong, a rattan weaver from Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, who dedicated 30 years to his craft.
Despite being physically disabled due to polio at age nine, which left his legs paralysed, Ng generously shared his expertise in weaving chairs, baskets, and other items. He had even rehearsed some dance movements for the performance planned for this weekend. Sadly, Ng died (aged 67) in September after collapsing at home, leaving behind a legacy of skill and dedication that this project seeks to honour.
“This project has been an emotional journey for all of us. Earlier this year, Ng expressed his fears that the art of rattan weaving might soon vanish, with no one left to carry it on. So, I brought a group of refugees from my collective to learn from him, to become his students. He was a true inspiration to art practitioners like myself, and we dedicate this performance to honouring his legacy and preserving the art of rattan weaving in Malaysia," said Lau.
Learning the rattan craft (seated from left) Ridhwan, Lau and rattan weaver Ng (white top), alongside other participants at a rattan workshop in KL earlier this year. Photo: JinnD Productions
For this weekend's Beyond Moving With Artisans shows, Ridhwan, 40, will step into the role of dramaturg, collaborating with Lau to shape the dance movements into a cohesive and accessible narrative for the audience.
"It's not a common role in Malaysia, but I define it as someone in between a critic, audience and curator. What I find fascinating about dance – unlike theatre which uses dialogue to convey a message – it's an abstract performance. I don't want audiences to feel lost in the story, because it's an important story for Malaysians in particular," said Ridhwan.
He will make full use of The Godown’s open space, projecting video documentation of the Beyond Moving With Artisans project to illuminate the collective’s journey in celebrating traditional Malaysian crafts.
"Spanning nine months, making it the longest edition in the Beyond Moving With Artisans series, we had the opportunity to explore the life of an artisan in a natural and immersive way. This journey allowed us to create over 10 community events, a dance performance, and a large-scale installation. We are thrilled to showcase the culmination of these efforts, which reflect our commitment to preserving the art of rattan making," he concluded.
Rattan Weaving x Contemporary Dance will be held at The Godown Arts Centre in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 9 and 10. This performance is made possible through the support of The Krishen Jit Fund and Yayasan Hasanah.
