The 'Meniti Cakerawala' show and 'Cosmic Connections: Langkawi' book reflect Mazlan's commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, uniting creative and scientific perspectives to explore humanity’s bond with the cosmos. Photo: S Magendran
Have you ever wondered about the origins and formation of the universe? While the Big Bang remains the most widely accepted theory, it’s not an easy concept to grasp.
By merging science and art, renowned astrophysicist Prof Emerita Tan Sri Dr Mazlan Othman and Indian classical dance icon Datuk Ramli Ibrahim are collaborating on a dance-theatre production that explores the cosmic experience and its connection to humanity’s existence on Earth.
Titled Meniti Cakerawala: The Science & Romance Of The Cosmos, this 90-minute performance will run at the Auditorium Dewan Bandaraya in Kuala Lumpur from Dec 5-8.
“I’ve always believed that there is a close relationship between art and science,” says Mazlan, 72 in a recent interview in Kuala Lumpur.
“As an astrophysicist, it is essential that I have an artistic eye in order to comprehend the scale of the universe, especially since it is mostly discussed in theory,” she added.
The performance is set to feature dance, film, visual art, music, and poetry to create a multidimensional experience.
Esteemed voices, including National Laureate Dr Muhammad Haji Salleh, Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, Mano Maniam, and Chacko Vadaketh, will bring poetic narrations to life, while artwork by celebrated artist Jalaini Abu Hassan will also be exhibited at the venue..
Sutra Foundation, with Yayasan Hasanah, is presenting Meniti Cakerawala, led by Mazlan, who crafted its concept and script for the Kuala Lumpur stage.
“I want audiences to understand that creative thought in sciences and art are the same. The different elements of the show – visuals, dance, poetry and theatre – all combine to tell the story of how we are made of stars,” said Mazlan.
A view of the Langkawi National Observatory seen at night against the Milky Way Galaxy. Photo: Agensi Angkasa Malaysia
In Meniti Cakerawala, she also joins the cast as a storyteller, where she is set to weave a narrative about how the cosmos has shaped our cultures and beliefs.
“The show is aptly titled to mean ‘exploring beyond the stars’, to cultivate a curiosity within the masses about space, and highlighting the connection between humanity and the cosmos,” said Mazlan.
When worlds collide
Meniti Cakerawala, as a stage production, was conceived after the launch of Mazlan’s coffee table book titled Cosmic Connections: Langkawi – a 2023 publication that featured a collection of space photographs taken from the Langkawi National Observatory. The photos, spotlighting Langkawi's celestial beauty, were paired with poems from Muhammad (Haji Salleh) and selected paintings from Jalaini.
The launch of the book in Langkawi last year was accompanied by a small-scale version of the Meniti Cakerawala performance.
With Ramli, founder of Sutra Foundation and Sutra Dance Theatre, roped in as the artistic director, the upcoming KL show is set to be an even grander spectacle.
Meniti Cakerawala also features music by Valerie Ross, lighting design by Sivarajah Natarajan and production by Vivek Menon.
“The performance last year was centred around the observatory in Langkawi, overlooking Tepor Island, which hypothetically was hit by an interloper or meteorite. There are also craters in Langkawi which we know as ‘Cecincin Mahsuri’, and the idea was to spread awareness on the subject, and get the public interested in space through art,” said Ramli, 71.
The show at Auditorium Dewan Bandaraya explores the essential truth that stars must die to enable our existence.
The 11 performers from Sutra Dance Theatre, guided by Ramli's choreography, look set to transport audiences on a journey through space, brought to life through movement.
'This performance will show you how intertwined both art and science are. Scientists, like artists, are seers, in that they have always been intrigued by the wonderment of the universe,' says Ramli. Photo: S Magendran
“This performance will show you how intertwined both art and science are. Scientists, like artists, are seers, in that they have always been intrigued by the wonderment of the universe,” said Ramli.
The show will be split into four sections: beginning with the observatory as the backdrop; followed by the myths and science of creation; how it has then been interpreted by different cultures around the world, before wrapping up with how it affects humanity in the grand scheme of life.
Despite their different backgrounds, both Ramli and Mazlan have always found common ground in expressing their fascination with the origins of the universe.
“Where science is grounded on facts, dance has the ability to express what words cannot. When Mazlan explains the concepts of quantum entanglement or dark matter, I will introduce the myths of the universe, which is often tied to God, a being that is thought of as formless, and timeless. Together these two perspectives offer the audience a comprehensive understanding of the cosmos, and get them questioning ‘the meaning of life’,” said Ramli.
A trailblazing path
Throughout her remarkable career, Mazlan has been a trailblazer, inspiring countless individuals, particularly in Malaysia, to look beyond the horizons and dream of space. Her pioneering efforts have not only advanced the field of astrophysics but also ignited imaginations, encouraging a nation to envision its place among the stars.
Mazlan pioneered an academic programme for astrophysics at Universiti Malaysia in the early 1980s, before directing the establishment of the National Planetarium in the early 1990s. In 1999, she was appointed director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and later returned to Malaysia to establish Angkasa (the Malaysian National Space Agency), the National Space Centre, and the Langkawi National Observatory.
In 2007, she spearheaded the Angkasawan Programme, which sent Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, Malaysia’s first astronaut, to the International Space Station, before she returned to lead UNOOSA later that year.
The performers from Sutra Dance Theatre, guided by Ramli's choreography, look set to transport audiences on a journey through space, brought to life through movement. Photo: Sutra Foundation
The theatre stage is a new universe for her, a challenge she has has eagerly embraced.
Meniti Cakerawala and Cosmic Connections: Langkawi stand as testaments to Mazlan's openness to interdisciplinary collaboration, showcasing how these projects highlight her vision of transcending boundaries, engaging with diverse talents to explore humanity’s connection to the cosmos from creative and scientific perspectives alike.
Mazlan and Ramli began their collaboration last year, starting with a four-day research trip to Langkawi to gain firsthand insight into the operations of the Langkawi National Observatory. Long passionate about the arts, Mazlan now channels her creative energy into this arts-meets science project.
“I've always insisted on performing myself as it can have a much more meaningful impact on the story. It will be the first time I've performed in a production of this scale and I'm excited to relay the message that is – the only reason you exist is because stars have lost their equilibrium and explode, leaving behind specs of dust, which become seeds that grow into the universe,” said Mazlan.
