Virtual meet-ups by Malaysian arts communities help to make sense of new normal

A woman looking at the works featured at the 'Human, Nature, The Nature Of Humans' art exhibition at Zoo Gallery in Petaling Jaya in January this year. Most of the local art gallery scene has been inactive since March 18. Photo: Filepic

Many industries that have taken a beating during the Covid-19 outbreak must brace themselves for even more challenging times ahead as the movement control order (MCO) period has just been extended to April 28 in Malaysia.

The art sector, often overlooked even in better times, is no exception.

As we move into the fourth week of the MCO, people are putting their heads together to provide not just an alternative platform to viewing and appreciating art, but also how to forge connections, exchange ideas and encourage collaboration.

Art Goes On? is one such initiative, born out of a need to generate discussion on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on artists and art ecosystems across Malaysia.

This is a project that came up between various individuals working as artists, art managers and educators, and is co-hosted by the artist-driven website forum Art Kepoh in partnership with RogueArt, a South-East Asian art consultancy outfit and publisher.

On April 25, representatives from the arts and creative industries – you could be an artist, curator, a collector or an art manager; someone from commercial galleries or auction house; a tutor, freelancer or art student; or from a cultural body or state agency – will get together to speak at a live forum discussion.

Hosted by RougeArt and Art Kepoh, the forum will be live streamed through Zoom and FB Live on April 25 at 10am.

The Arts Beyond Distance (FB Live) series, initiated by Inxo Arts And Cultural Foundation.

Discussion channels will be kept open after the forum on www.artkepoh.com. More information will also be updated as it gets closer to the April 25 forum.

“As in any field or ecosystem, opportunities to gather, communicate and experience things together have been shut off just at a time when livelihoods and support systems are under threat. Getting people from across the field to talk about and exchange on challenges and responses may help get ideas going on how to help each other cope and adapt during and move forward post MCO, ” says a statement from RogueArt.

The Arts Beyond Distance (FB Live) series, initiated by Inxo Arts And Cultural Foundation, is also something not to be missed. All sessions will be hosted on Inxo’s Facebook page.

Suzy Sulaiman, a contemporary artist and designer, will hold a live session at 8.30pm on April 13.

On April 14, Malaysian multi-media artist Au Sow Yee, who is based in Taiwan, will discuss the challenges ahead in the art scene, while Five Arts Centre’s Mark Teh is slotted for the April 15 session, which will look at the state of the performing arts during the pandemic. Both sessions start at 8pm.

The Penang Art District is also using its Sesi Seni platform to engage with the masses. On April 13, the Little Art House Studios, based in Penang, will be the featured on Sesi Seni at 8pm through Zoom. Little Art House's Lusy Koror and Watson will talk about art and innovative education. Stand-up comedian Garu makes a guest appearance.

On April 16, the Cultural Economic Development Agency, or Cendana, is organising a Zoom session titled “Connecting Over Art”at 7.45pm.

Industry-based topics will include Cendana’s survey on the impact of Covid-19 on the arts, the Government stimulus package and Cendana’s recently launched arts recovery package.