Does time really heal? Seni Tiga's first online show explores the subject of memory

Dexter Lim and Aisha Hassan star in Seni Tiga's new show 'Dulu. Saat Itu', to be streamed from Dec 18-20. Photo: Low Pey Sien

Let bygones, be bygones. But what if taking a trip down memory lane, however painful and dark, is crucial to chart our path forward?

This philosophical musing frames up the latest edition of Kongsi Petak’s multidisciplinary show Seni Tiga, a collaborative performance project that focuses on movement, visual and sound.

Called Seni Tiga#11: Dulu. Saat Itu., the 50-minute ticketed show, presented by KongsiKL and RexKL, will be broadcast via arts streaming platform CloudTheatre from Dec 18-20.

Seni Tiga #2: Remnant Vision and Seni Tiga #10: Impermanence took home five awards collectively in the dance category at this year’s virtual Boh Cameronian Arts Awards.

Dulu. Saat Itu., featuring Aisha Hassan (performer), Dexter Lim (performer), Jackey Chan (lighting designer), Amalia Aziz (scenic designer) and Iwaz (sound designer), offers a combination of movement, experimental soundscapes and ambient lightning.

“This performance considers the moments in our lives that we revisit repeatedly, how those instances resonate in the present, and the way that memory reverberates throughout time.

“Recollection is both a beautiful and painful thing, but it's inevitable that we confront the past, and that’s what this show reckons with, ” explains Aisha, a first time actor.

Supported by the Cultural Economy Development Agency’s (Cendana) Performing Arts Presentation Funding Programme, Dulu. Saat Itu. was shot at KongsiKL early this month with the help of filmmaker Han Wu.

The cast and crew discussing details of the show at KongsiKL earlier this month. Photo: Low Pey Sien

“The central theme is memory. Many people, ourselves included, try to run away from their pasts or painful memories.

“But we feel that revisiting the past, as difficult as it may be, is actually essential to both learning more about ourselves and paving a way forward into the future, ” elaborates Aisha, a master’s degree (journalism) graduate from Columbia University.

“We were also interested in the way that people’s actions can have long lasting and devastating effects. And of course, we also consider ways of letting those things go and moving on, ” she adds.

The show also explores youth and societal pressures, and to keep things raw, the actors will revisit childhood memories.

Originally scheduled for an April run at KongsiKL, Dulu. Saat Itu. was postponed due to the pandemic. In fact, seven other shows under Seni Tiga’s 2020 season have been postponed.

However, Dulu. Saat Itu.’s creative team met virtually throughout the movement control order (MCO) period to work on the direction of this show and restarted rehearsals in July.

“Throughout the year, the artists spent time together as friends, sharing their most vulnerable memories with each other that became the performance itself, ” offers Mah Jun Yi, Seni Tiga’s assistant producer.

“We tried to translate our relationships with these real memories into a multi-disciplinary performance, ” says Aisha.

A scene from the atmospheric show, which is set to give Seni Tiga an online audience. Photo: KongsiKL

The team decided to go virtual with this show after the government imposed a second conditional MCO in October, making it impossible to stage the show physically.

“With the funding provided, we were able to bring our vision to life as well as source experts, like filmmakers and sound engineers, to collaborate with and help produce the show.

"The funding also allows us to fairly compensate the crew and creatives involved, which is extremely important to us, considering that vocations in the arts can be undervalued, ” says Lim, a linguistics graduate (from the University of California in San Diego).

The creative team recognises the limitations and advantages of a virtual staging for a multidisciplinary show like Seni Tiga.

“Our show is now accessible to a greater number of people, including international viewers, and we’re excited to share Malaysia’s arts initiatives with as many people as possible, ” says Aisha.

“In making the video, we discovered a new definition of intimacy, where it is no longer about how people share physical space, but how we are now able to transmit different information to the audience, like the sound of breathing, water dripping as well as seeing facial expressions up close and angles that are never accessible to live audience, ” says Mah.

“Live performances have definitely struggled in 2020 due to Covid-19, so having the resources to go virtual and stage one of the last shows of the year means a lot to us. We hope that our determination to bring this show to life sets an optimistic tone for performance arts in 2021, ” concludes Lim.

'Dulu. Saat Itu.' will be streamed on CloudTheatre. Show dates: Dec 18 (8.30pm) and Dec 19 and 20 (3pm and 8.30pm). Ticket prices: RM19, RM39, RM59 and RM99.