Stream time: Yee I-Lann's community weaving project, Kendo’s samurai spirit

Meet The Artists By Art Basel: Yee I-Lann

Date and time: Unlimited

Just in case you missed the international Art Basel's spotlight series on Yee I-Lann, here's your chance to revisit the Sabahan artist's illuminating video interview, which shows viewers how she weaves together traditional knowledge and colonial history by spotlighting Malaysian textiles.

Based in Kota Kinabalu, Yee has engaged with the complex geopolitical histories of South-East Asia for over two decades.

In recent years, Yee began collaborating with weavers from the sea-based communities Bajau Sama DiLaut, on the Sulu Celebes Sea of Semporna, and Dusun Murut weavers from the inland district of Keningau. Each creates their own style of tikars, a traditional woven mat made from bamboo pus or pandanus, which are cherished as domestic and ceremonial objects across South-East Asia.

What makes Yee’s weaving project unique is the marked mix of traditional and contemporary designs it incorporates. The culture of craftwork is rooted in a deeply feminist approach to a circular economy and regenerative principles. Yee’s project also reflects this by turning the mats into sellable works of contemporary art that fund local initiatives.

Two Malaysian Kendo enthusiasts talk about the Kendo scene in Malaysia in this JFKL series. Photo: Handout

VIRTUAL TALK: KENDO IN MALAYSIA

Date and Time: Unlimited

Who says you have to travel to Japan to experience Japanese arts and culture? We’ve got it right here! The Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur’s JFKL Mini-Series is a virtual initiative to introduce Japanese arts and culture in Malaysia.

In this episode, follow Christopher Wong and Aimi Sabri, two Kendo enthusiasts and experts, as they talk about their journey with Kendo and how this Japanese martial arts form is flourishing in Malaysia. The duo also share about the tournaments they have participated in and their vigorous training routines.

Kendo In Malaysia can be streamed via JFKL’s Youtube channel.

VIRTUAL ART: SENI UNTUK SEMUA ATAS TALIAN

Date and Time: Unlimited

Getting arts resources has never been easier. With the Cultural Economic Development Agency’s (Cendana) Seni Untuk Semua Atas Talian online series, you can now get an express arts education from the comfort of your home. The virtual series, which can be streamed via Cendana’ s virtual arts hub BasKL, features 15-minute art tutorials curated by 50 artists from across the country. So far, eight tutorials have been released.

The virtual programme, recorded by the participating artists, offers an exciting line-up of art tutors, from various disciplines such as performing arts, visual arts, music and traditional craft. Want to learn songwriting? Check out singer-songwriter Heerraa’s episode as she shows her songwriting process from lyric writing to chord construction. Curious about Silat Tari Kontemporari? Look out for 2Twenty2 Studio’s segment.

VIRTUAL THEATRE: ASRAMA-RA

Date and Time: Unlimited

Presented by Revolution Stage, Asrama-Ra follows a group of students who are attending a leadership camp at their own school with the assistance of Cikgu Sabariah and Cikgu Adam. Suhaila and Nabila, two female students, experience sudden hysteria on their final night, and the situation becomes more complicated as incident after incident occurs, involving Cikgu Adam and Cikgu Sabariah as well. This online screening is a recording of Asrama-Ra that was performed in 2014 at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) featuring a stellar cast including Sharifah Amani, Sherry Al-Hadad, Nadiya Nissa and Amerul Affendi.

Asramara, ticketed, can be streamed via Revolution Stage’s website.

VIRTUAL THEATRE: GLOW OF LEGACY

Date and Time: May 7, 7pm

This annual cultural night, organised by the Persatuan Bahasa TiongHua USM Engineering Campus, brings together the diverse range of talents from the university. Get inspired by an original song by LittleGrass Music Club, which also serves as the theme song for this cultural night. You can feel the excitement by watching a martial arts performance by the HuaTiong Wushu Club, or you can be mesmerised by the tricks of international magician Aaron Pang. Having a stressful week? A xiangsheng (crosstalk) performance, which is a traditional Chinese performing art that is similar to stand-up comedy, may be just what you need to put your mind at ease and relax. The highlight of the evening is, without a doubt, a theatre performance put on by the members of the society themselves.

Glow Of Legacy, ticketed, will be streamed via CloudTheatre.