A screen shot of SIFA 2022's 'Bangsawan Gemala Malam', an adaption of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', written by Malaysian playwright Ridhwan Saidi, conceptualised and production designed by Mohd Fared Jainal and directed by Aidli Alin Mosbit. Photo: Handout
VIRTUAL TALK: A SERIOUS ARTISTIC PRACTICE
Date and time: June 25, 11.30am
Since the mid-1990s, multidisciplinary artist Bibi Chew has shaped a career filled by thought-provoking art, which has been informed by her various residencies abroad and creative mindset. Catch Chew, who received the Major Award Recipient at the Young Contemporary Awards in 2000, in this new episode of the National Art Gallery’s EDU@NAG. This online initiative invites artists to discuss influential Malaysian artworks. Chew will share about her artistic journey and what it takes to be a practicing artist. The KL-based artist’s previous works form part of public collections at KL’s National Art Gallery, the Australian High Commission and the Singapore Ministry of Information and the Arts.
More info here.
The poetry slam will close the inaugural Kuala Lumpuer Youth Literary Arts Festival. Photo: Handout
VIRTUAL POETRY: KLYLAF2022 Poetry Slam
Date and time: June 26, 3pm
The KLYLAF2022 Poetry Slam will close the three-day Kuala Lumpur Youth Literary Arts Festival. Catch a list of emerging young poets (13-25) as they showcase their wordplay prowess and performance skills. After all, they will be judged not just by what they say but how they say it.
The theme is "Invitations" with a secondary and varsity category. Effa Qamariani, winner of the 2021 Malaysian National Youth Poetry Slam, is one of the event’s featured poets. Besides the poetry slam, which you can watch onsite or online, catch two virtual talk sessions happening over the weekend - Write Or Rent: Is There A Career In The Literary Arts? (June 25, 1pm) with Alana Azlan, Wanu Ardy, Jennifer A.Champion and Adiwijaya Iskandar and Beyond Publishing: How Do Poets & Playwrights Get Their Work Seen & Heard? (June 26, 1pm) - Azam Rais, Sheena Baharudin, Tung Jit Yang And Charissa Ong. The festival is co-organised by the Malaysian Institute for Debate & Public Speaking and MY Poetry School.
More info here.
A screenshot of the arts talk that featured key players in the region, discussing the effects of the pandemic. Photo: Handout
VIRTUAL TALK: THE MUSIC PLAYS ON
Date and time: Unlimited
Catch Pauline Fan, traditional culture organisation Pusaka's creative director, Sutra Dance Theatre's Datuk Ramli Ibrahim and Penang House of Music director Paul Augustin together with other South-East Asian arts and culture players, in this virtual talk session. They will be sharing their perspectives on navigating the pandemic and their involvement in the music industry, touching on the evolution of the music industry (performance, practice, teaching, and economic adaptations). They will also talk about how they persevered during the lockdowns and the obstacles they faced and new possibilities that arose. This virtual talk is organised by the South East Asian Regional Centre For Archaeology And Fine Arts.
More info here.
VIRTUAL THEATRE: BANGSAWAN GEMALA MALAM
Date and time: Ends July 10
Malaysian playwright Ridhwan Saidi, Moka Mocha Ink’s co-founder, has adapted William Shakespeare’s well-known comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream into a Bangsawan opera, inspired by Nusantara elements. The play, presented by Singapore’s Malay theatre company Teater Ekamatra, was part of the recent Singapore International Festival of Arts.
It is now available to stream online through the SIFA On Demand channel. This comical tale follows four lovers as they flee to the forest, only to be enchanted by fairies in a deceptive game of love and fantasy. Bangsawan Gemala Malam is conceived by artistic director Mohd Fared Jainal and directed by Aidli Alin Mosbit.
SIFA On Demand is ticketed. More info here.
A screen shot of the 'In Conversation with Lim Wei-Ling of Wei-Ling Gallery's 20th Anniversary' online conversation. Photo: Handout
Virtual documentary: WEI-LING GALLERY'S 20th ANNIVERSARY
Date and time: Unlimited
Kuala Lumpur contemporary art gallery Wei-Ling Gallery turns 20 this year and this milestone is celebrated with A Paradigm Shift - Reflecting On Twenty Years of The Malaysian Art Scene exhibition showcasing works of various disciplines by contemporary Malaysian artists, whose aesthetical practices and critical provocations defined the local Malaysian art scene over the past 20 years, since the inception of the gallery in 2002.
The line-up includes Anurendra Jegadeva, Chen Wei Meng, Cheong Kiet Cheng, Chin Kong Yee, Choy Chun Wei, Hamidi Hadi, H.H. Lim, Ivan Lam, Juhari Said, Noor Azizan Paiman, Rajinder Singh, Sabri Idrus, Sean Lean, Wong Chee Meng and Yau Bee Ling.
In this mini online documentary, Lim Wei-Ling, the gallery founder gives viewers a quick rewind of how much the Malaysian art scene has moved ahead and evolved in the last 20 years, the challenges of running an art gallery, the exhibition highpoints through the years and what the future holds for local artists in the post-pandemic era.
More info here.
