Art lovers and fans of Shaman Tearoom have been making a beeline for The Godown in Kuala Lumpur to visit the multidisciplinary art collective's latest exhibition Still Life.
While most of Aiwei Foo and Kent Lee's previous works involved sound and video art, this new project brings something a little more ambitious to the table.
Comprising site-specific installations and tearoom performances, the exhibition concept is explored through two components: site-specific installations at the main hall, and tearoom performances, presented at the main hall and The Godown’s rooftop.
“In the main hall, a series of fabric sculptures are ‘framed’ within the metal scaffolding. The translucent and circular fabric sculptures, which are perceived as a bunch of soft hollow pillars in this context, are the metaphorical portals, signifying a network of connections and balances by referencing the Eastern wisdom,” says Foo.
In Shaman Tearoom’s performances here, Foo has been “singing” her poetry. As sound healing practitioners, they also use metal and crystal bowls.
“Kent plays instruments such as bass, handpan, small percussion or even random objects such as small stones, tea leaves and metal pieces. He also uses DAW (digital audio workstation) and synthesiser. I am on vocals where I work on the sound looper and spoken words,” she adds.
As for the performances at the rooftop garden, where the duo have put together a translucent platform as an extension of the main installation, these are more acoustically skewed than the performances downstairs.
“Dubbed as ‘semi-private social space’, it offers a temporary withdrawal from the hustle of the city and a possibility of a retreat within our own self. Each performance session starts with the ritual of tea offering, as it is our daily practice for grounding, staying mindful and being present,” she says.
While the installations are available for viewing throughout the exhibition’s run until July 24, the tearoom performances is held on selected weekends. The next Shaman Tearoom performances are on July 9 and 10 at 6.30pm at the rooftop garden, and July 23 at 8.30pm at the main exhibition hall.
Relics used during these performances such as the teaware, crystal bowls, handmade songbook and some other instruments are exhibited along with the installation, when the performances are not in session.
In this project, the artists explore the term “Still Life” as an oxymoron where each word contradicts each other. This is the duo’s examination of the movements in stillness, the flux of change in a state of stillness.
“I have always been intrigued by the words: still life. During my art school days, I did lots of still life paintings. I still have the notion that ‘still life’ carries a somehow peculiar meaning of a life form.
“With this exhibition, we are trying to blur the boundary between this and that, here and there. We are nowhere but always being present at this very moment,” says Foo.
Shaman Tearoom believes that our actions are the projections of our emotion, and if we are mindful and observant, we will be more attuned to what we are feeling.
“Make friends with them instead of disregarding them, and we will start to understand the causes behind every of our actions. In our works, we always talk about being mindful, being present and being observant with what is happening within ourselves. Also, adapting to the flow, ready to make alternative plans and to negotiate with our own ego. It is a lifelong practice. In Still Life, come without expectations and just be mindful of how your senses guide you,” she concludes.
Still Life is on at The Godown in Kuala Lumpur until July 24. Open: 11am to 7pm daily.
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