This weekend, the Parliament Open House event is inviting the public to tour its historic buildings and grounds in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani
PARLIAMENT OPEN DAY
Venue: Parliament Malaysia building, Jalan Parlimen, Kuala Lumpur
Date: May 6 and 7
The Parliament Open Day this weekend - 9am to 5pm - promises to be a treat for heritage buffs and curious visitors eager to visit this historic building complex. It's also the first time for such an event.
It's a rare opportunity for the public to wander around the Malaysian Parliament grounds and take a walk through the main three-storey building and more. There will be a series of activities planned, including pop-up exhibitions, cultural performances, special nation-building galleries, interactive exhibits and also guided tours to the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara halls. Food stalls will also be on hand to help visitors fuel up.
Instagram highlights? Check out the statue of Tunku Abdul Rahman, the country’s first prime minister, which can be viewed in front of the tower block. The main building roof-top also has a unique design of 11 triangle shaped structures called pinnacle, while the whole block is covered with a 'pineapple-skin' like facade, which is made of terrazo.
More info here.
'Pencak Mirage' is set to present an audio visual spectacle at Muzium Telekom in KL this weekend.
AUDIO/VISUAL PERFORMANCE: PENCAK MIRAGE
Venue: Muzium Telekom, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur
Date: May 6 and 7
Pencak Mirage is a mixed reality performance show based on the tale of Hang Tuah’s battle with Taming Sari and the traditional Malay martial art, silat. As the Sultan’s most trusted admiral and a master of silat himself, Hang Tuah was sent to battle the famed Taming Sari of Majapahit, an invincible Javanese warrior.
This show at Muzium Telekom focuses on Hang Tuah’s journey in embodying his mastery of silat within a mythical realm of spiritual powers and physical force, where he overcomes Taming Sari’s weakness through the acquisition of Taming Sari’s “keris” to end violence and injustice.
Pencak Mirage’s modern adaptation of Malaysian folklore brings this fabled battle to life through digital technology, motion capture, live fusion and more. The show is presented by FLUX28 Studio, a multi-media production outfit.
More info here.
A visitor looks at an artwork by Ernest Zacharevic at the 'Haze: Coming Soon' exhibition at REXKL. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon
EXHIBITION: HAZE: COMING SOON
Venue: REXKL, Jalan Sultan, KL
Date: May 5-14
Greenpeace Malaysia is presenting an art activism exhibition exploring the recurring haze pollution in Malaysia with creative arts outfits Studio Birthplace and Splash & Burn.
The free admission exhibition Haze: Coming Soon fuses art, film and activism to bring together a creative community of environmentally conscious individuals to learn about the dangers of haze pollution and to empower them to demand action to hold polluting corporations accountable.
Curated by Penang-based Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic, the exhibition features a collection of immersive installations, short films and artworks by a line-up of artists, including Cloakwork, Pangrok Sulap, Wong Kai Yi, Fahmi Reza, Trina Teoh and Bibichun.
It offers an educational and inspirational space for the public to engage with the issue of transboundary haze and understand its origins.
The exhibition also features the film premiere of “Haze-zilla”, a satirical take on corporate greed and environmental destruction, a literal corporate giant unleashes a toxic cloud of smog all over Kuala Lumpur, while a group of activists rise up in protest, demanding justice and accountability for the big polluters behind the ecological crisis.
Other activities include a dance performance by the Asia Ballet Theatre, followed by a panel discussion on May 6 (3pm to 4.30pm) on the topic of haze pollution and creative activism. Moderated by environmental activist Melissa Tan, the panel will invite environmentalists and creatives to share their insights.
More info here.
Illustrator Amely Sketchbook (Malaysia) enjoys painting by hand and seeing the flow of paint and water meet each other. Her works can be viewed at the KL Illustration Fair at GMBB in KL. Photo: Amely Sketchbook
KUALA LUMPUR ILLUSTRATION FAIR
Venue: GMBB, Kuala Lumpur
Date: May 5-7
The inaugural edition of the Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair (KLIF) is this weekend's big ticket at the GMBB creative mall in Kuala Lumpur.From May 5 to 7, the entire 3A Level of the building – plus its Grey Box area – will be an international illustration fair where creative talents show us the power of illustration and design in transforming how we see the world.
At this debut fair, there will be an art show featuring works from illustrators and artists from Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines; an immersive art showcase by digital artists; a two-day conference focusing on the practice, aesthetics and opportunities of commercial illustration in the global industry; workshops and networking opportunities.
Visitors can expect a line-up of over 100 international and local artists, each with their own unique style and approach to their craft.
A tribute exhibition at the Grey Box to urban art pioneer Azhar Osman, or better known as Orkibal, who died last March, is also nice touch from the organisers to showcase the community spirit behind the KLIF.
More info here.
A view of the 'Kedah: A History In Drawings' exhibition. Photo: Papan Haus
EXHIBITION: KEDAH: A HISTORY IN DRAWINGS
Venue: Papan Haus, Section 14, Petaling Jaya
Date: May 6-14
Papan Haus in Petaling Jaya is hosting the architecture-inspired exhibition Kedah: A History In Drawings.
Suburbia Projects is releasing its latest book of the same name, a collaboration with Taylor's University School of Architecture, Building and Design.
The exhibition provides a glimpse into the book's collection of measured drawings and student work covering three heritage houses and three cultural buildings in Kedah.
The book contains extensive drawings, photographs, and writings on the buildings, as well as writings from architects and academics involved in conservation and heritage. Throughout the exhibition dates at Papan Haus, the book will be available for purchase at a promo price.
No registration required, this is a walk-in exhibition.
More info here.
