Away From The Bustle...

Amin Farid Eramus Mundus Masters Scholar | Dance Anthropologist | Cultural Studies Researcher Choreographer | Dancer #soultari #365soulgrateful

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Don't let the world change your smile. (at Sydney Opera House) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9sSE3qBVpDzBs0zOoEzFOrckPC2ZHVVzu67Z40/?igshid=yxsfyd0esm0r

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I go back to this video once in awhile that very night when the @makmakmenari had gathered to say their final farewell to our sister Salinah Mohamed, one year ago. This little glimpse of seeing them coming together was the impetus and motivation that I turn to, to remind me that even in our time of death those who have been impacted by our good deeds will converge even when its difficult and hard for them too. Last January when I co-created Mak Mak Menari, it was to this very hard moment that I had to return to. Through the lens, I was their mere observer, noticing their camaraderie, outside the hospital ward discussing how they could would come together the next day for her burial. In years to come I want to return to this video. To remind myself what good deeds will do for the people we love. That even when their lives were a little disrupted, they could come together as a gesture of love and comradship for their departed member. I want to remind myself (as some others in the scene choose to be unkind), our sincerity and kindness to the people we choose to love will get us far, even when its time to meet our Creator. Kak Sally, you have a wonderful group of people who loves you still and remenbers you, 1 year on after Allah has invited you to be on His side. Al-Fateha, semoga kakak senantiasa tenang disisiNya. To my sisters in @makmakmenari, you have shown what true friendship truly means. Thank you for being great examples of kindness and sincerity. As your little brother, I will always be here to give you my undying support. I love all of you... every single one of irreplaceable and I will share your stories to my students and future generations. #soultari #365soulgrateful #makmakmenari https://www.instagram.com/p/B8h5POhhxMSdf3QLgy9D3LeEkI3LXhDYw-uoNQ0/?igshid=isev2uu7wug0

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Sniggers, scoffs, sarcasms, the folds of frowns on foreheads or the insincere salams/handshakes, shoulder shrugs, eye leers. Such are the embodied dissatisfaction humans have develop to mask our real intentions that we refuse to verbalise. Even the smile, always seen as a facial symbolism of happiness, hides multitudes. "What is behind a smile?"; "What gets hidden by the stretching of cheeks and lips, the reveal of teeth" ... ever heard of the takperlah, kita senyum jer lah" (its okay, lets just smile). I told myself that this new year will be a year of sharing (knowledge, resources, ideas, opportunities). To lead change, however small, and to increase the circle of willing partners. I have become very uninterested in people who personify the proverb, "empty vessels make the most noise". I will no longer be concern by people who are interested to create history yet not read history books nor understand how the sociocircumstances that they live in have come to be. I hope that the smile carved on my visage will be one of sincerity in due time, of hard work that reaps benefits, of friendships that do not thrive on deceit and slander and lastly of genuine gratitude that I am still alive, doing what I do best, impacting people who deserves the best. Thank you January for opportunities to reflect, affect and deflect. #soultari #365soulgrateful #365grateful https://www.instagram.com/p/B70J2fuBwVMl3m7AHzK4hwGWdsdu4CSIc1e4Is0/?igshid=2n0fe3pejmok

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As January comes to a close, I quote a friend who said, "it feels like its already September". Such is the sort of work we artists do, even with the struggle to have a good balance of work and life, the nature of our work at times feels like an neverending one but we presevere because we know every contribution to art is to a testimony of human existence and connection. I have had the privilege of being part of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival @m1sff the last two years and both have been enriching years. I am grateful @gracieloufreebush_ and I co-created a work with our sisters of @makmakmenari under the banner of @bhumicollective (@theshai /@blissfulaurora). I have learnt a great deal working on this project collaboratively with my mates @shaggyshag and @syafiqhalid and the technical management of @okaykaynizam, @syanimui, @nnrsyz. Most of all, I could not have done it with my 15 sisters who graciously opened their lives to my team and shared their wonderful stories with all of us. It has taken awhile to be strong enough to write this wonderful dedication because of what M3 (the group & the production) have come to mean to me. Our love of working with underrepresented groups of people eventually saw us crafting a story with women who are indeed phenomenal and didn't realise how worthy their work is to a new generation of practitioners and also the general public at large. Yes, the group might represent an exclusive group of ladies who saw themselves gathered together due to their passion for Malay dance but their stories about motherhood, sisterhood, womenhood and friendship transcend any subscription to a group rendering their voices relevant, accessible and relatable. The work proved to be a challenge because we are bringing different worlds together. I think we are lying to ourselves if the arts ecosystem is a holistic one. I have learnt that there is disparity in the sort of discourse in between "art worlds": (english-speaking) theatre, contemporary dance and Malay dance. https://www.instagram.com/p/B7uHBLFh_EppHciZnbHnBIayjWOvWCCE4PVpjc0/?igshid=1qynevk9trhr4

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Day 10 FINALLY 10-day Performer/Artist Challenge. Nominated by @badarudin_hassan & @syaf.adha Every day, select an image from a day in the life of a Performer/Artist - a photo from a day you felt fierce or a memorable moment you've had during a performance/show, and post it without a single explanation, then nominate somebody to take the challenge. That’s 10 days, 10 Performance photos, 10 nominations and 0 explanations. Be active, be positive, be passionate. Raise Awareness of the Arts! Today I nominate @radykoko79 ! 📷 @emergencystairssg https://www.instagram.com/p/B61xBbnBmizOOcKkzgSu_h426aRy6cM4ZaEwoc0/?igshid=1h0q4mgcnwjgc

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Day 7 10-day Performer/Artist Challenge. Nominated by @badarudin_hassan & @syaf.adha Every day, select an image from a day in the life of a Performer/Artist - a photo from a day you felt fierce or a memorable moment you've had during a performance/show, and post it without a single explanation, then nominate somebody to take the challenge. That’s 10 days, 10 Performance photos, 10 nominations and 0 explanations. Be active, be positive, be passionate. Raise Awareness of the Arts! Today I nominate my friend, arts and cultural diplomat, now scholar @herecomesthebri ! (at Szeged ,Hungary) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6tuoauBKLiPNb5HseCy6zp_4VcEZavZyBb1LM0/?igshid=v5ae2esjfkar

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Someone asked, "Why are you doing this work?" I grew up with very strong female role models in my life and my heritage as a Minangkabau has always placed the importance of women as leaders in the matters of adat and community. My journey in dance as the only male dancer for a long period of time in Perkumpulan Seni, gave me the opportunity to appreciate my seniors who were mostly female. They became my world growing up in the scene. When Mak Mak Menari was first formed I was intrigued by their initiative to start a group and since 2012, they have become a consistent, yet underlooked, feature of the Malay Dance scene. These are women with the right (niat) intentions. Women who have to negotiate the seemingly patriarchal structures to remember the importance of "care". Behind the scenes, I observed intently as my sisters prepared for rehearsals. Checking in with one another when they each arrive, to the preparation of delicious food and to the sharing of the latest happenings. After a run of the performance, they would share quiet hugs after listening to each other's stories. They knew that everyone have had it hard, but there is no time to judge, only time to provide comfort and "kasih sayang". I am touched that they have offered me a little space in their circle of love allowing my team to present their stories respectfully and being active agents in acknowledging how the arts can also be transformative. I hope my female students see them as role models. I see many potential dancers leaving the scene after marriage/pregnancy. The women in Mak Mak Menari are jugglers, they might not always get the juggling of their many responsibilities right but they never allowed setbacks to stopped them from dancing indefinitely. 36 more days to the premiere of Mak-Mak Menari. Come join us and celebrate the lives of mothers, wives, sisters, daughters -- most valuably, dancers. #soultari #bhumicollective #365soulgrateful @makmakmenari @m1sff https://www.instagram.com/p/B56vA4KBNLWQFDQXmt05DtTYhSfa3OXjAzRA480/?igshid=14f9b693geuv8

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25 November 2019, the Interrupted Dream series which have toured 5 asian cities in 3 countries have come to an end. 9 artists from Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China came together in September to work with Danny Yung of @zuni_icosahedron and Xiao Yi of @emergencystairssg to create a work which would evolve into "Journey to a Dream" and "In Search of Dream". It was an eventful journey. There's so much to unpack and evaluate but I am grateful I met these wonderful individuals, in my journey. We started the process in September in Hong Kong, reconvene earlier this month in Singapore and had quite a befitting finale in Indonesia. In Indonesia we toured the work to Jogjakarta - Bali - Jakarta. Did I come out of the experience transformed? A resounding yes. I enjoy being in a perilous position of discomfort and challenge. In Indonesia I found resolution and understood the importance of my value as a practitioner-scholar. I am thankful for the quiet moments I had in Indonesia to reflect. Just a few hours leaving for home, I know I will yearn for moments like these again. I wonder if it will ever come? Then the more important question to ask is, what will I do to make such moments happen? Must I wait? Or can I be the agent to create such moments? #soultari #365soulgrateful 📷 Tomomi @didikninithowok @radykoko79 @jaaaaason_kck @nattapon.wannaun @matsushimamakoto @sngbrina @chaohsinzhaoxin (at Yogyakarta) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Uae41hbt6Pwo-rXstdUhvv_lU9-ufX015Oec0/?igshid=1pczp20mez0ks

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Ada temanku yang pernah kata, "untuk satu event itu sukses, ada ramai kakitangan yang berkerja keras itu memastikannya". Sebelum aku tulis berpanjang lebar tentang para kolaboratorku, aku ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada keluarga dibelakang pentas yang telah berkeringat yang tidak putus dan berdarah untuk memajukan pementasan kolaborasi internasional ini di tiga kota di Indonesia. Aku nampak dan aku apresiasi effort and pengorbananmu semua dan aku menghargai senyuman mu walaupun sedikit lelah mengendalikan event skala besar ini. Terima kasih tim-tim yang dari beberapa agensi seperti @didikninithowok Productions, teman-teman yang mewakili Ibu Ratna dan juga @temanggung.event . Lebih khas lagi aku ingin mengatakan Matur Nuwun kepada Bli Rama, Mas Agung Blonde @agungcendhik82 , Mas Agung Pletung, @ardhiawidya , @gandaherd , Nor Rahman @temanggung.event , mas @ady_we, Mas @mahebhi , Mas @arsiadi_wisnu , mas @maryantengiteng dan teman-teman di Salihara. Aku menyusun sepuluh jari atas kerjasama kalian dan berharap setiap pengalaman kami bersama itu bisa dijadikan satu pengajaran untuk membangun sesama. Jasamu aku tidak akan lupa. Harap dapat berjumpa nanti di Jogja yah. Love all of you, Matur Nuwun. https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Sq3hQhrhfAqYgCnbLA2v-QIgdGCwXWjQ0__00/?igshid=o6c7k4c32mey

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"Southernmost Festival" in Singapore, signing out. We see you next, Jogjakarta-Bali-Jakarta. See you soon Indonesian friends. :) #soultari #southernmostfestival @emergencystairssg @zuni_icosahedron @sngbrina @liu_xiao_yi @didikninithowok @radykoko79 @nattapon.wannaun @matsushimamakoto (at Centre 42) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4tgrCMB-lJnF_nBFjANVIbtEVdZugw8nDCBRM0/?igshid=uhqinhutztjp

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I had a great opportunity teaching a workshop on embodied memories and collective choreography to NAFA BA Theatre Arts students today. This is an initiative brokered by the nice people of @m1sff and coincidentally too the students are also fellow fringe performers this January. I shared a little bit about the impetus of @bhumicollective's "Mak Mak Menari" (both the work and powerful women @makmakmenari who inspired the story) and the students were equally excited as well to share about their process working on "Contemplating Kopitiam & Kampung Wa' Hassan"! I am happy to say that this current workshop or method of creating movement was inspired by someone whose indigenous Australian rights activism I truly admire, Jacob Boehme who imparted his "Memory in Movement" to dans lab participants a few months back. Thank you Abang Jacob for this knowledge. #soultari #365soulgrateful #365grateful #bhumicollective (at NAFA) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4UkvP7hJzH4zOQv2Meyx6aH4B4XttInp6FrQs0/?igshid=144ow46u487ml

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Attended two wonderful days of Malay Heritage Centre's workshops on the Javanese Ronggeng and the Sagayan (Maranao War Dance) Very happy to have the MHC including the Mindanao people into the representation of the Malay world! I was analysing alot the movement structures and ethno-choreomusicology of what I was learning. But when the music starts, the body reminds me to just.... "be". #soultari #365soulgrateful #365grateful (at Malay Heritage Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3f2ugyhs9OBb8YD-shRnV1iMGs_Sj4jJZz8t00/?igshid=jt8irhxotk22

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I wonder how else am I able to convince people about the importance of reading and to inculcate a love for books. I am grateful Mak has embedded my love for reading since a young age. Read, read, read. This should be a mantra. #soultari #365soulgrateful #365grateful https://www.instagram.com/p/B3BlBwjBQDaIrrg3P0atUTtQig7ZfORpC_8JJc0/?igshid=qnz3iyydv71q

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Keponakkan se-Asia Tenggara bersama Mama Didik Nini Thowok yang senang sekali mencurahkan kasih sayang dan mengongsi ilmu dari pengalaman hidup beliau sebagai seniman, @didikninithowok . (at Hong Kong Cultural Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2S5_d_BKFYV5gzfEJthdtYOz_mLoBfvF0P0hE0/?igshid=mppv8m74e9k9

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Official Day 1 of "Interrupted Dreams" (Hong Kong) Acquainted with @sngbrina and realise we have lived have intersected in many ways from a particular jc (we want to forget) to "traditional arts" and scholarship. Later met my fellow lovelies who I have spent countless laughs with last year @ngetrady and @didikninithowok! Also met Danny Yung and other collaborators in this lab, Shen Yi Li of Shanghai; Makoto Matsushima of Japan, Jason Kong and Nerve Steve of HK, Carol & Cedric of the hosting company Zuni Icosahedron and brother, @liu_xiao_yi of Emergency Stairs. We started with an unconventional ritual of introducing ourselves through sounds and voice. It was a simple task but a hair-raising one especially when you are in a room filled with artists who are trained in making a plethora of sounds from traditional operatic vocal ranges to animal sounds. Beautiful visceral beginning, indeed. #soultari #365soulgrateful #365grateful (at Hong Kong Cultural Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/B16gaxJB0whSxdo9D3SIO7y5VqvtGIJ-6bX2lU0/?igshid=140amsjoj1vmb

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After Taipei, I wanted some quiet time writing and to do some research. I found myself in Solo Indonesia where I finally met @oniltasman after our facebook chats and with the help of @asriiwalle . Later reunited with mbak @sekarmurdiyanto . She shared about the arts scene in Solo and their response to the work that Otniel does. Thank you to Otniel for allowing me to crash one of his rehearsals for a dance film he is collaborating on. We talked alot about the arts infrastructure, comparing Singapore, Jogja and Solo and what can be done to facilitate discourse. Solo provided me the time to wind down and also to reflect on "traditionalisms" that exist and varied responses to the non-adiluhung and the contemporary. In my short time (too short!) in Jogjakarta I was very fortunate to have Mbak @citrasudarmanto to update me on the scene, and it was largely because of her I managed to large two days of Artjogg. Was very inspired by such wonderful visual artists whose exhibits were very grounded in their respective cultural experiences, yet very provoking in reminding us of the realities we live in! Mbak Citra is busy with SEAMEX 2019, a music education conference happening in the coming week. She was sharing how it was difficult to get more Singaporean papers. Wishing her and her students all the best. Met my adik @onny_nur_pratama who has done extensive research on the music of Bangka island especially on the unique plucked instrument called the Dambus. Very hardworking man and very happy to meet him again post-ICTM conference in Bangkok! P.S. Binge-ate. Nuff said. (at ART JOG) https://www.instagram.com/p/B10G_y2BkbWAgLL-HNlWwWpEWTMfZ8TJM4vsiA0/?igshid=17yf0mpqmx441

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(Late post) In Taiwan, we had the esteem opportunity to reconnect with kindred artists of Austronesia. Our friend, Indigenous Taiwanese curator @biung__ismahasan, brought us to see his exhibition at Taoyuan Indigenous Cultural Centre in which he curatated and presented te works of some contemporary works of indigenous artists. Of course, I can't help by feeling emotionally and physcially connected with one of the exhibits -- I danced with it, amalgamating our shadows... juxtaposing static with mobility, sturdiness with fluidity, human with nature Together with us are our friends from Australian Council for the Arts and Marrugeku. We had an interesting, provoking and insightful conversations on indigenous histories and also working cross-culturally. Excited to have more of these conversations and chart is to come, @bhumicollective ! So happy that my socio-cultural-linguistic and Malay studies came in handy in our conversations! #soultari #365soulgrateful #bhumicollective https://www.instagram.com/p/B1zokkzhUuMn4q4t-fCEHGiOMYehUtbvnYJL0s0/?igshid=gru4svgbnv65