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SLAMOKRASI: Poetry face-off of epic proportions happening this Saturday June 21, 2016 at 01:57PM

HEARD of spoken word open mic collective If Walls Could Talk? These guys frequently host poetry readings at Gaslight Café & Music which see strong response from performers and audiences of Kuala Lumpur’s spoken word scene, and they also recently celebrated their one year anniversary.

But most excitingly, they’re going to be putting up their first poetry slam — think an American Idol or Battle of the Bands-style face-off for poets! If you’ve never been to a poetry slam, we insist you do: it’s one of the most exhilarating (and sometimes even sensual) competitions you can find in the performing arts scene.

Titled SLAMOKRASI, all hell is set to break loose this Saturday as ten poets each get three minutes and two rounds of performances in order to end the night with a “legit crown” on their head. These ten slammers (we swear it wasn’t us who came up with this) come from pretty diverse backgrounds too — we’re talking rap enthusiasts, teachers and even self-proclaimed pun-masters.

A quick glance at the contestants list reveal Jack Malik, a poet who loves Projek Rabak‘s Seyn Jukey very, very much as we gathered during POET VS WILD earlier in April, as well as Kimberly S’ng, a beatboxer who won Joanne Kam‘s search for Malaysia’s next female stand-up last year.

Hosted by Melizarani T. Selva, SLAMOKRASI will be judged by several established names in the literary scene on top of poetry aficionados. The likes of writer Bernice Chauly and youth educator Az’farr Baginda will be evaluating contestants alongside 13-year old James Goh, who does poetry with his homeschooling friends.

SLAMOKRASI will be held in conjunction with Publika‘s Refugee Festival, and is set to highlight voices from the community. In particular, Zulfadli Kawom an influential poet from Krueng Mane, Aceh Utara will be a featured panelist.

Last but not least, audience members who want to come and support SLAMOKRASI will be given materials to come up with picket sign and officially be part of #SkuadSokong, the cheerleading team!

So make your way to Black Box, Publika this Saturday from 5:00pm – 7:00pm to experience poetry like a badass but take note: admission is strictly free.

For more information on SLAMOKRASI, check out their event page. Photos obtained from If Walls Could Talk- Poetry Open Mic.

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Get segregated, hustled about, and illuminated in immersive human trafficking experience, ‘SK!N’ June 21, 2016 at 12:57PM

IMAGINE being blindfolded, under an oath (“you signed the waiver,” reminds a figure of authority) to remain silent, and shepherded somewhere foreign. Holding onto foreign hands, you must stumble through various terrain reliant only on the texture of the ground and the pull of unseen companions.

The blindfolds come off at the mystery destination, only so the eyes can be exposed to a visual experience as unnerving as it is exciting; men and women dragging themselves across the floor on all fours, as a couple of disturbed individuals with menacing and unsettling gestures tell a story with their bodies.

This is TerryandTheCuz‘s SK!N, an interactive performance set to have its world premiere in Kuala Lumpur this August. Aiming to expose audiences to the problem of human trafficking, the production was developed by creative duo in collaboration with Australian choreographer Ashley Dyer over the past two years.

“When we started the project we had no idea what we were getting into,” began Terence Conrad from TerryandTheCuz. “The more we learned about human trafficking the more we were shocked and angry. We then approached Tenaganita with the idea as we needed a lot of information and advice.”

A special, condensed edition for the press took place at Art Printing Works (APW), Bangsar on 15 June 2016, preempted only by an early version which debuted last year at George Town Festival to rave reviews.

Comprising multiple phases, SK!N uses dance, audience participation and discussion to engineer a particularly resonant response to human trafficking.

Audience members are processed, disoriented and treated to a visual spectacle over the course of one hour, and then they sit through a question and answer session to understand what trafficking victims go through.

“It’s a very scary thing when you have no money and you’re going somewhere unfamiliar you hope is a better place,” explained Terence, “But then you find out you’ve been duped, and everybody who addresses the problem — whether law enforcement or the public — has different ways of dealing with it.”

Performed by Suhaili Micheline and Wong Jyh Shyong  (Lee Ren Xin was not present for the preview) the choreographed segment of the production is enthralling. SK!N‘s performers confront, convulse and plead in the performing space, and the results are thought-provoking and highly immersive.

Along the way, TerryandTheCuz also became the first Malaysian theatre company to pitch their work at the International Society of Performing Arts (ISPA) Congress in New York. Interest in their project continues to build — at present, SK!N is confirmed to hit Adelaide and Melbourne in 2017.

“We started this project not realising how important it could turn out to be. All we’ve learned thus far is a drop in the ocean — the situation with Syrians and the Rohingya for example could be far worse than what we believe,” reminds Terence.

Based on the statistics, Terence has every right to worry. The United Nations estimates that at least 21 million people worldwide are still subjected to forced labour, and that Asia alone holds over 50% of this figure.

SK!N received seed funding in 2015 from the Krishen [...]

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Japanese corporations to show businesses it’s absolutely okay to convert money into art this August! June 20, 2016 at 03:01PM

EARLIER this month, creative industry facilitators My Performing Arts Agency (MyPAA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Japan’s Kigyo Mecenat Kyogikai (KMK) to promote corporate funding in the arts.

You can read about the entire thing in our coverage, but in summary, MyPAA struck a deal with a Japanese association which serves corporate sponsors, whereby both sides pledged to look more seriously into the corporate sector to ease development for the arts.

What we didn’t tell you then was that in Japan, corporate sponsors actually give as much as the nation. So you have mecenat funding equivalent to the government’s budget for the arts.

This leads us to a very special event happening at Le Meridien, Kuala Lumpur on 24 August 2016.

Announced last week, upcoming arts conference Research and Conference in Facilitating Corporate Mecenat Activities and Establishing a Network in ASEAN Countries (RCFCMAENAC) hopes to spark some flame for the arts in the corporate sector.

Put together by KMK, the special program has been in development since 2015 and is set to preempt this year’s installation of regional arts conference Borak Arts Series.

“The Japanese don’t feel the need to justify why they put money into the arts,” noted MyPAA Director Izan Satrina. “Funding the arts is a necessity for them; it’s a way of life.”

Under the mecenat system, private corporations work as a team. Through KMK for example, corporate sponsors collectively coordinate their contributions into something much more potent, often patching up where the government fails to provide for the arts.

The way of the mécénat is to organise as a corporate network, so it’s a lot more that just a bunch of corporations writing cheques for art. They’re attempting what I will describe as “joined-up philanthropy” by coordinating theiractivities through the KMK and meeting annually to share and workshop ideas. The KMK can then work with local government agencies and arts groups to coordinate projects.

— Jason Potts, The Conversation

This is a far cry from the local scene, where every ringgit of expenditure must satisfy metrics which are unable to register the positive impact of arts and culture on society. As such, RCFCMAENAC hopes to gather private and public stakeholders interested in supporting the cultural economy for a round of presentations, discussions, round table sessions and performances.

Curated for corporations, cultural practitioners, NGOs, government agencies, intermediaries, funders, policymakers and other relevant industry participants, the conference aims to promote corporate philanthropy and mecenat activities in Malaysia.

“Having discovered KMK in 2014, we proceeded to start a funders round table. We met with corporate funders twice a year and noticed they’re a bit like artists — they tend to do things in isolation,” continued Izan. “This will be an opportunity for corporate funders to gather, embrace and advocate more investment in the arts.”

The conference is also set to pit together representatives from big Japanese corporations and their ASEAN branches; here’s to hoping that their philanthropic spirit rubs off on their Southeast Asian counterparts.

“One of the things we need to do is expose our people to the philosophies and systems [...]

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One does “theatrical fantasy folk”, the other scores for American television: These Petaling Jaya brothers rock! June 20, 2016 at 11:06AM

HAILING from Petaling Jaya, the Zawawi household has provided top examples of the local music industry.

Led by accomplished father Wan Zawawi Ibrahim, the family’s passion for music manifested bright in the careers of Hameer and Rendra Zawawi, who have pursued it in separate full-time careers. But both have also wandered far from their father’s traditionally-inclined, indigenous music which you can check out here.

Hameer Zawawi

You can still pick out Wan Zawawi’s influence in the younger of the two: independent singer-songwriter Hameer.

Hameer put out his debut eight-track release earlier in the year titled National Fantasy. Recorded over a span of eight months in his own bedroom, the record harks back to his days as an open-micer.

Throughout the record, his bold and exuberant voice brings you through animated narratives delivered in his trademark “theatrical fantasy-folk”. Hameer’s voice in fact is quite the instrument, possessing a power and versatility which earned him top praise from Malaysian media, including a positively glowing write-up from The Star back in February.

Hameer derives from some unconnventional sources too — he lists video games and the Quran as some of his inspiration. To date, he has performed at a number of popular venues around town including Merdekarya, No Black Tie and Gaslight Cafe and you can still catch him at these places today.

National Fantasy can be found on iTunes as well as in selected venues around town; we’ve also seen it on sale at Galeri Rabak.

Rendra Zawawi

Rendra on the other hand went down the composing and producing route. But despite his behind-the-scenes work, he is anywhere but in the backseat.

This former singer-songwriter debuted with “Faceless” in 2012 which went on to be nominated for Best Rock Song and Best Music Video at the 2013 VIMA Awards. Consider that it was only his first release.

The magna cum laude graduate from Berklee College of Music in Contemporary Writing and Production decided to venture into composing for video games, commercials and films upon graduating. His portfolio however includes overplayed Ola Bola anthem ”Arena Cahaya” which he co-wrote and co-produced with Zee Avi last year.

But also impressive is his track record outside of Malaysia: Rendra has composed for  favourite American television shows such as Golden Globe Award-winner Mr. Robot, FOX’s Scream Queens, FX’s American Horror Story: Hotel and American Crime Story.

Rendra is currently based in Los Angeles, but we trust he’ll never forget his Petaling Jaya roots based on his chat with The Malaysian Digest.

Information sourced from Star2, Kakiseni, Malaysian Digest and The Backyard Noise.

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3 Songs you need in your playlist this week! (13-19 June) June 17, 2016 at 01:17AM

THIS week on our playlist, you’ll find a variety of flavours to choose from. As local music slowly returns to fruition while we progress through the second week of puasa, we’re going to be looking at older releases in our exploration of rocking tunes from your motherland. From pop electronica to rap beefs, read on to check out our picks of the week!

“Disco Biscuits” by Santaroena

As we await his full length debut album Rogue, Santaroena (Fazry Santaroena) serves up the latest single from his upcoming record. “Disco Biscuits” is the third release from Rogue, and it impresses like its predecessors “Rogue” and “Dreams You Never Wish Came”.

On this latest track, Santaroena deviates from his usual bassy, glitchy sound for something a bit more fluid. Doused in heavy, omnipresent synths and some nifty drumwork, this is a record that is as atmospheric as it is danceable.

Self-produced and engineered with the help of Akhyla Records beatsmith YAHNA, Santaroena’s latest release adds to the promise of his upcoming album. Check out the track above and follow Santaroena on Soundcloud for updates on his debut LP!

“Blow” by Nadia Nair

If you haven’t heard of Nadia Nair, be prepared to be swept away. Born to a Malaysian mother and Swedish father, Nadia grew up in the Swedish city of Gothenburg. She’s been making music since childhood, and she’s best described as an artiste that successfully melds cultures through her work.

Her records are haunting, dancey and tinged with references to her own heritage. Back in April however, Nadia unleashed her brand of world-infused electronica via her debut album Beautiful Poetry. This album features the stand out track, “Blow”.

“Blow” incorporates instruments such as the sitar and tabla on top of conventional pop elements like heavy pianos as well as a pounding drum rhythm. Nadia’s vocal delivery — smoky and sexy during the verses and soulful when landing the punchy chorus — ties all her influences very nicely indeed.

Have a listen to the song above and head to the iTunes store to purchase Nadia’s debut LP Beautiful Poetry!

“Candy (Diss)” by Kidd Santhe

Rap is as much a sport as it is a genre of music. Given the long-standing history of clashes (inherently known as “beefs” in the scene) between artistes, it has become a norm for rappers to drop “diss tracks” about other emcees, all in the good spirit of competition.

This week we observe 19-year old Kidd Santhe, who presents a diss track aimed at Akhyla co-founder N3mo (also one of The Daily Seni‘s 5 Malaysian Under-25s who’ll make you rethink the word “millennial). Santhe has been under the radar for awhile now, refining his craft under fledgling label Monster Sounds — co-owned by one of Kuala Lumpur’s finest hip-hop DJs, DJ Biggie.

Santhe takes no prisoners on the record and wastes zero time, immediately addressing his subject from the very first line. His brash and defiant lyrics questions his opponent’s ability amidst 808s and rattling snares.

Should we expect a response from N3mo? Is this real beef or is it a marketing stunt? You’ll just have to keep your attention locked on both parties to [...]

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‘Jurassic World’ has been dubbed into Malay thanks to HBO and Nora Danish and Hisyam Hamid and many more June 17, 2016 at 03:19PM

AFTER Despicable Me 2 and Transformers 4: Age of Extinction comes the Bahasa Malaysia dub of Jurassic World. Ready to chomp its way into HBO for the first time this Hari Raya, this year’s major television movie event will feature the voices of Malaysia and Singapore’s hottest stars.

Astro also sent this new dubbing to Universal Studios, which has recognized it as the official Malay version of the movie.

Last year, the long-awaited sequel to 2001’s Jurassic Park took the international box office by storm and hit #2 on the cumulative end-of-year chart. As such, Yasmin Zahid, Head Sales and Affiliate Marketing, HBO Asia, hopes that this could be appealing for Malay-speaking audiences across the country.

Meanwhile, this is Hisyam Hamid‘s third time lending his voice for a movie dubbing.

He claimed it was challenging for him to voice a human character due to the intonation and expression that needs to be replicated — a far cry from a robot called Optimus Prime he voiced for Tranformers: Age of Extinction. Hisyam’s voice substitutes Chris Pratt‘s in the film.

It was the first time voice-acting for some of these actors, such as Nora Danish and Bront Palarae.

Playing Claire was not exactly “kacang” for Nora Danish, as she claimed it was difficult for her to keep up with the pace of the English lines. She took two days to finish all her lines.

Also notable are the inclusion of voices from Akhmal Nazri of Oh My English! fame, television producer Syazwan Zakariah, and comedian Nabil Ahmad.

Other titles set to provide users Bahasa Malaysia and English Language options this Raya are HBO originals such as The Night Of and Vice Principals, as well as blockbuster movies such as San Andreas, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

This special version of Jurassic World premieres at 9:00pm on Wednesday 6 July 2016, exclusively on HBO Asia.

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This couple collected over 1000 pieces of Malaysian contemporary art, then… June 17, 2016 at 09:00AM

TO deem Aliya Khan and Farouk Khan art enthusiasts would be but a gargantuan understatement. This kick-ass husband and wife duo are owners of a private collection comprising more than 1,000 pieces — a sum that could rival local art museums at any given day — and they’ve been on a mission to develop and foster appreciation for Malaysian contemporary art.

Along the way, their names too became synonymous with the scene. Eventually, the duo initiated the Aliya & Farouk Khan Collection, which put out a 10 kilogram tome in 2010 featuring near-perfect reprints of their prized collection.

Malaysian Contemporary Art: Aliya & Farouk Khan Collection remains an unprecedented anthology, featuring the works of over 85 artists ranging from budding to established.

These were largely drawn from their own personal collection too, split into seven categories namely Avantgardist, Just Jai, Eclectic Contemporaries, Empat Persepsi, Matahati, Young Contemporaries, and Young Ones.

Where else can one find a summary of the diversity and beauty of Malaysian fine art? And no, it’s not one of those catalogues dominated by negative space; the couple’s book is in fact packed with critical discussions and contextual information surrounding the aesthetics. It’s an indispensable guide to a very important industry.

You see, it all began when Aliya and Farouk took it upon themselves to engage in discourse over what Farouk calls the “absurd state of curatorial practices” which enabled the couple to score such a collection this late into Malaysian history. Their collection is simply phenomenal, and it was shared with the public through the mammoth limited edition publication, which can no longer purchased.

The couple reached out to artists and institutions on their own volition, going above and beyond the norm of the collecting scene and seeking art with their own instincts and judgement. As a result, out from the shadows came great works by the likes of Fauzan Omar, Eng Hwee Chu, Shooshie Sulaiman, Tan Chin Kuan and many others.

Aliya and Farouk with their daughter Leila. Image via Artcube.

Farouk, who formerly lived across the causeway, and Aliya have since become curators to some of the biggest visual art displays Malaysia has seen to date. These include the Iskandar Malaysia Contemporary Art Festival (IMCAS) in Johor Bahru that showcased over 700 pieces during a six-month period, as well as Negaraku: Nationalism & Patriotism in Malaysian Contemporary Art at Galeria Sri Perdana.

Due to their extensive efforts, we believe Aliya and Farouk Khan have long progressed past being a supporter of Malaysian contemporary art. They are now the people who have come to define it. We’ll let their collection do the convincing from here on.

“Brickfield Bohemia” by Aswad Ameir (2006)

“Point in The Right Direction” by Abdul Multhalib Musa (2005)

“Fatamorgana #2, The State of Confusion” by Ahmad Fuad Osman (2006)

“Mencari Taming Sari” by Ahmad Shukri Mohamed (2005)

“Glitterrati” by Choy Chun Wei (2007)

“Kita Terlalu Kechil” by Hamir Soib (2005)

“Mime Series, Painting 3” by Anthonie Chong (1995)

“Broken Love Symphony” by Chan Kok Hooi (2007)

Information sourced from Tourism Malaysia, Arteri and The Brunei Times, photos of collection sourced from Facebook!

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5 Malaysian under-25s who’ll make you re-think the word “millennial” June 16, 2016 at 02:31PM

DESPITE all the bad rep afforded to this latest generation of young adults, it’s vital we take a look at a few Malaysians currently looking for more than just validation on social media.

Young people, they say, young people need to wake up and face reality. Are you tired of hearing this from your elders? Well, here are five who continue to pave their own reality, all of them under the age of 25. Next time someone tries to criticise the millennial generation, namedrop any of these folks and thank us later.

N3mo, 22, hip-hop entrepeneur

Kuala Lumpur rapper N3mo (Nicholas Siau) is keen to have his voice heard, now more so than ever — at the young, pivotal age of 22 he’s just released his first single.

“Shokunin” is out now on Akhyla Records, a label he co-founded with longtime friend and trusted collaborator VMPRMYTH (Mustaqim Arifin). This picture from Pestle & Mortar pretty much captures N3mo and VMPRMYTH’s unique dynamic.

His first LP, simply-titled NRETBTSNPEFASS (Not Rich Enough to Buy the Scene, Not Poor Enough for a Sob Story), will be out soon. It’s an exploration of young life in contemporary times, and Nemo does not downplay his privileges nor his heritage on the record. He in fact raps in Malay on two cuts off the record — “PPA” and “Bootleg Greentea” — and does so with conviction.

Laidback, candid, approving of multilingual rap in songs and even local use of the word “nigger” (“there should be no word in the world that’s exclusive to any group of people from any particular background”), N3mo is a different sort of rap artist, and one who is more in tune with the trends, changes and whims of his own generation.

He may be a youngster who has a lot to say and you might not necessarily follow what he’s saying, but trust us, he might just be worth listening to.

Jes Ebrahim, 23, conscientious musician

After a head injury which resulted in a concussion last year, Jes Ebrahim still has trouble smelling or tasting. But he remains all smiles, and is one of the most humble individuals you could stumble across in the scene today.

Jes studied music at Akademi Seni Budaya Dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA) and has since been freelancing around town — past stints include supervising Bangsar’s L45 library.

As frontman of Malaysian folk/rock band Monsoon Market, Jes writes and sings on the band’s cuts but also has his own solo projects running about around town. One of these is Wayang Di Bayang — a series of band performances set in darkness and shadow — which debuted at BINTANG X BULAN earlier in April.

Most recently however, Jes has found a new home in PUSAKA, where he has been helping out on audio documentation. Working closely with elements of his heritage and culture, Jes finds the simplest ways to connect local audiences with their roots.

Sarah Amer, 24, community organiser

While the active young voices you often see in the media are males — siapa tak kenal Fahmi Reza or Syed Saddiq [...]

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Call for applicants! The Krishen Jit Astro Fund is back! June 16, 2016 at 12:02PM

INITIATED by ASTRO and Five Arts Centre a whopping 11 years ago, the Krishen Jit ASTRO Fund celebrates original Malaysian creativity in its most diverse forms. Unlike many other grant application processes, the Krishen Jit ASTRO Fund encompasses basically all forms of art.

Krishen Jit, a larger-than-life presence who proved to local artists that there are no boundaries to the imagination, produced projects that were inter-disciplinary, multicultural, multilingual and experimental. And his ability to do so has earned him the status of a legend.

The program will once again hand out grants worth between RM2,000 and RM20,000 to local creatives to pursue a creative or academic project — research and training programs for personal artistic development also qualify.

Last year’s grant recipients included TerryandTheCuz‘s SK!N, Rhythm in Bronze‘s children’s musical Bites of Delights, and Pitapat Theatre‘s An Enemy of the People. Other notable Malaysians who have benefited from the grant include illustrator and activist Sharon Chin, designer Mun Kao, publisher Faisal Mustaffa for Hassan Muthalib‘s Malaysian Cinema in a Bottle, and Margaret Bong for her film The Weight of Salt.

This year’s panel will see Norliza Rofli, Director of the Department of Culture and Arts, Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia; Jolyn Gasper, Senior AVP Corporate Responsibility, Corporate Responsibility, Community Affairs for Astro; Leow Puay Tin, Head of the Department of Performance & Media at Sunway University; as well as Five Arts Centre representatives Ravi Navaratnam and Mac Chan.

Whether you’re a young filmmaker looking for an apprenticeship under a film director, or an artiste looking to direct and mount an experimental workshop or production, be sure to apply for the fund and follow your dreams!

Deadlines for the applications is on the 31st of July 2016 so head over to the official site and get cracking!

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3 Malaysian activists who make the world a better place June 15, 2016 at 12:14PM

AS of late, Malaysia has been frequently embroiled in political turmoil. From the never-ending 1MDB scandal to the people’s compromised freedom of expression, the nation feels simply chaotic.

Laws, like Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, have been used to put government critics in jail. Some face up to two years behind bars, while others must pay RM50,000 in fines, all for a Facebook post or a tweet. Down also went whistleblowers like The Malaysian Insider and The Sarawak Report which aimed to provide an alternative perspective, often even classified information.

But there are those who are fighting to resists these changes, like Fahmi Reza, who continues to face consequences for voicing out as a citizen of the country. Refusing to plead guilty in the Sessions Court, young activist Fahmi made international headlines with his outright rejection of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak through his artwork.

Which kinda brings us to our main point today: Malaysia’s social activists are intelligent, outspoken people who choose dialogue over force in rectifying the problems facing our country. It’s this sort of bold spirit that reminds us all that power should be with the rakyat, not a select few.

But don’t let these outspoken guys do everything without your help, because at some point you’ll need to up your responsible citizen game too; because if you never learn to speak up for yourself, one day you’ll run out of those who can speak on your behalf.

Here are three well-known agents of change from recent memory and a bit of information on them.

Jerome Kugan, multi-disciplinary artist

Born and bred in Sabah, Jerome Kugan is many things. Some of them include being an established writer, poet, musician and of course, activist.

Jerome is co-founder of Seksualiti Merdeka, a human rights festival held annually in Kuala Lumpur until its ban in 2011, as well as co-author of Body 2 Body: A Malaysian Queer Anthology, a book seized in 2010 by the Home Ministry. He also released his debut album Songs for a Shadow in 2008 and you can also listen to his music on his Soundcloud page.

His activism often revolves around sexuality and gender expression too; championing LGBT rights, Jerome tries to push for acceptance in Kuala Lumpur by uniting people. Community party Rainbow Rojak is one of his many initiatives.

But if you’ve bumped into him recently, make sure to ask for his homemade pickles and chutneys — they’re quite amazing.

Khalid Ismath, outspoken student

We all post or have friends who rant about the state of the nation from time to time. Like a retired uncle who has recently discovered Facebook or your budding college student, Khalid too enjoys going online to share his opinion.

A second year law student at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Khalid went from citizen to criminal overnight. He faced 14 charges — 3 under the Sedition Act and 11 under the Communications and Multimedia Act — for his social media postings that were critical towards Johor’s controversial royal family [...]

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Koloni Anak Alam tidak mati (Bah. Akhir) June 14, 2016 at 12:11PM

BERTEMPAT di rerurai Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia (ITBM), sempena Pesta Buku Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (PBAKL) di MAEPS Serdang, pada 2 Mei lalu telah berlangsungnya Wawancara Sofa Putih bertajuk ‘Anak Alam Generasi II’.

Wawancara yang dikendalikan oleh Sayed Munawar Sayed Mustar ini telah mengundang Khalid Salleh, Yusoff Osman, Ken Zuraida serta Lutfi Ishak bagi membicarakan apakah tujuan dan maksud sebenarnya mewujudkan ‘Anak Alam Generasi II’ ini?

Menurut Yusoff Osman dan Khalid Salleh, Anak Alam tidak mati selagi seniman-seniman yang pernah bersama kumpulan ini masih hidup kerana Anak Alam bukanlah sebuah pertubuhan berdaftar, tetapi Anak Alam adalah attitude atau keperibadian yang ditanam ke dalam jiwa setiap seniman.

Syari’at Yusoff dan Khalid ini disokong teguh oleh Ken Zuraida, yang mewakili Bengkel Teater Rendra – tentu sekali hubungannya dengan Anak Alam begitu akrab. Lutfi, ketika ditanya apakah relevannya ‘Anak Alam Generasi II’, dan beliau menjawab bahawa generasi baharu ini menekankan perihal pengurusan seni dan aplikasi media sosial sebagai kembara kerja baharu, supaya pertubuhan ini (jika ada) tampak lebih tertib dan tidak ketinggalan.

Anehnya, Lutfi lebih menekankan pada kelompok sastera, walhal penggerak utama Anak Alam terdiri daripada artis (pelukis), penyair dan pemain pentas. Tidak bermakna Anak Alam menolak sastera – tidak sama sekali, bahkan Anak Alam amat menghormati persatuan khusus untuk penulis yang sedia ada seperti Persatuan Penulis Nasional (PENA) contohnya.

Ken mempersoalkan kenapa mesti menamakan ‘Anak Alam Generasi II’ sedangkan ia boleh dinamakan apa sahaja seperti pertubuhan lain yang semakin bercambah banyak, kerana koloni Anak Alam selayaknya tidak boleh dilegasikan.

Jika masih juga mahu bertegas, adalah tidak bagus jika hanya memandang kepada kelompok sastera sahaja. Sebagusnya, sebagai penggerak Anak Alam generasi baharu (jika benar), semestinya bergaul dan mengenali seniman-seniman muda yang lain daripada bidang yang lain seperti seni lukis dan seni pentas, kerana sastera itu seperti agama pada setiap individu seniman manakala kerja seni adalah wadah menyatakannya.

Adalah menjadi masalah kaum muda, apabila mereka ini terlalu terikat dan terikut pada kotak-kotak teori sedangkan seni kesenian itu bersifat bulat, wewenang, ‘telanjang’ dan tidak tertakluk pada rupa dan bentuk. Matlamat seni kesenian ialah kesampaian rasa yang menusuk sanubari khalayak sehingga sedar akan kewujudan Sang Pencipta alam semesta. Pun begitu, rasa itu mesti disampaikan dengan adab santun, berbudi dan berbahasa.

Kebaculan birokrat membunuh kesenian

Bukanlah seniman-seniman Anak Alam atau seniman-seniman sejati yang lain (baca: seniman yang giat pada tahun-tahun 1970-an hingga 1990-an) ini bersikap angkuh sehingga bunyinya seperti memperlekeh orang muda – bukan. Kita sebagai anak yang membesar dalam era mereka: mengikuti sejarah dan perkembangannya, wajib memahami bahawa tokoh-tokoh ini bermati-matian menghidupkan kesenian tanahair demi generasi yang tercipta hari ini mahu pun  akan datang, selagi nyawa dikandung badan.

Jelas, kita hari ini berdiri di atas tapak yang hampir ‘tertimbus’ dan ‘digali’ kembali oleh seniman-seniman yang bertanggungjawab sehingga menemui ‘permata’ yang tak ternilaikan. Nah, ‘permata’ inilah yang tidak disenangi oleh ‘orang politik’ dan sekutunya. ‘Permata’ ini tidak boleh didagangkan kerana pancaran seni kristalnya itu menyucuk mata mereka yang menafikan hakikat kebenaran.

Tidakkah kita cuba menyelami jauh [...]

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Here are five upcoming Malaysian films under the spotlight at Bucheon this year! June 14, 2016 at 12:03PM

THIS year’s Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) will be giving five Malaysian films the official 2016 Project Spotlight at their Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) program.

The festival’s latest initiative aims to facilitate the development and exchange of fantasy films on a domestic and international scale, and it has chosen five titles currently in development — Dawn Raid: The Hands that Rattled the Queen, Run Adam Run, Sitora the Weretiger, Vox and XX RAY III.

Historical finance thriller Dawn Raid — based on the titular event of 1981 — is set to be actor Bront Palarae‘s full-length directorial debut, Run Adam Run will revolve around child abductions and will be directed by Badaruddin Azmi (KL Menjerit), Diffan Norman of Kekasih fame is back again with producer Arzuan Anuar for their adaptation of P. Ramlee‘s Sitora Harimau Jadian, Aziz M. Osman will be pushing his sequel to the renowned XX RAY series, while Vox is a technology-focused thriller from by Yok Lung Lai (Dampak).

As of now, all five films are still in early ages, although the Dawn Raid camp has released a couple of promotional pictures featuring Shaheizy Sam, Sofia Jane, Iedil Putra and Tuan Faisal.

These films were chosen based on their “creativity, genre and production-based evaluations” by the NAFF committee, in cooperation with the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS).

All five filmmakers will be invited to NAFF to have their projects accessed by Korean and international investors and distributors. In fact, there’s a networking event being held at NAFF on 27 July 2016 in which directors and producers will have a chance to pitch to industry participants visiting BIFAN.

On the table will be cash prizes which cover production expenses, post-production assistance, and an opportunity to be selected for other official selections such as the It Project and the Nordic Genre Invasion. Results will be announced at the NAFF Awards Ceremony the following day.

BIFAN is the largest fantasy film festival in the world, and is currently in its 20th installation. The festival will run from 21 – 31 July in Bucheon, South Korea.

Find out more about BIFAN from their official page!

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Writing and the City: “Neon and Rain” by Shahriman Latif (Part 2)  June 13, 2016 at 04:50PM

UnRepresented: KL, the writing program in and about KL and the lesser known narratives within its midst, wrapped up its 10-week run in May. This is a continuation of a work-in-progress excerpt from a piece written by participant Shahriman Latif and workshopped during UnR. 

‘Good evening, Tauke,’ said Encik Mahadi, his tone genial, warm and genuine, ‘I am glad to see you in good health and spirits,’

The old man at the mahogany table seemed unimpressed. He turned to Parjo, and said ‘You are with this man?’

Parjo nodded.

‘What does he call himself these days?’

‘Encik Mahadi,’ said Parjo, not certain if that was the correct answer.

The old man chuckled and turned to face Encik Mahadi, ‘You bring hired hands. You must be very serious about whatever it is that you come to see me for.’

‘Times are changing, Tauke. I can sense it. It threatens our very existence. We must be unified if we are to…’

‘Times are always changing,’ the old man said calmly, ‘like the flow of your rivers, now sullen beyond saving,’

‘But this time it may very well wipe us out, old friend. We would be forgotten,’ said Encik Mahadi.

‘I was already forgotten once,’ the old man said, ‘Remember? You asked me to give up my land and in return the road should bear my name in perpetuity. Forever. Then your people broke the promise the moment a Ceylonese died and named it after him,’

‘But we gave it back to you, Tauke Choo,’ Encik Mahadi whispered, Parjo saw him waver slightly, ‘The problem with people is that they forget. You know they are incompetent sometimes. But we rectified it, did we not? You have your road again, your name is still remembered,’

‘The point is,’ Tauke Choo’s voice was calm, but firm and deadly to Parjo, ‘that you have gone back on your word. You broke a promise. It should never happen in the first place. You. Of all people, you should know a promise is not a thing to be taken lightly!’

‘Tauke,’ replied Encik Mahadi in soothing tones, ‘we’ve gone through this. It was an honest mistake. It was after the war. In their grief, people forget. You knew I changed too. It was out of my power,’

‘I was the President of the Chamber of Commerce! I saved lives. I sacrificed my time and effort to build this city! All I asked was a small boon, a token of remembrance. If you did not consider me a friend, at the very least consider that I was loyal to you till the end,’

‘And you will be remembered, Tauke,’ Encik Mahadi said, ‘but we are at the precipice of something which threatens all of us. Not just me. You know this. I am sure you have felt the waves. The cracks are appearing and if we do not act in [...]

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Best-selling FIXI anthology ‘KL Noir’ hits the screen with Deanna Ibrahim, Sharifah Amani and Susan Lankester in tow June 13, 2016 at 04:31PM

OUT from the safari madness of Lalu comes the latest project from Seeing Eye Films: a short film omnibus on women adapted from FIXI’s urban cult series, KL Noir. Titled Dark Triptych, the set comprises adaptations of Nadia Khan‘s Savages, Angeline Woon‘s Stones of Justice and Wong Pek Mei‘s Anai.

Always on the lookout for the unusual, original and controversial, Seeing Eye Films last put out celebrated composer Ion Furjanic’s debut short film Lalu, which is currently taking the internet by storm. The production house’s official follow-up will be Savages out on 1 July 2016, which also stars model and aspiring actress Deanna Ibrahim as well as Susan Lankester, Sharifah Amani and Bront Palarae.

Savages details the unnerving nature of human trafficking and is a dark piece in line with KL Noir‘s punchy, gritty vision. The teaser for the short is out now, featuring Deanna eating fried chicken in quiet menace.

Stones of Justice will follow on 1 September 2016, while a release date for Anai has not been confirmed. Issues that will be explored over the three films include snatch theft, sexual exploitation and other things affecting women.

Follow Seeing Eye Films on Facebook for more details and possibly even a sneak peek at these films!

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How to watch theatre without affecting other people’s time June 12, 2016 at 11:47AM

DARKENED rooms are welcoming, conducive places to experience audiovisual art. Be it at the black box or the cinema, viewers only need provide obedience in exchange for information, or a trip to another universe. For this piece, we want to specifically address the theatre.

But local audiences sometimes seem to get way too comfortable, choosing to respond to other urges that appear throughout the duration of a performance. Let’s address that. This is a friendly reminder to everyone who goes to watch plays.

No gadgets, please

Don’t take out your cellphones during a performance to check your Whatsapp or god forbid, respond to a call! It’s usually bright and glaring in a darkened setting, and distracts severely from the performance. And if your devices are not already on silent, know that the production has every right to kick you out. Dewan Filharmonik Petronas is particularly strict on this rule, and thank God for laser pointers.

Be aware of yourself!

If you have restless leg syndrome, straighten up and sit with a solid posture. If you absolutely cannot stand to be in the audience, then leave and go get an ice cream. We’ve sat on many vibrating chairs before and it’s like experiencing art through an earthquake. And parents, control your children or we will get them removed from the hall, because its not fun trying to deal with a brat who taps his feet during a pivotal monologue.

Don’t speak. Period.

Just don’t, unless the director is literally begging you. Because nobody wants to hear a conversation about dinner while something as precise as Beckett is taking place three feet away. And do you really need to make it clear how much you hate a performance during its runtime? How about instead of sighing and making comments during scene changes, go up to the director during intermission and cook up an excuse on why you have to leave? Then write a review on the show and send it to us or to performing arts review website Critics Republic; it’s that easy!

Flash photography? Really?

We didn’t think it was possible, but we’ve sat through a couple of shows in which audience members blatantly snap photos with a digital camera. Some even use flash during minimally-lit scenes. Why? Perhaps someone can go pay a visit to Istana Budaya one of these nights and find out for us. To be honest, we’re sure it’s fine to take photos if you’re discreet about it. But if there’s a tiny, blinking red light in the darkness every time you snap a photo, then how about no?

8:30 means 8:30

Malaysians nationwide need to end this “Malaysian time” thing and just figure out punctuality. How often have you had to wait for more than 15 minutes before the houselights even dim? Nowadays, it’s uncommon of performances to actually start sharp on time — a problem which exists in productions small or large. Do you really want every head in the audience to swivel towards you as you noisily find your seat? Next time, be there at least 10-minutes early [...]

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“R U DOWN” to listen to Orang’s new single? June 11, 2016 at 01:22PM

KUALA LUMPUR-based producer Orang (Azfar Abu Bakar) is no stranger to the local indie scene. After showcasing his music on Soundcloud over the past number of years, it sounds like he has honed his craft, and has grown to express himself in a fluid manner.

This week, Orang released a brand new single from his upcoming EP Everything. Titled “R U Down With It”, the track features Orang’s signature sound — a combination of lo-fi production and textured samples give his track in a tropical, tribal edge.

Orang has always drawn from a wide pool of inspiration. Artists like The Strokes, The Walkmen, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Panda Bear, Beach House and Deerhunter leave their influence on his music. “R U Down With It”, also features processed vocals as psychedellic as it is poppy.

Lyrically, the track explores the tension between two individuals. Ending in their resignation to one another, Orang has described it as somewhat of a “first world problem”.

The track is released under fledgling record label Botanic Records, the brainchild of BFM‘s “Into the Blue” host Tim Sharp and local visual artiste Zulamran Hilmi. Hoping to bring Southeast Asian music to the forefront, Botanic Records seeks to create a collective of musicians that make genre-bending music.

With this new release, Orang also debuts the artwork for his upcoming five-track EP, which will be out in July digitally as well as in limited hand-dubbed cassettes featuring art by local visual artist Muntasir Mohamed.

“R U Down With It” is available for free download on Botanic Records’ Soundcloud and be sure to follow them on Facebook for more updates!

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Syawal Slayage: Charm and conquer raya in ‘Goda’s irresistable Nusantara prints June 10, 2016 at 09:00AM

THERE’S something that speaks volumes about the visuals conjured by boutique fashion line Goda. Showcasing batik prints across women and men’s clothing, Goda brings us back to the good old days long before Arabisation hit Malaysia like a disease; the days when delicate, ancient motifs of flora and fauna adorn the fabric protecting one’s body.

Formed last August, Goda is the brainchild of young artist Fazleena Hishamuddin, who’s been building a name for herself in Malay theatre.

Summarising the collection as depicting “Pesona Nusantara” (“Nusantara Charm”), Fazleena too injects her own flair for storytelling into the project.

Her designs aren’t mere cuts and patterns; they’re characters from the landscape which gave rise to Southeast Asian heritage and traditions. The simple yet elegant Skirt Mahadewi for example boasts the mythical figure of Arjuna as its defining motif.

Arjuna is a crucial figure in shadow puppetry, often depicted as a quietly contemplative wanderer with a heart of gold. His defining characteristic however is his soft, easygoing nature, and his aversion to force — the very traits which Goda aims to extoll through the skirt.

On top of original creations, Goda once also sold pre-loved clothes sourced from Indonesia. Their limited edition Goda Klasik range put back a curated selection of used apparel on the market.

From kebayas to shirts and skirts, Goda Klasik aimed to bring their new owners back in time, so they may connect with the past through nostalgia and appreciation for good, lasting design. Because guys, imagine what a colourful, mysterious world this could be if batik were the new black!

One brilliant thing about Goda is its accessible prices. The Goda Klasik line rarely exceeds RM40 per item, while men’s shirts and one-piece Indonesian flair dresses called dasters go for RM70.

Also worthy of a mention is the Adiratna Clutch, which is a mere RM40 and comes in a plethora of designs. Purse first?

But know you can also celebrate Raya in style with Goda Lebaran, the latest range in conjunction with raya season! The latest series, launched yesterday, comprises kebayas, tunics and palazzos for a contemporary take on nusantara fashion.

Their Tun Fatimah ensemble which comprises a peplum and palazzo, was inspired by Tun Dr. Fatimah Hashim — an important female figure who fought for women’s rights in Malaysia particularly with respect to their education and careers.

There’s plenty to seek out from Goda, and we’ll leave it to you to find out from their Instagram and Facebook. In the meantime, have a look at some pictures we sourced from the collection.

Stay tuned for more Syawal Slayage as we go through local indie fashion to pick out what else you could be wearing this raya! Got suggestions? Leave them in the comments section!

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