Everyone’s A Critic

Inspired by the real life experiences of the late Dr Aini Hamid, a breast cancer patient, You, Me and the Big C tells the story of mother-daughter pair and their journey as the mother, Amy, discovers a lump in her breast. We speak with the show's co-writer Terence Toh and actor Hana Nadira. 

Image Source: Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre

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In Chang Yoong Chia's latest exhibition, the artist draws on the traditions of batik to create paintings that elevate the craft's motifs from simply decorative, to more complex narratives and commentary on the history of cash crop plantations in Malaysia - specifically, the exploitation of human labour at the heart of the industry. We review the exhibition. 

Image Source: Olfactory Memory by Chang Yoong Chia.

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For his exhibition Saffron Songs, artist Rajinder Singh draws on the "sonic qualities" of a specially commissioned Punjabi folk song to then inspire his paintings. The works pay tribute to his late grandfather, and reclaim stories both personal and political about his existence amidst the conflict and challenges of the colonial period in Malaya. We speak with Rajinder to understand how sound, memories, and art come together in this collection. 

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The first of a two-part show, this solo exhibition by Jerome Kugan reflects on the past five years of his life, which include a move back from Kuala Lumpur to his hometown Kota Kinabalu, the various political events of our country, and the pandemic. Using striking visual imagery and colours, Jerome worked with repurposed and recycled materials to create his art. We speak with him about the ideas behind the works. 

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The ILHAM Art Show 2022 is ILHAM Gallery's first open call exhibition, featuring the works of 31 artists based in Malaysia. Conceived and largely put together during the various lockdowns, the show offers a unique snapshot of the diversity of artistic approaches in the country. We review the exhibition.   

Image Source: Chang Yoong Chia/Ilham Gallery

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Eugene Foo's debut solo exhibition re-imagines various scenes of Malaysian life if humans and dinosaurs coexisted. The paintings evoke a sense of fantasy and nostalgia, and attempt to reframe how popular culture depicts these prehistoric creatures. We speak with Eugene about his fascination with dinosaurs and how that has shaped his art.   

Image source : Eugene Foo

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A collaboration between Malaysia's theatre and refugee communities, And Then Came Spring by Parastoo Theatre and The Instant Cafe Theatre Company tells the story of two sisters growing up in Kabul, whose dreams of going to school and having a better life are sadly derailed by the decisions of other adults in their lives. We review the play.

Image Source: Amin Kamrani

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Artist Tetriana Ahmed Fauzi uses expanded painting abstraction techniques to reflect on the mythical story of seven ordinary girls transforming into princesses. The works use colours, forms, and textures to draw the eye, and have their root in the Malay philosophy of personification through botanical references. We review the show.  

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In line with Wei-Ling Gallery's 20th anniversary, they reflect back on two decades of Malaysian contemporary art during a period of rapid development and societal changes. We review the works on display, and talk about how they work as a snapshot of Malaysia over time. 

Image Source: Chin Kong Yee, Wei-Ling Gallery

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Radio Teater Nasional seeks to revive the art of the radio play, with the aim of increasing arts accessibility. The project presents Malaysian adapted into an episodic audio format and performed by local talent, available to be streamed online for free. Their pilot production is Dato Seri, an acclaimed Malay-language adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth, written by the late Muhammad Ali Hashim and Omar Ali. We speak with the show's creative producer Rosheen Fatima about adapting theatre for radio, and their emphasis on making the arts accessible.  

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