Everyone’s A Critic

Corporate trainer and coach Sheila Singam came to art later in life, through a desire to challenge something she was told as a child: that she couldn't do art. Her debut solo exhibition Forest in the Brain reflects on the joy of discovering a new part of herself, with paintings that tell unfiltered stories through her bold and colourful palette. We speak to Sheila about her journey with art, and how art can - and should! - be for everyone. 

Image Source: Sheila Singam

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The traditional and the contemporary come together in this mixed bill dance performance, where Malay traditional dance forms like zapin, joget, and inang are reimagined through a fresh lens. We speak with the KonTra: Bianglala’s director, Zhafir Muzani, and featured dancer/choreographer Ker Yee Teng, about the show and the possibilities they see in traditional dances. 

Image Source: Milol Tahar

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“Being and Becoming: Of Femininities in the Malay World Through 50 Images” is an online exhibition of archival photographs, postcards and illustrations from the mid-1800s to the 1950s, examining ideas of Malay womanhood through the lens of social class, place, race and empire. We review the exhibition.

Image Source: Arkib Negara Malaysia | Being & Becoming

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Designer toy artist oodplex’s work blurs the lines between contemporary art and toymaking, in his first solo exhibition BLEAK. The show features sculptures, digital forms, and artwork that all revolve around a single character called BEN, and reflect on feelings of loneliness and isolation that the artist experienced during the pandemic. We speak with oodplex about his creations, what it was like putting together a solo show, and where he sees the works fit within the larger idea of artmaking.

Image Source: oodplex

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First staged online during the lockdown, this performance explores memory, with both its comforts and pains. Presented by KongsiKL, the show uses movement, sets, sound, and camerawork to depict emotions and reflect on what it means to confront the past. We review the show, and talk about the evolving space for these online performances as we return to live theatre. 

Image source: KongsiKL

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Tales of the Magellan-Elcano expedition of 1519 is often told through a Eurocentric lens. Ahmad Fuad Osman's Enrique de Malacca Memorial Project revisits the historic journey through the perspective of an enslaved Malay sailor and interpreter named Enrique de Malacca. We review the exhibition and discuss how it de-centres the Western gaze.    

Image source: Ahmad Fuad Osman/Ilham Gallery

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Kaleidoscope Japan brings together 13 Malaysian artists across different disciplines to present works that reflect on Japan’s connections to Malaysia as well as their own perceptions of this relationship. We review the hybrid online exhibition and talk about both the variety of works on show, and how it attempts to reimagine the experience of consuming art online.  

Image source: Japan Foundation KL 

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In this video, dancer and choreographer Lee Ren Xin uses dance as the entry point into exploring, connecting to, and reflecting on the local communities of the Jalan Harapan neighbourhood in Petaling Jaya. We review the work and talk about how it reframes ideas of home and belonging.

Image source: Ren Xin Lee, YouTube

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The legendary Hang Tuah is investigated through a poetic and speculative video essay where a team of Malaysian artists attempt to piece together stories of the warrior through time, by following the trail of books, museums, movies, and locations. We review the project and discuss the questions it raises about the relationship between Tuah and contemporary Malaysians today.

Image source: Fragments of Tuah

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IBU retells the famous Southeast Asian folk tale of Si Tanggang by bringing together traditional Teochew iron rod puppetry with projection mapping, music, and live performers, to create a contemporary performance. We review the show.

Image source: Lim Chai Lin

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