Front Row

Coming form a deep and long tradition in Carnatic and Hindustani music, our guests deliberate on the balance between tradition and innovation, the need to have roots and then branches. The vocalist gives a sample of the kind of music that marries the old with the new and explains why it is new.

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A collaboration between ThinkCity and Projek Dialog sees the emergence of a poetry festival that celebrates Kuala Lumpur and what it holds in the imagination of its dwellers and those who move in and out of its heart. Our guests not only tell what will be offered at the festival but also throw light on the genesis of this event which has on its roster an impressive list of local poets.

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A look at a festival that celebrates contemporary music. We learn what this genre of music is, what informs it, its influences and its prominent practitioners. Apparently there are quite a few Malaysian composers who are celebrated and whose music has premiered overseas.

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Our guest comes to Kuala Lumpur straight from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to perform. She does stand-up comedy but in this performance titled ‘Ghost Machine’, she is described as offering an “interactive performance art”. Is this the new definition of comedy? Laura Davis talks to us about performance, comedy and interactions with the audience.

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A look back and an examination of the Malaysian Institute of Art’s contribution to visual education and to the country’s visual art. Our guests tell of how the foundation from the institution allowed them to explore their own artistic lives.

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This episode, we talk about counterculture and Beat poetry. Beat poets and the culture they espoused was anti-establishment and non-conformist. Are the hipster poets of the now “beat” in any way? Is spoken word meaningful counterculture? Jack Malik and Azizan Afi weigh in before performing their own haiku/jazz live improvisation, featuring Axam Maumoon on saxophone.

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Borak Arts Series is a platform that attempts to create opportunities and build capacity through the congregation of local and international cultural leaders, artists, presenters, producers, intermediaries, funders, academics and students. Our guests share what the fifth in the series will focus on and what it hopes to achieve.

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A conversation with Tengku Irfan to discover the mind of the musician. He tells why he chose the piano above other instruments and shares what playing music does to him. He also informs how playing an instrument complements conducting, which he now undertakes. He will be conducting in the DFP at the end of the year.

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A conversation on figurative art and what lies beyond the form, the lines, the light-and-shade that the artists are trying to capture. They share their experiences trying to capture the emotions, their individual encounters, perspectives and responses to the live models who help them create. They point out why visual representations of human beings are more engaging.

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Sifu Productions take on an established work to establish itself. After several years of devised plays and comic sketches, the company expands into the traditional to find a sustainable business model. Our guests tell about their choice and express challenges creating an ideal situation for the company to thrive.

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