Front Row

A solo exhibition by Wong Hoy Cheong, looking over four decades of paper-based work that he has created. These studies were fundamental to the artist's work process, on which he was able to build an interdisciplinary practice — which spans performance art, installation and video documentary; later photography and film. The curator, Dr Simon Soon, situates the artist in our local art landscape.

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An exhibition of some 70 works by the artist depicting her various relationships with her family, friends and things spiritual. The artist and the curators share her history and the heart of her art, and how form and content marry to express her artistic vision. Hear the Head Curator of Bank Negara Museum and Art Gallery, and the consultant curator throw specific light on a couple of Abbas’s works.

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Sabera Shaik, a veteran English-language stage actor, is reprising her role as Puteri Saadong. Before she departs for India to perform this work based on local folklore but directed by Tage Larsen of famed Odin Teatret in Holstebro, Denmark, she drops by to share what new elements she has added to this updated version which will incorporate specially woven songket. She tells if Puteri Saadong is a feminist tale. She reveals what kind of training actors need and how often to train.

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An exhibition at the Islamic Museum gives occasion to view more photographs taken by the royal photographer who took up the hobby with professional interests and equipment. Many of the exhibits are original prints. Raja Ihsan tells about his grandfather’s interests and how he saw the world through the camera’s lens.

Link to: http://www.bfm.my/podcast.html?qseaid=HRH%20Sultan%20Ismail&pseaid=501&iseaid=all&dsseaid=&deseaid=&tag=&prg=

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A few weeks ago, the theatre practitioner, academic and voice-and-speech trainer ran a voice masterclass. She points out the benefits of voice-training and shares with us the different approaches to it, underscoring what is required by the actor’s voice in playing Shakespeare.

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Over the weekend, Soon Heng observed how Jim O’Connor facilitated a two-day directing workshop. In-between sessions O’Connor explained choices he makes in casting, and elements to ensure clear communication with the audience. He underscored the director’s responsibilities to the audience and pointed out what members of the audience can do if they want to get as much as possible from a play, although he emphasised that the primary responsibility lies with the director and actors.

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The ‘post-rock’ band from Japan has found such favorable listening ears in Malaysia that it made a fifth visit. And its third time on BFM. Taka tells about the niche MONO’s music plays and reveals that in composing music, his music saves him. Samples of MONO’s music weaves into this show.

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The transplant surgeon and former Professor of Surgery at Cambridge tells us about what his garden offers to his canvas. Taking both inspiration and content from his garden he captures what he sees and then with his artful hand interprets the view into a vision. The man of science and medicine, tells stories that are both amusing and informative about the relationship between the artist, the work and the viewer; and underscores the need of art, music, dance and theatre in our lives.

You can listen to more interviews with Sir Roy Calne here, here and here.

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The Professor Emeritus is in Malaysia for a stint and pays a visit to BFM to discuss with a couple of local theatre practitioners about Shakespeare and performing the Bard’s works. Most immediate on the table is the issue of adapting Shakespeare for non-native English speakers and non-English cultures, and when does Shakespeare cease to be Shakespeare?

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This OUR ArtProjects’ inaugural exhibition ‘Great Leap Forward’ focuses on the late Nirmala Dutt, one of Malaysia’s pioneer contemporary artists. The curator and the post-graduate student situate the artist’s works in the context of a social commentator pushing new boundaries.  Simon and Melvin tell that the exhibition aims to inspire us as viewers to think critically about our world, our country and our society.

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