Front Row

A mattress is part of a bed. At least in collective vision of things. A mattress makes sleeping more comfortable. But what happens when mattresses are not so much parts of beds and sleeping but central to wakeful bodies who are prancing and dancing? The two choreographer-dancers lift the sheets off mattresses and scales off our eyes to make us inquiry our relationship with space and each other. Se...

The growing art industry--art schools, art galleries, art auctions, art exhibition and artists--begs the question, What’s art to the nation’s GDP? And then of course, what needs to be done to increase its contribution. The guests discuss the art economy, but what are the assumptions of art that run contrary to the impulses that keep such a system alive? See omnystudio.com/listener for...

The soloists tell of their tasks and thoughts bringing music to a live audience: the challenges of telling a story without words and trying to evoke something intangible. The director tells how he chooses the music and what this collaboration with the soloists offers and gives an insight into how an orchestra works. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of actor-training, Simone Tani uses masks to help actors find something unadulterated, something spontaneous and fresh to bring to their performances. The shock of trance masks allows some actors to find the latent energy that can inject freshness and truth to the roles they play. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this very interesting interview, Dr. Amir Zekrgoo throws a wrench into the conventional ways of understanding modern art and modernity. For him, the movement from traditional art to modern art is a reflection of the changes from individual identity to individuality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The founder and creative director of Studio Basel and The Spirit of Ramadhan Photography Competition, Dr Basel Almisshal, speaks about the 2014 competition and the how this continuing competition brings works by a number of photographers ranging from aspiring professionals to talented amateurs from over 60 countries. The 2014 theme was “Bridging Cultures and Inspiring Creativity.” See...

The co-founder and artistic director of a musical theatre company tells about doing a musical on a small, near-postage-stamp-sized stage. His company is presenting and producing Jonathan Larson's "other" musical. Larson became famous on account of RENT. But here’s a musical about Jon turning 30. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The theatre practitioner writes: “At the heart of my practice is the belief in positive relationships. Creativity grows out of our need for relationships with each other the world around us and ourselves." The comment has echoes of what’s often written in self-help and motivational books. It could have come out from a text by a life coach. David Glass tells about how theatre practice i...

The jazz musicians step outside their species and regular practice, to collaborate with calligrapher, Tan Guet Bee; and an 11-piece string orchestra, Arioso Sinfonia. These jazz musicians as a collective known as WVC will also be performing their latest album and inviting notable local jazz singers to be in this upcoming show. The band tells about performing with children, a classical Indian dance...

The artist’s works are inspired by Islamic traditions of architecture and metal work. His creations synergise Hindu mythology, Buddhist asceticism and Islamic calligraphy to explore the underlying spirituality of man. But he points out spirituality transcends organized religions. Amin Gulgee points out that his art is spiritual and sprituality doesn't always have to be high up in the clouds....

No doubt that the theatre is a great tool to engage a community in discussions, especially when some of the issues that are faced are often not talked about, swept under the carpet and whispered between those of the same stripe. The team from Red Demon tells how the play hopes to surface issues but at the same time play with the languages of the theatre to engage, entertain and enlighten. Pleasure...

The Selangor Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) leaps into its seventh production since its inception in April 2012, with Chapter Seven: Fate. We find out what's in store from piano soloist Ng Chong Lim, assistant concertmaster Debra Lim and the SPO's strategic advisor Douglas Tan, who will speak of the choice of the pieces by Sibelius, Rachmaninoff and Beethoven, giving us all ways to access t his musi...

Trained as an opera singer, these days you'll likely find Assistant Professor Nicholas Perna in front of a class using terms such as 'head resonance' and 'passaggio' as he teaches voice and vocal pedagogy in Mississippi College.  But he is also set to perform a whole medley of numbers, which range from La Boheme to Les Miserables, in the perfomance titled "Fearlessly: A Journey Through M...

"A dark comedy about young Malaysian adults, battling through the corporate jungle."  That's how director Freddy Tan describes Sifu Production's newest play, Fifteen. In the course of their journey, the characters face difficult choices ranging from picking an interview candidate to planning a kidnapping.  Freddy, together with actors Erwin Shah Ismail and Tika Mu'tamir, fill us in on wh...

Dancer-choreographer Jack Kek speaks to us about his production The Mythical Journey, through which he hopes to raise awareness of dances with roots in Chinese traditions, which has since evolved forms for contemporary dance. Jack takes us beyond fan dances and swirling sleeves to innovations in dance movements by Taiwan’s Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, and tells why it is important to take in th...

Folktales often shared orally get into print when the British Council, English Language Teacher Development Programme collaborates with Sekolah Kebangsaan Tiga Papan in Kudat. This is an on-going initiative not only to improve the English of the local schools involved but also to preserve local stories of the indigenous peoples in the country. We find out more from Tricia Thorlby, the Director of...

The artist talks about his painted art installation that was exhibited at the Hong Kong Art Basel. The title which uses the term ‘padded room’ brings to bear the expression’s baggage on what might seem an innocuous subject: romanticised history of the origin and evolution of the Malacca Sultanate. This installation yokes paired images--Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, Abraham Lincoln a...

A union, a separation and then then the imagined reunion. Two directors--from two different countries connected by bridges, history and blood relatives--try to find the similarities and the squabbles between the separated states. They explore through performances of plays, short stories, letters,anything that can be performed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michel Reis of the Macau Arts Festival explains that an arts festival helps promote local arts and artists beyond being a tourist-related event. He paints some steps taken by the organizer in order not only to boost local and international tourism but also to improve the quality of local works. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The events are back and so is the curator. Pauline Fan talks about the two traditional Kelantan dances which will be showcased at Publika. These related dances are about love and longing. In the first, the longing; and in the second, the recovery from the loss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jean-Pierre Dumont, the Director of Alliance Francaise de Kuala Lumpur, provides us with a run-down of the events in store at this year's French Art and Film Festival . We are promised an eclectic mix of French films, food, drinks, dance and music at this annual event. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looking at musicals and paying attention to ‘Cabaret’; looking at plays by Shakespeare and at KL Shakespeare Players’ ‘Shakespeare Demystified: Othello’.   The common element between the two: fear of the Other. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anticipating the cultural policy and the agenda for the visual and performing arts in the 11th Malaysia Plan, Prof. Dr. Hatta Azad Khan, the Rector of Akademi Seni Budaya Dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA),  discusses how ASWARA contributes to the country’s creative and performing arts industry.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The music educators will be conducting masterclasses and following up with a recital. They talk about the need for music in our lives and their observations of the country’s changing music landscape over the last few years. They anticipate the future of classical music in the country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When art comes to the aid of flood victims. The guests tell about the collaboration that brings together local artists and a total of 30 independent themed artwork of high quality. This is an effort to raise funds to finance the construction of homes for Kelantan flood victims, especially those in Manek Urai. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.