Latest news with #PangrokSulap
The Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Weekend for the arts: Pangrok Sulap exhibition, KL Sing Song returns
EXHIBITION: PANGROK SULAP's 'THE SOUND OF SALIENCE' Venue: Tali Art Gallery, Petaling Jaya Date: June 28 to July 20 Fans of renowned Sabahan art collective Pangrok Sulap, rejoice - Tali Art Gallery in Petaling Jaya is set to host an exhibition celebrating the group's bold and distinctive woodcut aesthetic, opening this Saturday. Titled The Sound Of Salience , the exhibition - featuring a mix of past and new works - highlights Pangrok Sulap's signature blend of richly textured visuals and participatory printmaking. It will feature eight main works alongside a selection of assorted prints. Renowned for using art as a vehicle for social commentary, the collective's works serve as a bridge between communities and pressing issues like climate change, land rights, cultural identity, and sovereignty. It's been increasingly difficult to catch the group's work in the Klang Valley, as Pangrok Sulap has been actively involved in residencies and exhibitions around the world - most recently with a strong showing at the University of Tennessee in the United States in March, and a community art festival in Patani, southern Thailand earlier this month. Formed in 2010, Pangrok Sulap - which roughly translates to 'Punk Rock Hut' - is made up of artists, musicians, printmakers, and activists. Internationally recognised for its socially engaged practice, the group advocates for self-sufficient community development through collaboration, dialogue, and shared creativity. The exhibition's official opening takes place on Sunday (June 29) from 4pm onwards. Admission is free. More info here. MUSIC: KL SING SONG 20th ANNIVERSARY SERIES #1 Venue: Merderkarya, Petaling Jaya Date: June 28, 9pm The Troubadours collective - comprising Azmyl Yunor, Tan Sei Hon, and Jerome Kugan - is picking up the thread it last wove in 2009, reviving the long-dormant KL Sing Song series with renewed purpose. With the backing of indie haven Merdekarya, this revival isn't just a nostalgic return - it's a timely reawakening of a movement that once championed the raw, unvarnished voice of the Malaysian singer-songwriter. This weekend's show reunites founding members Azmyl, Tan, and Kugan, joined by Karen Nunis, Mei Chern, and Bihzhu, for a grand evening of folk, blues, pop, and electronica. KL Sing Song was never just a gig series - it was a gathering of outsiders and kindred spirits, a space where musicians, writers, poets and artists collided to create something larger than themselves. This revival signals more than a reunion; it's a reassertion of the value of independent voices in a scene that has grown but often lost its footing. In a world saturated with noise, KL Sing Song remains committed to authenticity, craft, and the quiet power of a song well sung. More KL Sing Song nights will be announced soon - but for now, this Saturday marks a wonderful comeback. More info here. An eye-catching trio (from left) - Sofia Jane, Nabila Huda, and Nadia Aqilah - lead a fresh revival of the late Jit Murad's 'Visits', a dark comedy centred on mental health. Photo: DramaLab THEATRE: JITFEST 2025 PRESENTS 'VISITS' Venue: Nero, PJPAC, Petaling Jaya Date: ends June 29 The late Jit Murad's Visits has returned to the stage after 22 years - and with rave reviews pouring in, it's wise to book your ticket soon. Directed by Ida Nerina and starring Sofia Jane, Nadia Aqilah, and Nabila Huda, this new production breathes fresh life into one of the theatre legend's most poignant works. First staged in 2002, Visits is a sharply observed, darkly funny play that brings together three women at a high-end mental health retreat. A patient, her sister-in-law, and an enigmatic nurse find themselves in a surreal space where memory, identity, and power slowly unravel. This new staging at PJPAC is part of JitFest 2025, organised by DramaLab—a timely revival that balances humour and heartbreak with stunning clarity. More info here. In his new show at Harta Space, Bayu unveils 16 large-scale, emotionally charged paintings of contorted, anonymous male figures, blurring the lines between abstract and figurative. Photo: The Star/Glenn Guan EXHIBITION: BAYU UTOMO RADJIKIN'S 'RESONANCE OF SOULS' Venue: Harta Space, Ampang, Selangor Date: ends July 6 Bayu's Resonance of Souls signals a striking new chapter in the veteran artist's journey - so it's no surprise the exhibition has been extended to July 6. Known for expressive intensity, the Sabah-born artist creates intense drama at the Harta Space gallery, presenting 16 large-scale paintings of anonymous male figures – raw, contorted, and emotionally charged. These haunting forms, stripped of identity, evoke universal themes of struggle and resilience. With brooding tones and visceral textures, the works signal a bold evolution in the 56-year old artist's practice, blending abstraction and figuration. After more than 30 years in the field, the Matahati and Hom Art Trans co-founder shows he's still pushing forward. More info here. A view of artist Binti's debut solo exhibition 'Sesuatu Yang Something' at Cult Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: The Star/Glenn Guan EXHIBITION: BINTI'S 'SESUATU YANG SOMETHING' Venue: Cult Gallery, Taman Tunku, Kuala Lumpur Date: ends July 14 Step into the vibrant, emotionally rich world of Binti, a 27-year-old multidisciplinary artist making her much-anticipated solo debut. This appointment-only exhibition presents seven distinct series that weave together text, photography, collage, drawing, and even AI-generated imagery. Binti's work is rooted in deeply personal themes - self-acceptance, emotional honesty, and the challenges of navigating life as a young creative today. Her sharp writing, inventive compositions, and fearless use of materials give each piece a distinct voice and presence. Drawing from family histories, layered language, and a disarming sense of humour, Binti creates a space where vulnerability meets protest, and joy shares the stage with reflection. This exhibition isn't just a viewing - it's an invitation to connect with her world. Admission is free. More info here. DANCE/THEATRE: 'WILL YOU BE MY WITNESS?' Venue: Black Box, DPAC, Empire Damansara, Selangor Date: June 26-29 Theatre collective lowercase laboratories returns with 'will you be my witness?' a bold new performance that blends contemporary dance and theatre in an emotional, thought-provoking journey about what it means to be truly seen. Directed by Low Yee Choy and choreographed by Kenny Shim (of Kenny Shim Dance Collective), the show follows six performers - James Kan, Amirah Redza, Si Jin, Alisya Razman, Wen Chin, and Xue Li - through everyday routines like brushing teeth and scrolling on phones, before diving into themes of digital overload, identity, and emotional disconnection. The performance uses movement, stillness, and powerful imagery to explore our deep need for connection in a world where everything is shared but not always understood. It's surreal, intimate, and at times haunting, inviting audiences to slow down, reflect, and witness each other more fully. If you're looking for something raw, moving, and beautifully staged, this is a performance worth witnessing. More info here. Ain's 'Melangkaui Pagar' (ash and pigment on paper, 2025). Photo: The Back Room EXHIBITION: AIN's 'ATAS PAGAR' Venue: The Back Room, Zhongshan building, KL Date: June 28 to July 20 This weekend, the Back Room is launching Atas Pagar , the second solo exhibition by emerging Malaysian artist Ain. After collaborating with her for its presentation at S.E.A. Focus 2025 in Singapore, the independent gallery is now set to host her first formal solo in its Kuala Lumpur space. Atas Pagar is a quiet, contemplative show shaped by the remnants of memory. It features a new series of delicate ash paintings - intimate works made from ceramic ash and pigments. Their fragile, transient quality speaks to Ain's ongoing exploration of memory, loss, and family history, where each piece holds the quiet possibility of disintegration. More info here.
The Star
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Sabahan artist's epic Kaamatan-inspired folio transformed into children's book
A close-up view of Leong's 'Pesta Menuai' children's book, featuring text in Bahasa Malaysia, English, and Dusun. Photo: Rizo Leong In August 2023, Sabahan woodcut artist Rizo Leong exhibited an epic "art book" installation titled Tadau Kaamatan (harvest festival), which was showcased at the GoBlock: Senibuku group show in Kuala Lumpur. Printed on a long sheet of paper, Tadau Kaamatan, measuring 4.3m in length, celebrates the rice-growing journey – from ploughing and planting to harvest – honouring farmers' labour and the spirit of cooperation. In an art gallery space, it remains Leong's longest woodcut artwork. The 14-page book 'Pesta Menuai' covers the process of planting and harvesting paddy that is traditionally carried out by the entire community among the farming villages in Sabah. Photo: Rizo Leong Nearly two years later, the art folio has been reimagined as Pesta Menuai, Leong's first children's book – bringing Sabahan harvest festival art and celebrations to young readers through illustrations and storytelling. 'I turned it into a children's book because as a proud Sabahan, I want to keep our culture and traditions alive. What better way to preserve them than by teaching younger generations through stories?" says Leong. The book was released to coincide with this year's Kaamatan, the annual Kadazandusun harvest festival, and is available at the Arcane Literature and Kinderstories Hub booth at the 2025 Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair, held at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. Sabahan printmaker Rizo Leong (right) alongside Memeto Jeck, a fellow artist. Both of them are part of the Pangrok Sulap collective. Photo: Rizo Leong Leong, a founding member of the Pangrok Sulap art collective formed in Ranau, Sabah, hopes the book will reach both local and international audiences. Written in Bahasa Malaysia, English, and Dusun, the 14-page book also highlights the strong community spirit of Sabah's farming villages. 'I also wanted to write the book (in three languages) because as a culturally-diverse country, I feel it is very important to use as many languages as possible if we want to spread knowledge of our traditions for educational and illustrative purposes, especially in Sabah,' he adds. Pesta Menuai might be Leong's first children's book as a writer and illustrator, but he's no stranger to the genre, having illustrated the Alak series with writer Salhan K. Ahmad. Leong's 'Tadau Kaamatan' art book installation, measuring 4.3m long, was showcased at the 'GoBlock: Senibuku' exhibition at Cult Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, in August 2023. It has since been adapted into a children's book titled 'Pesta Menuai'. Photo: The Star/Filepic Leong sees Pesta Menuai as a book for all ages – a Sabahan story meant for everyone. 'I think readers of all ages can learn and appreciate the book's main message, which is the importance of retaining our customs and culture,' he concludes. Pesta Menuai, priced at RM15, is also available by mail (postal charges apply). In Kota Kinabalu, you can find it at the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) and Ruang Tamu Ekosistem at Alamesra. More info here.
