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'Legacy Alive' keeps the flame going for three late Malaysian creatives
Project Future Malaysia, a community arts initiative, presents Legacy Alive – a tribute showcase honouring three visionary Malaysian figures: novelist K.S. Maniam (1942–2020), musician and drummer Lewis Pragasam (1957–2023), and visual artist Nirmala Dutt (1941–2016).
Through this programme, Project Future Malaysia aims to inspire a new generation of artists by celebrating the enduring impact and creative legacies of these trailblazers.
The showcase, to be held at Five Arts Centre, GMBB in Kuala Lumpur on June 28, features original works by Melizarani T. Selva (literature and theatre), Blank Malaysia (visual art), and Stan Calvin (music), fostering intergenerational dialogue through contemporary expression.
Project Future Malaysia founder Kevin Bathman, who conceptualised the show, drew inspiration from his work with Australian arts NGO Diversity Arts Australia, where he worked on projects spotlighting culturally diverse artists.
'That experience made me reflect on how, in Malaysia, we often overlook our own creative figures until after they are gone. Even then, their names are rarely mentioned and their works quickly fade from public memory,' says Bathman.
'Over the years, other than Nirmala Dutt's retrospective exhibition at Ilham Gallery (in KL) in 2023, I have seen how easily these three artists' legacies have been forgotten, despite their significant and sometimes award-winning contributions to Malaysia's creative scene. This project is a way to honour their work and keep their stories alive,' he adds.
Last year, Maniam's posthumous novel The Cry , published by Maya Press, was finally released.
Bridging generations
In Legacy Alive , writer and performer Melizarani reinterprets Maniam's 1990 play, The Sandpit: Womensis , through a theatrical playlet.
'I was drawn to the women in Maniam's writing. This piece lets them speak to each other, and to us, across time. It is a chance to rescue themselves from what once seemed inevitable,' she says.
Maniam, best known for his novels The Return and In A Far Country , was also a founding member of the arts collective Five Arts Centre.
His The Sandpit: Womensis is considered a significant contribution to the Malaysian performing arts canon, alongside The Cord (1983) and The Skin Trilogy (1995).
Melizarani will reinterpret Maniam's 1990 play 'The Sandpit: Womensis' through a theatrical playlet.
Visual artist A.J. Roberts, better known as Blank Malaysia, will unveil a new installation inspired by Nirmala's ecological concerns.
'Nirmala challenged systems and aesthetics. I want to echo her urgency for environmental justice, but in the language of today's climate crisis,' says Blank Malaysia.
In music, Calvin continues the legacy of the immensely talented Pragasam, blending Carnatic drumming with contemporary bass lines.
'Lewis was a rhythm innovator. This piece is my way of keeping that pulse alive, by remixing heritage into something new,' says Calvin.
Digging deeper
Supported by the 2024 Hai-O Arts and Culture Grants, the project also received support from Cipta Seni Incubator, which provided mentorship and feedback to the artists during the development of their pieces.
The Cipta Seni Incubator is part of the British Council's 2023–24 'Connections Through Culture' initiative.
Bathman says that the involvement of the incubator programme really benefited the three artists.
'It gave them the space to experiment with new mediums and explore themes they may not have previously worked with. The feedback sessions allowed them to refine their ideas and push their work further.
'That kind of structured support is rare, and it made a real difference in shaping the direction and depth of their final pieces,' he says.
Blank Malaysia notes that the lessons gained from this project have laid a strong foundation for his continued research-based approach to art.
'The advice given by the team helped refine ideas and find new approaches that would be a better fit to convey the information needed in a research-based art project,' he says.
For Melizarani, the feedback and perspective from Cipta Seni Incubator founders Tom Curteis and Sharmilla Ganesan were valuable to her writing process.
'They were able to see how the playlet could live beyond being solely a tribute. Their feedback inspired me to consider the possibility of turning it into a full length play and flesh out the characters' even more,' she says.
Remembering local talents
Malaysia often fails to recognise its own talents until it is too late, says Bathman.
'Even after a veteran artist passes on, there is rarely a moment of collective reflection on the body of work they have contributed. We tend to look abroad for inspiration or chase the next big thing, without pausing to acknowledge the Malaysians who have spent decades working within local communities or highlighting issues that matter to Malaysians, he says.
Despite its modest beginnings in an experimental theatre space, the Legacy Alive showcase stands as a significant platform for sparking dialogue and encouraging reflection.
'I hope this project serves as a call to commemorate and spotlight our local talent. It is about appreciating the work that has already been done, often quietly and without much recognition, but with lasting impact,' he concludes.
Legacy Alive takes place at Five Arts Centre, GMBB, KL on June 28, 3pm-5.30pm. Free admission with RSVP (there are limited seats available). Open to ages 18 and above. The venue is wheelchair accessible; refreshments will be provided. Instagram: @projectfuturemalaysia.
