Latest news with #SokaGakkaiMalaysia
New Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: 'Space and dance' go on nationwide tour
LAST year, Odissi dance maestro Datuk Ramli Ibrahim and Sutra Foundation teamed up for the first time with acclaimed astrophysicist Tan Sri Dr Mazlan Othman for 'Meniti Cakerawala'. This out-of-the-ordinary dance showcase combined science and art, and was well received by Malaysians from all walks of life. STAR-STUDDED Staged at City Hall Auditorium in Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur from Dec 4 to 8, 'Meniti Cakerawala was a multimedia dance theatre production incorporating dance, film, art, music and poetry. This star-studded, 90-minute "edutainment" showcase also featured poets Muhammad Haji Salleh and Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, actors the late Mano Maniam and Chacko Vadaketh and artist Jalaini Abu Hassan, with original music by composer and arranger Dr Valerie Ross and a live performance by multi-instrumentalists Kamarul Baisah and Jayalakshmi Sekhar. HIT In a recent interview with NST, Mazlan who served as the main narrator said: "The show received the thumbs-up from many guests, they all loved it. "We did not expect it to be such a hit with arts lovers, and it was memorable for me as I danced and sang in space age costumes designed by Leslie Variyan." Mazlan added that the guests felt that she should "learn to dance better", but her narration was perfect. "My daughter said that I was stiff on stage when I danced, so a second time will make things better. "Our guests also suggested that the show visit other major cities around the country," said Mazlan. VOYAGE Fans of Mazlan and Ramli can once again catch 'Meniti Cakerawala' this year, beginning from July 18 as it is set to embark on its second season and "maiden voyage" around the country. The 8.30pm showcase will be staged at Taman Budaya Melaka on July 18, Ikeda Peace Auditorium of Soka International School Malaysia in Seremban on July 19, Kuala Lumpur City Hall from July 25 to 27, Permaisuri Zarith Sofia Opera House in Johor Bahru on Aug 2, Soka Gakkai Malaysia in Klang on Aug 9, Soka Gakkai Malaysia in Bayan Lepas, Penang on Aug 15, Kuching Lake Park Theatre on Aug 17, and the Culture Arts and Heritage Department in Kota Kinabalu on Sept 7. TIGHTER Ramli said: "It's going to be the same, only tighter, and we're retaining the great New Age music from the first season. "There won't be any new segments, and all the musicians will be back. "The only change is that there will be 7 new dancers, and the number of dancers will now be 12 instead of 15." EXHIBITION Ramli also said that there will be a new exhibition outside each venue, titled Cosmic Connections. This painting exhibition is presented by the Spektra Group. Ramli said: "Many of the guests were very impressed with Mazlan. They thought she was only going to be a narrator, and had glowing praise for her singing and dancing. "It was also her first time singing on big stage, and that duet we had, Tan Sri P. Ramlee's Malam Bulan was splendid." IMPRESSED Mazlan, who described the show as a "cosmic journey that is wholly Malaysian and surreal", learnt that dancing is never easy but "good to try". "I finally did it after five nights, and Ramli was so impressed," she said. "Rehearsals are now going on almost daily, and while I was a bit nervous before the first show, I've learnt to accept my limitations and will strive to do better, for it is always good to learn something new." BOUNDARIES Ramli said that while he and Mazlan (who is also a trustee of Ramli's Sutra Foundation) are "poles apart in work", they are like-minded in that they do not believe in "boundaries". "This show tells us that it is perfectly feasible to combine science and dance or the arts. "It is great to make science part of showbiz as it entertains and need not be fearsome or dry," he said. MESSAGE Mazlan said that fans of the show loved its catchy message "we are all made of star stuff", and praised Sutra's Dance Of Creation as metaphorically beautiful. "The message conveyed by 'Meniti Cakerawala' is deep, and brings lots of questions for us to ponder. It tells us that we have a lot to learn, that we are a speck in the universe and should learn to accept each other," she said. Ramli is optimistic that more Malaysians will attend 'Meniti Cakerawala' this time. "We had about 1,500 guests in the first season, and this time I'm sure there'll be more. "If all goes well, we might take 'Meniti Cakerawala' to Thailand and India at year's end." BRAINCHILD 'Meniti Cakerawala' is the brainchild of Mazlan, and encourages Malaysians to deepen their knowledge of astronomy and learn how the universe came into being. Ramli said: "In her work, Mazlan has always emphasised her strong belief in the notion that art and science are intimately and complementarily related. "Indeed, it will blast off audiences on a cosmic journey of the senses and may even answer their questions on the meaning of life." He added: "There are 10 dance pieces which are inspired by the movements of planets and astral bodies, as well as the creation of the universe.
Borneo Post
24-06-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Run for Peace returns to Sabah this September, promoting unity, sustainability and action
Lee (seated centre) with the organising committee of the Run for Peace. KOTA KINABALU (June 24): The biennial Run for Peace (RFP) will return to Sabah this September, calling on Malaysians from all backgrounds to unite in a powerful show of hope, sustainability and solidarity. First held in 2005 and organised by Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM), the non-competitive run has grown into a national grassroots movement promoting peace, social harmony and environmentally conscious living. It is endorsed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of National Unity. With this year's theme 'Peace Starts with Me – ActNOW for SDGs!', Run for Peace 2025 aims to amplify conversations around climate action and inclusivity, while encouraging people to embrace the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Sabah, the event will take place on September 7 at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Padang Kawad. According to Lee Pooh Ann, chairman of Soka Gakkai Malaysia, Sabah Branch, the run will cover a distance of 6.4 kilometres and is open to all participants aged between seven and 80. This year's edition brings with it a deeper commitment to sustainability. In line with efforts to reduce waste, participants are encouraged to reuse their t-shirts from the 2023 run. For those who require new shirts, SGM will provide options made from Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified materials. Breaking from tradition, the organisers have also opted not to issue medals this year, highlighting that the real reward lies in taking part and contributing to the cause. Additionally, participants are urged to bring reusable water bottles and eco-bags, while recycling stations will be made available at all event venues. But Run for Peace is more than just a race. Ahead of the event, SGM will also be hosting a series of community-driven initiatives including gotong-royong campaigns, peace exhibitions, blood donation drives, recycling workshops and SDG awareness programmes. These activities are designed to inspire reflection and action long before the starting whistle is blown. Since its inception, the event has attracted more than 400,000 participants nationwide. Its greatest strength, organisers say, lies in its inclusivity, bringing people together across race, religion and age to work toward a more peaceful and united Malaysia. Registration for Run for Peace 2025 is now open via the official website:
The Star
21-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Perak-born artist's Chinese ink paintings on display in Bayan Lepas till June 1
A COLLECTION of Chinese ink paintings by artist Hon Peow depicting local nature is on display at the Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) branch in Bayan Lepas, Penang. The exhibition, titled 'Depicting the Beauty of Nature' features dozens of masterpieces created by the 86-year-old artist using expressive brushstrokes and delicate ink dabs. While most are individual paintings, some come in a set. The works, displayed throughout the Buddhist organisation's building, highlight Hon Peow's deep connection to Malaysia's natural beauty. 'The ink paintings are a blend of natural landscapes, native flora and local culture. A 'guzheng' performance at the exhibition launch at the Soka Gakkai Malaysia branch in Bayan Lepas. 'I'm grateful to have the opportunity and platform to share my works with the public,' he said during the exhibition's launch by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, who praised Hon Peow's unique approach. 'Chinese ink paintings traditionally have simple zen strokes. 'There are a lot of details and originality in Hon Peow's intricate works,' said Sim. He also stressed the importance of making art accessible to all Malaysians, regardless of background. 'We need to continue to interact person to person, art to art. And I hope that there will be more interaction between different communities when it comes to art in Malaysia, to create a harmonious multiracial society,' said Sim. Hon Peow (right) showing the exhibition catalogue to Sim while curator Tan Chin Joo looks on. 'Penang is not just a centre for development of art and culture but also a democratic space to bring together multiracial diversity through the arts,' he added. Also present were SGM (Penang branch) chairman Low Siew Kee and Penang Chinese Brush Painting Art Society president Loh Kooi Loong. Born in Manong, Perak, in 1939, Hon Peow is a graduate of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Singapore), where he studied Western painting. Despite his broad foundation in both Eastern and Western styles, he chose to dedicate himself to the discipline of Chinese ink painting. A former art director at Hua Lian Private High School in Taiping, Perak, Hon Peow has spent decades nurturing young artists and promoting art education. The exhibition, which runs until June 1, is free and open to the public from 10am to 4pm daily.
The Star
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Weekend for the arts: 'Ethereal Echoes' exhibition, 'I Love Perak' film series
EXHIBITION: LAI LOONG SUNG'S 'ETHEREAL ECHOES' Venue: Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai Malaysia, Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL Date: ends June 8 Ethereal Echoes: Sketches And Recent Works, an evocative solo exhibition that traces the four-decade artistic journey of Selangor-born veteran artist Lai Loong Sung has taken over the Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) art gallery space. It offers the public a rare opportunity to engage with over 80 deeply reflective works — including manuscripts, oil paintings, and ink pieces — created by Lai between 1986 and 2024. Rooted in both philosophical insight and personal revelation, Ethereal Echoes draws inspiration from the ancient Chinese text Zhuangzi, where 'Tianlai' (Heavenly Sound) refers to the 'unspoken word' — the soundless sound that echoes from the universe and the depths of the human soul. As Lai shares, 'Ethereal Echoes is a melody from the heavens and a sound born within humanity.' This exhibition represents the culmination of Lai's ongoing reflections on the complexities of contemporary life — from war and environmental degradation to the impact of rapid technological advancement — woven together with intimate expressions of the inner self. The show is divided into three sections, each part of the exhibition invites viewers on a deeply contemplative journey. Free admission exhibition. Open: 11am-5pm. Closed on Mondays. More info here. DANCE: 'THE QUIET IS SO NOISY' Venue: Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC), Empire Damansara, Petaling Jaya Date: May 10 and 11 Need a break from the hustle and bustle? Presented by Kongsi Petak, this solo contemporary dance performance offers an alternative to the usual weekend rush — an invitation to experience sound and silence through movement. Created and performed by Gabriel Wong, an award-winning dancer based in Sabah and Paris, The Quiet Is So Noisy is solo performance that merges physical poetry with emotional depth. Drawing on the language of contemporary dance — the work delves into the emotional contradictions of silence: its capacity to soothe or suffocate, to heal or estrange. Through intricate choreography and raw, embodied movement, Wong navigates themes of mental health, loneliness, and resilience, offering a visceral exploration of what it means to be alone with one's thoughts in an increasingly noisy world. More info here. FILM SCREENING: 'PERAK I LOVE YOU' Venue: Centre For Film's Research & Appreciation, Alam Budiman, Shah Alam Date: May 10, 8.15pm Tonight, the Wayang Budiman series is hosting "Perak I Love You", a special screening featuring two short documentaries highlighting the unique charms of the Malaysian state of Perak. Uthaya Sankar SB's 2025 film Kenangan Di Lorong B is a heartfelt love letter to Taiping, the town he grew up in, while Ansell Tan's The Forgotten Railway Of Kinta Valley (2024) explores the overlooked history of the Ipoh–Tronoh railway branch — once the vital artery of the Kinta Valley's booming tin mining era. The screenings will be followed by a sharing session with the documentary directors and a Q&A session, moderated by Amir Muhammad. Established in 2014, the Centre For Film's Research & Appreciation serves as a dedicated community space for the study, preservation, and appreciation of cinema. More info here. Esther Geh's 'The Peranakan Kitchen: The Kamcheng (watercolour on paper, 2022), which is part of the group exhibition at Harta Space. Photo: Artemis Art EXHIBITION: 'MORE MEN (AND A WOMAN) WITH PLANTS' Venue: Harta Space, Ampang, Selangor Date: ends May 30 Continuing its ongoing collaboration with Harta Space, Artemis Art presents More Men (And A Woman) With Plants, the latest iteration of a thoughtfully evolving exhibition series by Penang-based artists who draw inspiration from, and pay homage to, one of nature's most enduring yet often overlooked presences: plants. Featuring works by Ch'ng Kiah Kiean, Cheah Meng Kwok, Esther Geh, Fuan Wong (also the series co-founder), Howard Tan, IMMJN, and Thomas Howell, the exhibition goes beyond the conventions of botanical art. Here, plants are not merely subjects of study, but vessels of memory, emotion, and time — rendered in a range of mediums from ink and photography to glass and mixed media. Each work offers a distinct lens into the ways flora can reflect inner states, cultural imprints, and our ever-evolving relationship with the natural world. This also marks the third instalment of the Men In Plants exhibition series, following earlier editions in George Town. Keep an eye out for workshops and artist-led tours happening throughout the exhibition period. More info here. A view of Tan Zi Hao's installation series 'You Again' (steel and stainless steel, 2022) at the group A 'Colloquy' exhibition. Photo: Wei-Ling Gallery EXHIBITION: 'A COLLOQUY' Venue: Wei-Ling Gallery Kuala Lumpur Date: ends May 17 Wei-Ling Gallery is showing A Colloquy, a group exhibition featuring eight contemporary artists whose practices investigate the complexities of language and typography as forms of expression. Among the highlights are the Malaysian debuts of Kameelah Janan Rasheed (United States) and Cian Dayrit (Philippines), both internationally recognised for their critical engagement with text-based art. On view through May 17, the exhibition spans the entire gallery space in Brickfields and includes works by Choy Chun Wei, H. H. Lim, Ivan Lam, Marcos Kueh, Tan Zi Hao, and Yin Yin Wong (Netherlands). By employing diverse approaches - ranging from installation and painting to print and mixed media - the artists examine typography not merely as a vehicle for clarity, but as a mutable, expressive medium shaped by cultural and technological shifts. More info here. A view of 'The Plantation Plot' group exhibition at Ilham Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Ilham Gallery EXHIBITION: 'THE PLANTATION PLOT' Venue: Ilham Gallery, Kuala Lumpur Date: ends Sept 21 The Plantation Plot is an art exhibition featuring the work of 28 artists from South-East Asia and the Americas, showing how plantations shaped the world we live in today. The exhibition, curated by Lim Sheau Yun, looks at plantations, which were big farms that grew just one kind of crop, like sugar or rubber, to sell across the globe. These farms were part of European empires that grew wealthy by using people's labour to harvest crops. The exhibition takes inspiration from Jamaican writer Sylvia Wynter, who thought of plantations not just as places, but also as stories about power and control. Plantations needed a lot of workers, many of whom were forced to travel far from their homes. For example, workers from India and Sri Lanka were sent to harvest tea, while people from the Amazon were made to collect rubber on land they already owned. Many of these workers were treated as less important than the crops they were forced to grow, and their lives were changed forever. This exhibition is a collaboration between Ilham Gallery and Kadist, a global non-profit arts organisation. This weekend, Filipino multimedia artist Cian Dayrit will be speaking about his art practice and its intersections with activism, colonial histories, and critical geography in an artist talk (May 10 at 3pm), followed by a hands-on cartographic workshop (May 11 at 2pm), both held at the gallery. More info here.
