In post-colonial Southeast Asia, the constraint of politically-engaged artworks is not uncommon. One can see the spatial and temporal struggles through telling cases from the region: last July, Seven Decades was a retrospective of political prisoners’ narratives in and out of Myanmar that was aptly shown at the Pyinsa Rasa Art Space in the Secretariat […]
Mirrored Interrogations Read More »
A critically acclaimed documentary about a member of Vietnam’s trans community will finally see an official premiere in Vietnam next month. Finding Phong, or Di Tim Phong in Vietnamese, tells the story of the titular character, a trans woman named Le Anh Phong who documented the journey from when she decided to undergo sex reassignment surgery to
Vietnam’s Award-Winning Documentary About a Trans Woman (via Saigoneer) Read More »
In the performance room of Penang House of Music, a museum dedicated to the musical history of this Unesco-listed Malaysian island, a crowd claps excitedly. They are cheering the group of young performers who get up from behind the stage, fatigued and sweaty, holding colourful puppets high above their heads. Their performance tells the story
Ombak Potehi: the Malaysian group reviving traditional Hokkien puppetry (via SEA Globe) Read More »
IF WALLS COULD TALK vol.55, at The Gaslight Cafe, 8 Nov, 8pm The ever-popular Walls returns with its open mic for spoken word, and featured acts. This chapter features fresh indie band Senja, and writer Zedeck Siew with artist Sharon Chin, who have recently published an illustrated book, Creatures of Near Kingdoms. Cover charge
Weekly Picks: Malaysia (5– 11 Nov 2018) Read More »
Bras Basah.Bugis Art Sprawl, Handy Road Open Space, outside The Cathay, 9 – 10 November The Bras Basah.Bugis Arts Sprawl is a two-day event that offers an eclectic line-up of arts and heritage offerings for visitors young and old, held along Handy Road Open Space outside The Cathay. ‘Art sprawlers’ can indulge in some “me
Weekly Picks: Singapore (5 – 11 November 2018) Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Bandung, Jakarta, Solo, and Semarang from 5 – 11 November 2018 If you’re in Bandung, come and attend the last day of [NOT] ARTOFFICIAL – OUT OF TRACK, an art exhibition on Ikebana. This exhibition is a collaboration between Indonesian, Japanese, and Vietnamese artists, this exhibition aims to
Weekly Picks: Indonesia (5 – 11 November 2018) Read More »
At first encounter, it’s a terrifying word. The first time I came across the title I was still at school, and had just become angrily aware of the existence of Ben Power, a person who somehow had my ideal job. Now the first ever deputy artistic director at the National Theatre, at that point he
Dramaturgy Under Capitalism (via Exeunt) Read More »
Despite the flash of contemporary retail – some garish, some tasteful – Yangon’s old-world charms prevail. Today, walking past the crumbling moss-covered walls that advertise the pleasures of late 20th century globalisation – unlimited wireless connectivity – are slipper-wearing, lungi-wrapped, betel-nut chewing millennials generating unlimited images in a city that only a decade ago still
“8888 Uprising”: Thirty Years Later Read More »
The 26th ENCATC Congress on Cultural Management and Policy on “Beyond EYCH2018. What is the cultural horizon? Opening up perspectives to face ongoing transformations” concluded recently in Bucharest, Romania and looked to cultural priorities in Europe beyond EYCH or the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018. ENCATC is the European network on cultural management and policy. Maria Sharon Mapa Arriola tells us
Southernmost: One Table Two Chairs Project 2018 by Emergency Stairs, Centre 42, 3 – 10 Nov Catch Southernmost: One Table Two Chairs Project 2018 from 3 to 11 Nov 2018 at Centre 42 – an arts festival for the future presented by experimental theatre company Emergency Stairs. Immerse yourself in a week of artistic experimentation and dialogue across art forms, cultures,
Weekly Picks: Singapore (29 October – 4 November 2018) Read More »
Man Bai, at No Black Tie, 30 Oct, 9pm The award-winning singer songwriter Man Bai is best known for his hit single and karaoke staple, Kau Ilhamku. He also has three solo albums. Man Bai will be doing a one night performance in NBT with a special guest appearance by ‘Malaysian Godfather of Rock’ Rahim
Weekly Picks: Malaysia (29 Oct – 4 Nov 2018) Read More »
A quick squeeze of a breast and the motorbike-riding groper was already vanishing into the Mandalay traffic. Ma Chuu Wai Nyein barely saw it happen. It would have been easy to forget and not make a scene, as usual, and perhaps that’s what she would have done if she were the victim. But the groper
Staring down the male gaze: Chuu Wai Nyein (via Frontier Myanmar) Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Bali and Jakarta from 28 October – 4 November 2018 Sponsored by UNESCO, Borobudur Under the Full Moon is a photography exhibition by Caroline and Hughes Dubois. This exhibition showcases the first photos of Borobudur’s reliefs taken under the moonlight in their actual size. To capture the
Weekly Picks: Indonesia (28 October – 4 November 2018) Read More »
As part of ArtsEquator’s series of interviews profiling festival directors in Southeast Asia, we get to learn more about Maria Darmaningsih, co-founder and current artistic director of the bi-annual Indonesian Dance Festival (IDF), which was launched in 1992. Its 14th edition this year runs from 6 – 10 November 2018 with pre-event programmes taking place before
On the Indonesian Dance Festival with Maria Darmaningsih Read More »
How do Aceh and Japan, two places that seem unrelated, separated by a vast distance of land and sea, connect on the personal and historical level? For one, they both have been hit by a tsunami — Aceh in the massive tragedy that struck many parts of Southeast Asia in 2004 and Japan in 2011.
Some Southeast Asian picks from the Busan International Film Festival (via Bangkok Post) Read More »
The 11th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival 2018, at Publika, 22–28 Oct This annual environmental film festival has been here since 2008, and grown over the years in breadth. It tackles a whole host of critical environmental issues, including wildlife protection, pollution, indigenous rights, sustainability and more. This year, KLEFF offers more than 99
Weekly Picks: Malaysia (22–28 October 2018) Read More »
Starting from November, filmmakers will need to carefully deliberate their decision to include smoking in their works or risk the ire of the culture ministry. As Tuoi Tre reports, from November 15 this year, Circular 25 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on smoking in theatrical works will officially take effect, tightening the ministry’s control
Vietnam to Ban Gratuitous Smoking in Movies, Stage Productions (via Saigoneer) Read More »
ETHNI-CITY III – Kali Yuga by SAtheCollective, LASALLE College of the Arts, Flexible Performance Space, 26 – 27 October Kali Yuga is the latest installment of ETHNI-CITY, and it’s slated to be held this October. It’s name is inspired by Sanskrit scripture and the Mahabharata. The multidisciplinary work is designed with the hope of raising awareness to
Weekly Picks: Singapore (22 – 28 October 2018) Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Jakarta and Bali from 22-27 October 2018 Don Quixote is a work that continues to be talked about and interpreted since it was first written in 1615. Indonesian writer Goenawan Mohamad also wrote a poetry book based on Don Quixote. On Wednesday and Thursday, these poems will be
Weekly Picks: Indonesia (22 – 27 October 2018) Read More »
With Malaysia Day just around the corner, there is a lot of conversation happening about East Malaysia. But why do Sabah and Sarawak mostly come to our minds only when it is time to celebrate Malaysia Day? The arts and culture industries, too, are not exempt from being problematic with issues like inclusion and representation
[Podcast] Arts Apart: Where Are Sabah and Sarawak in the Malaysian Arts? (via BFM) Read More »
Because it’s Fun by The Fool Theatre 愚者剧场, Drama Centre Black Box, 12 – 21 October The inaugural production for The Fool Theatre, Because it’s Fun shows how bullying is omnipresent in our society and how it affects our mental well-being. Don’t miss this mind-blowing new play by playwright Tung Ka Wai and artistic director Xavier Kang, founders
Weekly Picks: Singapore (15 – 21 September 2018) Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Bali, Yogyakarta, and Jakarta from 15-21 October 2018 The first edition of Art Bali is here from the 9th of October to the 9th of November. Held as a parallel event to the 2018 IMF-WBG Annual Meeting, Art Bali showcases the best artworks from balinese artists, and artists
Weekly Picks: Indonesia (15 – 21 October 2018) Read More »
No Black Tie Ivory Series presents ‘To The Moon’, at No Black Tie, 15–16 Oct, 8pm Part of No Black Tie’s 20th anniversary celebrations, To The Moon draws inspiration from the likes of Jean-Philippe Rameau, Louis Couperin, Ludwig van Beethoven, Henry Purcell, and Gluck. It’s okay if you don’t know all the names, all you
Weekly Picks: Malaysia (15–21 October 2018) Read More »
As told to Akanksha Raja In the latest instalment in our series covering independent art spaces in Southeast Asia, ArtsEquator.com spoke with artist Seelan Palay to learn about his practice, his inspirations, and his journey setting up the independent alternative art space Coda Culture, at 803 King George’s Avenue in Singapore. Here’s what he shared
Coda Culture: A Space for Freedom Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Yogyakarta, Bandung, Jakarta, and other cities in Indonesia from 8-14 October 2018 The sixth edition of German Cinema returns this year, bringing selected exciting and funny german films to cinemas in Jakarta, Bandung,Denpasar, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, and Makassar from 4-21 October 2018. The films selected have successfully toured in the
Weekly Picks: Indonesia (8-14 October 2018) Read More »
Cerpan-Cerpen: New Works, at OUR ArtProjects, 11 Oct – 3 Nov. Jalaini Abu Hassan, better known as Jai, needs little introduction in Malaysia’s visual arts scene. This solo exhibition by Jai has a loosely-interconnected series featuring mundane scenes of life in KL and Taiping. A reflection of belonging, homeland, and the past through an intimate
Weekly Picks: Malaysia (8–14 October 2018) Read More »
This article is the third in a series of essays by students from the Singapore Management University Arts and Culture Management programme. The arts has always been a significant and cherished part of my life. Whenever I can, I watch theatre productions and concerts; they broaden my perspective by enabling me to view the world
SMU Series: More Than Just Managers, Enabling the Arts Read More »
The four storey yellow painted building with big masonry work of books in black and white pages for its motif loomed high at the corner of Merchant Road and 37th street. Its architecture stands out from other commercial buildings in its environs. It is known as Sarpay Beikman Building or BTS (Burma Translation Society) Building,
Yangon’s well loved Palace of Literature (via The Myanmar Times) Read More »
The walls of nor’s exhibition, ‘In Love’, are painted millennial pink. Photographs are displayed on the walls, salon-style, in an assortment of frames donated by the artist’s friends. Fairy lights line the ceiling. A sizeable bed sits in the middle of the humble room. Located on the second floor of a housing block, Lea’s exhibition
nor Reclaims the Transgender Experience from Mainstream Media (via Frieze) Read More »
The directorial debut from Nguyen Phuong Anh, also known as Ash Mayfair, won the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) award at last week’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The Third Wife tells the story of a 14-year-old girl in northern Vietnam who becomes the third wife of a wealthy 19th-century landowner and must learn the
Vietnamese director’s debut feature The Third Wife wins award at Toronto Film Festival Read More »
