Kuala Lumpur Metblogs » Art

The Indepedence Project at Galeri Petronas

Hafiz Noor Shams — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:23:07 +0000

I’ve been to Galeri Petronas several times now and I really like it. It is many times better than the disappointing Muzium Negara. The current exhibition at the gallery is especially not something to be missed. Really. The Independence Project, as the exhibition is known as, explores how a number of artists from Malaysia and Australia define the idea of independence.

The exhibition does not consist merely of framed papers with colors on it. There are collages that play tricks on the eyes as well as paintings that force one to think of the story behind it. Otherwise, the paintings would look like a meaningless arrangement of brush strokes. One really has to look beyond the obvious to understand the theme of an artist’s product.

My favorite is a slideshow that traces the history of this country with slight hint of irreverence. The irreverence is especially hilarious when it is associated with past leaders of this country. For instance, in the famed black-and-white photograph that has Tunku Abdul Rahman raising his hand in the middle of Merdeka Stadium to announce to the world of Malayan independence, an unfamiliar colored dude is sitting right beside one of the sultans. Another is a black-and-white photo of Tunku Abdul Rahman inspecting pieces marble and bronze after Tugu Negara was blown apart by communist forces. The same colored dude meanwhile is sweeping debris from the explosion off the floor. Though I can’t remember any other example, I do remember that I laughed incessantly due to the comedic value of the slideshow. That particular artist is a pure genious.

The exhibition has been going on since December and will end in February. Do check it out, especially the slideshow.

If you aren’t a fan of contemporary art, there is a smaller gallery inside Galeri Petronas that is carrying beautiful photographs of Alhambra and its surrounding. But hey, those photos could be savored over the internet, unlike The Independence Project.

Muzium Negara is unimpressive

Hafiz Noor Shams — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 13:15:36 +0000

Muzium Negara sucks.

End Of Message.

Little fish, befriend me!

kl_syuhada — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:46:16 +0000

This is a painting I did. It is a scene at Taman Tasik Perdana, at 8:30am last weekend.

View image

777X: Asia’s First Digital Art Gallery is in Kuala Lumpur

kl_sharizal — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 01:21:50 +0000

As part of the KL Festival friends at galleriiizu will create history with the launching of Asia’s first digital arts gallery and also Malaysia’s first digital arts award!

The significance of 777X:

1. 07.07.07 marks the launching day of Galleriiizu’s new Digital Art Gallery at Central Market Annexe.This is the first 100% dedicated Digital Art Gallery in Asia.
2. 07.07.07 is also celebrating the launch of 7 Bintang Digital Art Award. The first of its kind in Malaysia.
3. 777is the date to commemorate the birth of a new era.

The New Digital Genre Revolution!

So do come, be a part of history and join in for the party after!

Programme

* Official starting time of the ceremony: 7 pm
* Short Introduction of Digital Art in general
* Short Foreword Notes from Malaysian Art Council Member (KeKKWA)
* Official Launch of a “777X” Digital Art exhibition with stars from Malaysia, Italy, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand!
* Official Launch of “7 Bintang Digital Art Award” Call for entry! An Digital Art Award Programme
* Digital Arty Party

When and Where?

Date:
7th July 2007

Time:
7pm sharp!

Venue:
Galleriiizu Digital Art Gallery
Ground Floor, Central Market Annexe
Jalan Hang Kasturi
Kuala Lumpur

See you there!

Percussion + Drums @ Bau Bau Cafe

kl_jed — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 08:08:44 +0000

Hisham smoking a ciggie at his cafe.

Tonite 9PM (SAT – Jun 23, 2007) BAU BAU CAFE, Mezzanine Floor, Central Market Annexe, Jalan Hang Kasturi, 50050 Kuala Lumpur.

Prominent political activist, writer, filmmaker Hishamuddin Rais’ has a newish cafe in the revamped artsy fartsy Central Market Annexe. Tonite, there will be some music. A hip hangout with some good music and soothing teh serai. :)

For a review in The Star, go here.

Stand Up Comedy

kl_plonk — Thu, 03 May 2007 09:53:50 +0000

Edgy Malay Comedy. That was what was promised by a friend at the Open Mike night in Bojangles last night.

Bojangles, one of the rare few pubs across Kuala Lumpur, actually has an open mike night for amateurs to peddle their music or jokes or whatever. It was a combination of music, jokes and whatever that was centrestage and under the stage lights.

10 am and a couple of smart-alecks take to the stage and tried to be funny. It was a struggle and they almost gave up as they introduced the main act, a beefy dude called Zak, who in turn encouraged them in their sideshow.

Well their singing – a parody of Hotel California that referred to a seedy redlight district in Kuala Lumpur – had us in tears. The Chivas Regal whisky helped a bit and then Zak took to the stage and ratlled off some jokes.

As they say in Malaysia, okay-lah! He has some talent that needed some polishing. Maybe a few more jokes to the repertoire and better sideshows. His most memorable joke was a riddle – What do you call bees that can provide milk? Answer – Boobees!

Groan!

Anyway, Bojangles is at Jalan 22A/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur.

Where are the sculptures in KL?

Hafiz Noor Shams — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 09:58:56 +0000

I feel that there aren’t enough sculptures in Kuala Lumpur. So few there are that I think I could count them. I am in the opinion that even the little cozy town called Ann Arbor has more sculptures than Kuala Lumpur, including the Klang Valley. That is sad.

The most well known of all sculptures in Kuala Lumpur, probably in the whole country, is the Tugu Negara, a monument dedicated to those that fell for the country.

The monument was blown apart by the communists in 1975. Fortunately for many of us, it was restored to its original state and now, it is still standing proudly on top of a hill.

At the foot of the hill, there are more sculptures, one each from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines, in celebration of Asean. Sadly though, the state of the sculptures aren’t something anybody should be proud of. The marble that made up one of the sculptures is no longer white, the wood that formed a piece of art no longer exists. It is a high time for preservation effort if you ask me.

Not far from the Tugu Negara, there is an odd sculpture erected in celebration of some flower festival.

Unfortunately, it looks like it was made out of some cheap plastic.

In the middle of the city, right in the de facto business district of Kuala Lumpur, stands a decent steel sculpture amid a small pool.

It is quite hard to notice the sculpture because it actually inside a building right by Jalan Raja Chulan. The building stands in between Menara Boustead and MAS Building.

Somewhere farther from the business distinct, a set of steel sculptures could be found under the shadow of the, as some locals would call it, the tallest twin towers in the world. The theme seems to touch something about whales. I am not sure why whales.

At the Merdeka Square, there is one huge “thing” which I am not sure if it is art at all though.

Apart from those mentioned, I cannot think where else I could find sculptures for public consumption. Could you?

If you could, share it!

Oh yeah. I almost forgot. That big ass eagle at Langkawi. Wait. Langkawi isn’t part of KL…