Merata Suara is an exhibition showcasing 5 commissioned artworks. What began as a simple offer to represent marginalised voices gradually evolved into a productive disorientation: our location partners became central to the creative process, leading the discourse as our artists assumed the role of platform providers. This rich and humbling 6-month exercise compelled us to question many of our political assumptions, leading to a synergy where collaborators became friends.
The 4 installations and 1 performance in Merata Suara present conversations expressed in visual and spatial form. Each work represents a blending of artist and location partner standpoints, levelling the discursive field (“merata”). We hope to offer art that extends merely aesthetics considerations towards a collaborative micro politics that unsettles taken for granted binaries of power and powerlessness and the center-periphery divide.
This exhibition is brought to you by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
LAUNCH: 10TH FEBRUARY
2pm: Light snacks and refreshments provided.
3pm: Freestyle rap & gallery tour by Edry Faizal.
4pm: Artist Panel on “Decentering Art and Advocacy“.
“Decentering Art and Advocacy”
Merata Suara members Suzy Sulaiman, Okui Lala, Eleanor Goroh, Yana Rizal , Poodien Free Spirit and Victoria Cheng reflect on where the languages of art and advocacy meet and diverge and how the two worlds can engage one another more productively. Among other things, they also share the lessons learnt from their 6 month excursion and how to critically rethink notions of participatory art, when ‘power’ is at stake. Moderated by Ahmad Fuad Rahmat.
WORKS ON SHOW:
– Lydia takes Poodien through the political dynamics of Orang Asal heritage and territory in Kampung Gebok Mantin.
– Yana Rizal reflects on the forgotten history of the Communist insurgency with former guerrillas in Ipoh.
– Eleanor Goroh takes up a short residency in Kuala Lumpur.
– Victoria Cheng learns about the world of Silat from the legendary Kak Ji in Gurun Kedah.
– The Serantau Community and Okui Lala present the intersections of activism and lived experience as domestic migrant workers.
More forums, talks and performances will be scheduled to explore the show’s discourse. Watch this space!
EVENTS SCHEDULED:
* Sun 11th February
FORUM: “East Malaysia Talks!”
11 am – 1pm
What do we think about when we think about East Malaysia? How do we picture their lived realities, their aspirations, their disappointments? Are we doing enough in listening to them and letting them speak, or are we doing it for the quotas of inclusivity and diversity?
Join us for a discussion on the divide between East and West Malaysia, the gaping holes in the retelling of histories, and the problem of who gets to do the talking about all of this. This panel will feature voices from Sabah and Sarawak, and stories that come from the art world, the academic world, and their personal experiences.
Panelists: Jesse Joy, Eleanor Goroh, Sonia Luhong Wan & Dr Welyne Jeffrey Jehom. Moderator: Suzy Sulaiman
WORKSHOP: Beading basics with Eleanor Goroh
3 pm – 5 pm
Come join us for an intimate and meaningful moment with Eleanor Goroh at her beading workshop! Learn to make your own bead bracelets from roots, seeds, glass, wood, or bone, and try your hand at rolling fabric beads! Please whatsapp your details to confirm your place as seats are limited. RM10 per project.
REGISTER HERE: https://www.facebook.com/events/327008141124284/
*Wed 14th Feb
8 pm – 10 pm
LECTURE: “Archival Turns/ Transnational Returns” by Erika Tan
Erika Tan shares a series of artworks, which arise out of invitations to work in museum collections in the UK and Singapore. A body of work called “Repatriating the Object With No Shadow” engages with colonial collections in the UK from Southeast Asia to a current project called “The ‘Forgotten’ Weaver” in which the figure of a little-known weaver from Johor (Halimah binti Abdullah) becomes central to looking at the legacy of the colonial exhibition histories.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2067010040185976/
* Wed 28th Feb:
8pm – 10 pm
PERFORMANCE LECTURE: “Malay Performing Arts and the Body Politic” by Lawrence Ross
In this performance lecture, ethnomusicologist Lawrence Ross discusses the historical and social dimensions of Silat drumming, namely to demonstrate how a musical component of a traditional martial art speaks and responds to the broader political context in which it was performed. What tune, one may ask, does Malay heritage politics dance to? And what might this in turn say about how the Malay traditional arts relate to the national agenda?
Lawrence Ross is a senior lecturer at the Academy of Malay Studies in Universiti Malaya.
* March 3rd
11 am – 1pm
FORUM A World to Win: Conversations with History
We have coffee with comrades Jane Chin Leong, Kwei Ling and Lean Thai, Communists and ex-guerillas who took up arms in the conviction that a better world is possible. Accompanied by Yana Rizal, we reflect on their journeys and lessons learned along the way and their experience with Merata Suara. Moderated by Ahmad Fuad Rahmat.
Merata Suara is an exhibition showcasing 5 commissioned artworks. What began as a simple offer to represent marginalised voices gradually evolved into a productive disorientation: our location partners became central to the creative process, leading the discourse as our artists assumed the role of platform providers. This rich and humbling 6-month exercise compelled us to question many of our political assumptions, leading to a synergy where collaborators became friends.
The 4 installations and 1 performance in Merata Suara present conversations expressed in visual and spatial form. Each work represents a blending of artist and location partner standpoints, levelling the discursive field (“merata”). We hope to offer art that extends merely aesthetics considerations towards a collaborative micro politics that unsettles taken for granted binaries of power and powerlessness and the center-periphery divide.
This exhibition is brought to you by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
LAUNCH: 10TH FEBRUARY
2pm: Light snacks and refreshments provided.
3pm: Freestyle rap & gallery tour by Edry Faizal.
4pm: Artist Panel on “Decentering Art and Advocacy”.
“Decentering Art and Advocacy”
Merata Suara members Suzy Sulaiman, Okui Lala, Eleanor Goroh, Yana Rizal , Poodien Free Spirit and Victoria Cheng reflect on where the languages of art and advocacy meet and diverge and how the two worlds can engage one another more productively. Among other things, they also share the lessons learnt from their 6 month excursion and how to critically rethink notions of participatory art, when ‘power’ is at stake. Moderated by Ahmad Fuad Rahmat.
WORKS ON SHOW:
– Lydia takes Poodien through the political dynamics of Orang Asal heritage and territory in Kampung Gebok Mantin.
– Yana Rizal reflects on the forgotten history of the Communist insurgency with former guerrillas in Ipoh.
– Eleanor Goroh takes up a short residency in Kuala Lumpur.
– Victoria Cheng learns about the world of Silat from the legendary Kak Ji in Gurun Kedah.
– The Serantau Community and Okui Lala present the intersections of activism and lived experience as domestic migrant workers.
More forums, talks and performances will be scheduled to explore the show’s discourse. Watch this space!
EVENTS SCHEDULED:
* Sun 11th February
FORUM: “East Malaysia Talks!”
11 am – 1pm
What do we think about when we think about East Malaysia? How do we picture their lived realities, their aspirations, their disappointments? Are we doing enough in listening to them and letting them speak, or are we doing it for the quotas of inclusivity and diversity?
Join us for a discussion on the divide between East and West Malaysia, the gaping holes in the retelling of histories, and the problem of who gets to do the talking about all of this. This panel will feature voices from Sabah and Sarawak, and stories that come from the art world, the academic world, and their personal experiences.
Panelists: Jesse Joy, Eleanor Goroh, Sonia Luhong Wan & Dr Welyne Jeffrey Jehom. Moderator: Suzy Sulaiman
WORKSHOP: Beading basics with Eleanor Goroh
3 pm – 5 pm
Come join us for an intimate and meaningful moment with Eleanor Goroh at her beading workshop! Learn to make your own bead bracelets from roots, seeds, glass, wood, or bone, and try your hand at rolling fabric beads! Please whatsapp your details to confirm your place as seats are limited. RM10 per project.
REGISTER HERE: https://www.facebook.com/events/327008141124284/
*Wed 14th Feb
8 pm – 10 pm
LECTURE: “Archival Turns/ Transnational Returns” by Erika Tan
Erika Tan shares a series of artworks, which arise out of invitations to work in museum collections in the UK and Singapore. A body of work called “Repatriating the Object With No Shadow” engages with colonial collections in the UK from Southeast Asia to a current project called “The ‘Forgotten’ Weaver” in which the figure of a little-known weaver from Johor (Halimah binti Abdullah) becomes central to looking at the legacy of the colonial exhibition histories.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2067010040185976/
* Wed 28th Feb:
8pm – 10 pm
PERFORMANCE LECTURE: “Malay Performing Arts and the Body Politic” by Lawrence Ross
In this performance lecture, ethnomusicologist Lawrence Ross discusses the historical and social dimensions of Silat drumming, namely to demonstrate how a musical component of a traditional martial art speaks and responds to the broader political context in which it was performed. What tune, one may ask, does Malay heritage politics dance to? And what might this in turn say about how the Malay traditional arts relate to the national agenda?
Lawrence Ross is a senior lecturer at the Academy of Malay Studies in Universiti Malaya.
* March 3rd
11 am – 1pm
FORUM A World to Win: Conversations with History
We have coffee with comrades Jane Chin Leong, Kwei Ling and Lean Thai, Communists and ex-guerillas who took up arms in the conviction that a better world is possible. Accompanied by Yana Rizal, we reflect on their journeys and lessons learned along the way and their experience with Merata Suara. Moderated by Ahmad Fuad Rahmat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Merata Suara mempamerkan 5 tugasan seni. Ia bermula dengan niat untuk mewakili kehidupan-kehidupan dan suara-suara terpinggir tetapi beransur untuk menghasilkan satu disorientasi yang produktif: teman lokasi kami langsung memimpin wacana dan proses kreatif tersebut, sementara pihak artis memainkan peranan menyediakan pentas untuk luahan mereka. Proses yang amat kaya dengan pengalaman ini membawa kami untuk menyoal segala tanggapan budaya dan politik yang kami ada secara kritis, melalui suatu kerjasama di mana apa yang bermula sebagai hubungan di antara kolaborator menjadi persahabatan.
4 instalasi dan 1 persembahan di Merata Suara memaparkan perbualan-perbualan yang berbentuk ruang dan gambaran. Setiap karya mewakili suatu pertemuan di antara sudut pandang artis dan teman lokasi, meratakan ruang perbualan. Kami berharap untuk membuahkan seni yang menjangkaui penialaian estetika semata-mata kearah politik yang mikro yang menggelisahkan binari perpecahan dinamik kuasa dan suara pinggiran yang jarang disoal.
Pameran ini ditaja oleh the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
PELANCARAN: 10 Februari 2018
2pm: Makanan dan minuman ringan disediakan.
3pm: Jelajah rap gaya bebas dan pengiringan galeri oleh Edry Faizal.
4pm: Panel Artis “Seni Terpinggir dan Advokasi”
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Panel Artis: Seni Terpinggir dan Advokasi
Individu Merata Suara, Suzy Sulaiman, Okui Lala, Poodien, Yana Rizal, Eleanor Goroh, dan Victoria Cheng menyingkap titik pertemuan dan perbezaan antara bahasa dan seni dan bagaimana ia berinteraksi dengan lebih produktif. Di samping itu juga, mereka akan berkongsi pengalaman ekspedisi mereka selama 6 bulan dan bagaimana untuk berfikir dengan lebih kritikal berkenaan seni penyertaan ini, apabila ‘kuasa’ menjadi taruhan. Forum akan dikendalikan oleh Ahmad Fuad Rahmat.
Hasil seni yang dipamerkan:
-Lydia membawa Poodien menjelajahi dinamika politik warisan dan wilayah Orang Asal di Kampung Gebok, Mantin.
-Yana Rizal menyingkap kembali sejarah pemberontakan Komunis dengan bekas ahli gerila di Ipoh.
-Eleanor Goroh menyertai residen seni sementara di Kuala Lumpur.
-Victoria Cheng mempelajari dunia persilatan dari sorang lagenda Silat, Kak Ji, dari Gurun Kedah.
-Komuniti Serantau dan Okui Lala membawa titik persilangan aktivism dengan pengalaman hidup sebagai pekerja asing tempatan.
Nantikan lebih banyak forum dan persembahan dari kami yang akan membantu anda terokai makna sebenar pameran ini!
AKTIVITI
* Ahad 11 February
11 am – 1 pm
FORUM: “Borneo berhujah!”
Apa yang terlintas di fikiran kita ketika kita berfikir tentang Malaysia Timur? Bagaimana kita gambarkan realiti hidup mereka, aspirasi mereka, kekecewaan mereka? Adakah kita benar-benar cukup mendengar dan memberi mereka sepenuh kebebasan untuk bersuara? Atau kita hanya lakukan sekadar memenuhi kuota keterangkuman dan kepelbagaian?
Sertai kami untuk perbincangan tentang perpecahan antara Malaysia Timur dan Barat, jurang yang besar dalam penceritaan sejarah semula, dan isu berkenaan siapa yang seharusnya melakukan perbincangan tentang semua ini. Panel ini akan menampilkan suara dari Sabah dan Sarawak, dan cerita-cerita yang datang dari dunia seni, dunia akademik, dan pengalaman peribadi mereka sendiri.
Panelis: Jesse Joy, Eleanor Goroh, Sonia Luhong Wan & Dr Welyne Jeffrey Jehom. Moderator: Suzy Sulaiman
WORKSHOP: Asas seni bermanik
3 pm – 5 pm
Jom buat rantai manik bersama Eleanor Goroh! Pelajari cara-cara untuk membuat pelbagai jenis projek manik dengan manik akar, benih, gelas, kayu, ataupun tulang, dan cuba try menggulungkan manik kain jugak! Sila whatsappkan butiran anda untuk menempahkan tempat duduk. RM10 per projek.
DAFTER DI SINI https://www.facebook.com/events/327008141124284/
* Rabu 14 Februari
8 pm – 10 pm
SYARAHAN: Simpangan Arkib dan Kepulangan Transnasional
Erika Tan dari the School of Oriental and Asian Studies berkongsi kajian beliau yang berasaskan indeterminasi: ketidaktentuan dan perannya dalam amalan seni. Syarahan ini mertumpu kepada persoalan sudut pandang kuasa yang berfungsi, secara sirat dan tidak tersirat, dalam arkib penjajah.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2067010040185976/
* Rabu 28 Februari
8 mlm – 10 mlm
SYARAHAN BERPERSEMBAHAN: Seni Persembahan Melayu dan Kewarganegaraan”
Pengkaji budaya muzik, Lawrence Ross berbincang mengenai dimensi politik dan sejarah Gendang Silat bagi menjelaskan bagaimana sejenis seni tarian / pertahanan diri terkait dengan suasana sosialnya. Apakah ‘tarian’ politik warisan yang dihasilkan dalam konteks tersebut? Dan apakah kesannya terhadap hubungan di antara seni warisan Melayu dan agenda kebangsaan?
Lawrence Ross adalah seorang pensyarah senior di Akademi Pengajian Melayu, Universiti Malaya.
* Sabtu Mac 3
11 pg – 1 ptg
FORUM: “Dunia Yang Akan Dimenangi: Perbualan bersama Sejarah”
Kita berkopi santai bersama komrad Jane Chin Leong, Kwai Ling dan Lean Thai, Komunis dan bekas gerila yang mengangkat senjata dalam keyakinan bahawa dunia yang lebih adil tidak mustahil. Diiringi oleh Yana Rizal, sesi ini merenung akan pengajaran dari liku perjuangan mereka serta pengalaman mereka bersama Merata Suara. Moderator: Ahmad Fuad Rahmat
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