CausewayEXchange: The Lighter Side of Malaysia
Five days of Malaysia’s quirkiest, most original, and inspirational artists sharing a facet of Malaysia that is rarely seen, all in one House, at the inaugural CausewayEXchange
Singapore, 23 July 2010 – Singapore and Malaysia are set to forge closer neighbourly ties through the bridge of theatre, film and visual arts at the inaugural CausewayEXchange, a new annual festival that promotes the exchange of art, ideas, creativity and business opportunities between the two countries. Co-organised by The Arts House and DMR Advertising and Promotions, the festival will run from 26 to 31 August at The Arts House.
CausewayEXchange will kick off its 2010 season in Singapore by bringing together Malaysia’s quirkiest, most talented and inspirational artists in an exciting potpourri of stand-up comedy, theatre, film screenings, visual and digital art exhibitions, photography workshops, as well as the world’s first e-photo exhibition. Please refer to Annex 1 for a full line-up of the programmes.
This joint initiative between The Arts House and DMR Advertising and Promotions aims to provide a platform for dialogue and collaboration in the arts and business communities, in order to foster better understanding and strengthen relations between the two countries.
Says Mr Shawn Lourdusamy, Marketing Director of DMR Advertising & Promotions: “I have always enjoyed and admired the arts in Malaysia, in comedy, theatre, exhibitions and stage performance and have often wondered why it seldom crossed the causeway into Singapore. I decided to look into the possibility of sharing the wonderful arts that Malaysia has to offer with Singapore. This started the concept of CausewayEXchange. I contacted Dato’ Faridah, Malaysia’s foremost doyen in the arts, and she was thrilled to be a part of this. It is truly an honor to have her participation in the Festival. She is a highly respected director, producer and mentor who has brought the arts in Malaysia to a whole new level.”
Two shows produced by Dato’ Faridah, indicinelive! & Mukabuku, from the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) will be presented at the Festival. In addition,CausewayEXchange is partnering with Timbre, Singapore’s premier live music pub, to showcase some of Malaysia’s most popular singers, including Marsha Londoh and Andi A. Merican. Mr Lourdusamy says he is very excited to have such talents and programmes represent the different genres of Malaysian art in the Festival.
Says Mr Phan Ming Yen, Assistant General Manager of The Arts House: “The Arts House has since 2005 been involved in various cross-cultural exchanges and programmes with different countries and CausewayEXchange is indeed one such platform which has the potential for artists from Singapore and other countries to engage in dialogue with one another. For this inaugural event, we are proud to be able to host and feature artists from Malaysia. For the future, we hope, as part of The Arts House’s mission in creating platforms for art and artists from Singapore, to present Singapore artists in Malaysia and eventually to create collaborations between artists from both Singapore and Malaysia.”
Another of the Festival’s highlights is the exhibition, In her Own Words, A Celebration of Humanity and Universal Love, which pays tribute to one of Malaysia’s best filmmakers, the late Yasmin Ahmad. The exhibition blends striking visual images with Yasmin’s postings on her own blog to create an art series as progressive as her own words.
Continuing the thrust of CausewayEXchange, the Festival will take Singapore artists to Malaysia next year and showcase them to the Malaysian audiences in 2011.
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Ticketing Information
Online: www.bytes.sg
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Hotline: (65) 6332 6919
Box office: The Arts House Box Office
1 Old Parliament Lane
Singapore 179429
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DMR Advertising & Promotions Pte Ltd
DMR Advertising & Promotions Pte Ltd began in 2000 as a one-stop marketing communications agency. Since that time, the company has grown significantly, building themselves a reputation for efficient management and organization of private, public as well as fund-raising events. Through the years, it has skewed towards the organizing of its own events featuring local and international artistes, and today have become a recognized name in the performing arts scene on both sides of the causeway. From its passion, DMR holds an impressive track record to fully develop the arts scene in both Malaysia and Singapore.
The Arts House
Occupying the 183-year old building which was the former Parliament House and Singapore’s first Court House, The Arts House is a multidisciplinary arts centre that offers visitors a broad spectrum of activities ranging from contemporary arts & entertainment events to lifestyle and food & beverage options. Since its opening in March 2004, The Arts House has also been championing the Singapore arts & creative scene, playing consultative and developmental roles in bridging the connections between the arts and artists with various audiences including public agencies, private corporations and individual supporters of the arts as well. The Arts House is managed by The Old Parliament House Limited, a not-for-profit full-service arts management company limited by guarantee. For further information, please visit www.theartshouse.com.sg
For Media queries, please contact:
Ms Agnes Nee
Manager, Marketing and Communications
1 Old Parliament Lane
AnnexBuilding
Tel: 6332 6915
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Annex
Comedy
Malaysia masa Kini
By Monti & Logi
Blue Room | 27 – 31 Aug | 8pm | 90 mins (no intermission) | NC16 | $28 (Includes one drink)
Malaysia’s Senior Statesmen of Comedy, Monti and Logi, present their own alternative to Malaysia’s politically outspoken e-news website of almost the same name. The Masters of Satire, who have been consistently entertaining house-packed audiences for more than a decade, take a bite at the latest issues that are dominating Malaysia’s economic, social and political scenes. With memorable impersonations and quotable quotes from the who’s who that are making news in the capital city, they are bound to make you howl with laughter!
THEATRE PERFORMANCES
indicinelive!
The Hall | 27 – 28, 30 – 31 Aug | 8pm; 28 – 29 Aug | 3.30pm | 70 mins (no intermission) | R18 | $28; $18 (Concession for students, senior citizens and NSF)
Executive Producer: Dato’ Faridah Merican
Artistic Director: Joe Hasham OAM
Director: Kelvin Wong
Malaysia’s renowned actress, director and producer Dato’ Faridah Merican brings together a pool of young talents to present Malaysia’s own version of SNL, Little Britain and MADtv!
indicinelive!(in-DEE-see-nee-live-!) is the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre’s (klpac) brand new sketch comedy premise, parodying the oftentimes crazy society that we live in, portraying familiar characters in even more familiar situations with a few musicals thrown in.indicinelive! is a generous serving of who we are, in fun-sized pieces. But caution, for mature humans only!
Mukabuku (Facebook)
Chamber | 27 – 28, 30 – 31 Aug | 8pm; 28 – 29 Aug | 3.30pm | 65 mins (no intermission) | PG13 | $28; $18 (Concession for students, senior citizens and NSF)
Executive producer: Dato’ Faridah Merican
Artistic director: Joe Hasham OAM
Director in-residence: Kelvin Wong
Whether you like it or not, online social networking sites are here to stay, transforming the way we connect with one another.
Malaysia’s first lady of theatre, Dato’ Faridah Merican, together with three writers, Mark Beau de Silva, Alex Chua and Nandang Abdul Rahman, take on the easily overlooked impact that such sites have on our everyday lives.
Mukabuku presents six short stories – Top Friends; Profile Picture; Could Have Been; Funeral Rights; Addiction; and Remains – that chronicle the ups and downs of the world’s most popular social networking website.
FILMS
15Malaysia
Screening Room | 26 – 31 Aug | 7pm (weekdays); 1pm, 4.15pm & 8pm (Sat); 4pm (Sun) | 80 mins | Rating TBA | $8
Produced by Pete Teo
Hilarious, tear-jerking, scary, thought provoking – 15Malaysia showcases 15 short films from some of the best filmmakers in Malaysia today, including the late Yasmin Ahmad.
From an emotional rollercoaster ride across Malaysia’s diverse socio-political landscape to the misunderstood hiding her darkest secrets, these films put the country under the microscope and show a new side to it.
The films include:
Potong Saga by Ho Yuhang
Chocolate by Yasmin Ahmad
The Tree by Amir Muhammad
House by Linus Chung
Halal by Liew Seng Tat
The Son by Desmond Ng
Lumpur by Kamal Sabran
One Future by Tan Chui Mui
Slovak Sling by Woo Ming Jin
Gerhana by James Lee
Meter by Benji & Bahir
Duit Kecil by Johan John
Healthy Paranoia by Khairil Bahar
Lollipop by Nam Ron
Rojak! by Suleiman Brothers
All My Failed Attempts
Screening Room | 26 – 31 Aug | 8.45pm (weekdays); 2.45pm & 6pm (Sat); 2pm & 6pm (Sun) | 66mins | Rating TBA | $8
Produced by Tan Chui Mui
All My Failed Attempts presents seven short films written, directed, and edited by award-winning filmmaker Tan Chui Mui. These films were also shown at the 2009 International Film Festival Rotterdam as part of the official selection.
The anthology showcases Chui Mui’s striking, eclectic visions and broad styles – from straight documentary (Chicken) to satires of science-fiction epics (Dream #1, #2 & #3), serious drama (Everyday Everyday and The Need for Rites) and action (To Say Goodbye).
Everyday Everyday won the Grand Prix at the 2009 Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, as well as the On the Road Award for best short film at the 17th Art Film Fest International Film Festival in Slovakia.
Through Her Eyes: A Screening of TV Ads by Yasmin Ahmad
With special guest: Datin Orked Ahmad
Screening Room | 28 Aug | 11am | 120mins (including post-show talk) | Free Admission (Registration required at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
In conjunction with the exhibition In Her Own Words: A Celebration of Humanity and Universal Love, CausewayEXchange presents an exclusive screening of television commercials produced by the late, great filmmaker, Yasmin Ahmad.
Known for her signature heart-warming humour and love that cuts across cultural and racial barriers, Yasmin’s commercials have garnered fans in both Malaysia and Singapore, and have won multiple awards in Malaysia and internationally. The screening includes a talk by Datin Orked Ahmad, sister of Yasmin, who will share with us on life and growing up with Yasmin, and of course the legacy left to Yasmin’s fans and friends with her passing.
EXHIBITIONS
Citizen-Malaysia: Time to Shine
Gallery | 26 – 31 Aug | 10am – 8pm | Free Admission
by Evangeliss Hwong and Thang Han-Ni
Nothing but faces. No names. No captions. Each standing bare shouldered in black and white, morphing to the tune of smooth jazz.
From the movers and shakers to the man in the street: 31,857 persons, 7 expressions each, 222,999 shots, 15,929 male, 15,928 females, averaging 7,964 per race from one country.
The brainchild of photographer Evangeliss Hwong and Thang Han-Ni, each portrait tells a different story, a different slice of life. Catch a sneak preview of this public e-exhibition which will premiere on the windows of Kuala Lumpur’s skyscrapers on 9th Sept 2012, turning the city into a living art canvas.
In Her Own Words: A Celebration of Humanity and Universal Love
Print Gallery | 26 – 31 Aug | 10am – 10pm | Free Admission
By Kevin Bathman
One year on, visual artist Kevin Bathman remembers the life and legacy of Malaysian visionary filmmaker, Yasmin Ahmad, with a new print art exhibition. Using Yasmin’s own blog as inspiration, Kevin has blended her words with striking visual images to create an art series as progressive as Yasmin’s own words.
Wayang Kita-Kita
Film Gallery | 26 – 31 Aug | 10am – 10pm | Free Admission
By Amir Muhammad and Liza Manshoor
Black and white film stills juxtaposed against familiar images in bright colours and blown-up comic words, the posters in Wayang Kita-Kita seek to evoke passions that were evident in the old films of Malaysia. With images from 10 of the oldest surviving Malay films – many of them featuring iconic Malaysian actor and singer-songwriter P. Ramlee, including Chinta (1948) and Rachun Dunia (1950) – take a trip down memory lane and get in touch with raw emotions such as LOVE (chinta), VENGENCE (or revenge, dendam) and TEARS (ayermata)!
WORKSHOPS
Making the Strange Familiar and the Familiar Strange
Living Room | 28 Aug | 10am – 6pm | $80 (including lunch & tea break)
By Evangeliss Hwong
When everyday items become a subject of art, there are endless possibilities to making the world a storybook of sorts. This photography workshop will open up your mind beyond the world that you know today, letting you see the infinite wonders of composition and artistry that makes everyday living worth exploring. From a cup of tea to the fall of a petal, each angle of our lives can be brought to life; from conceptual to abstract images.
The workshop will focus on:
- Conceptual versus abstract
- Conceptual: From an idea to the actual shot
- Abstract: Shapes, colours, harmony, dissonance without a distinct form
- Composition: Art of visual storytelling
Tell Tale: Reinventing the Story
Living Room | 29 Aug | 10 am – 6pm | $80 (including lunch & tea break)
By Evangeliss Hwong
Citizen-journalism brings you closer to the story and at a faster speed ever since 9/11. The fast pace of info sharing has blurred the line between fact and fiction. The story is made for you or you make the story. Let your works tell the story, instead of the other way around.
This photography workshop will focus on:
- Street versus photojournalism
- Street photography: People
- Photojournalism: Primary motivation is to recount a story, not assist a story
- Create a series using today's digital media; what's right and what's not?
- Theory and practical
MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Serenade Malaysia
Timbre @ The Arts House | 27 & 28 Aug | 9pm | Free Admission
For two nights only, CausewayEXchange and Timbre @ The Arts House will bring you the hottest R&B artists from Malaysia! Bask in the soulful tunes of Anha San (a regular with the Malaysian underground music scene with bands such as Oddstars and The Otherside Orchestra), Andi A. Merican (nominee for the Smoothest R&B Act at the Voice Independent Music Awards [VIMA] 2010), Marsha Londoh (whose powerful strains of jazz will vibrate through the night) and Nabil Zamanhuri, one of Malaysia’s youngest artist who will definitely pull at your heartstrings with his delicate love ballads. Enjoy all this while soaking in the nightlife along the Singapore River.
