Projek Wayang

Wayang Fajar is done!

2009-12-16T15:07:00.004+08:00

(Wayang Fajar gang in black, having dinner at Central Market)

Wayang Fajar played to two full-houses this past weekend! We're very happy with the responses so far, and look forward to reading reviews in the Malaysian media.

Thanks for all the support, and here's to a good year ahead!

Next performance: Wayang Siang (work-in-progress title), 2nd part of Wayang Cahaya series.

Wayang Fajar

2009-11-26T14:21:00.002+08:00

“What Malaysia will we wake up to today?”

Since the last General Election, Malaysians have been treated to so many visions, dreams, and hopes for new Malaysia(s), yet how much has really changed? With so many ‘surprises’ that each new day brings, how do we keep sane? How do we stay safe? How do we respond to these events?

Or is the saying still true, that “the night is darkest just before dawn”?

Wayang Fajar, the first part of the ‘Wayang Cahaya’ series, is a performance of stories inspired by the many dawns we - and Malaysia - experience.

Performed by Azmyl Yunor, Fahmi Fadzil, Grey Yeoh, Lisa Foo, Myra Mahyuddin, Ronnie Khoo and Zedeck Siew.

11, 12 Dec (8.30pm), 13 Dec (3.00pm)
Annexe Gallery, Central Market, KL
(part of the Art for Grabs weekend!)
entry by RM10 donation

for more information, call/fax Five Arts Centre at 03-77254858, email fivearts@tm.net.my or visit www. fiveartscentre.org

Click here for the Facebook event page

Wayang Fajar

2009-11-10T00:09:00.002+08:00

Just a quick note to say that Projek Wayang is working on a new performance - Wayang Fajar - part of the Wayang Cahaya series. The performance is slated for 11-13 December.

Collaborators: Azmyl Yunor, Fahmi Fadzil, Grey Yeoh, Lisa Foo, Myra Mahyuddin, Ronnie Khoo, Zedeck Siew.

More details soon.

Wayang Pasar @ CapSquare, 5 April

2009-03-29T01:27:00.006+08:00

Hi everyone, just a quick shoutout about an upcoming *new* wayang creation - Wayang Pasar - which will be performed for the first time at CapSquare, KL.

Some of the thoughts that have gone into the making of Wayang Pasar (or Market Wayang):

How do pasar's begin/evolve/transform, from a pasar malam to a pasaraya?
How is human relations affected by the staging of commercial performance/transactions, in terms of the loose boundaries in a pasar tani, in relation to a hypermarket for instance?
If a pasar could be wayang-ed, what would such a performance be like?

Come catch Azmyl Yunor and Fahmi Fadzil on 5th April, 12.30-1.30pm at CapSquare to find out some of our answers to the above and more!

Wayang Lampu @ Earth Hour

2009-03-29T01:23:00.001+08:00

A little belated, but we just wanted to say that Projek Wayang had a good time performing Wayang Lampu at YTL's Earth Hour celebrations in Starhill. Thanks, Five Arts Centre for the chance + connections!

Pics to come :)

New Project!

2009-02-14T16:51:00.002+08:00

Since the last posting, Projek Wayang has been hard at work putting together plans for the coming year. First up, we will be collaborating with some of the people who participated in the December edition of SiCKL Open Lab, as well as some fresh faces. The main theme will be developing Wayang Lampu (lightbulbs) into another performance form (potentially), meaning we will be looking at the theme of Light itself in an urban context of storytelling.

The collaborators thus far include architect Lisa Foo, multimedia designer Jazmi Izwan, musician & engineer Ronnie Khoo, musician lecturer Azmyl Yunor, writer Zedeck Siew, and writer and occasional photographer Myra Mahyuddin.

If all goes well, we are looking at presenting a workshop performance sometime in June 2009.

Pics

2008-12-28T21:05:00.004+08:00

(Photo by Myra M).

The music + light performance at SiCKL Open Lab (SOL) #04 went very well, with good responses from the audience. There will definitely be more collaborative work between the participants, and we will announce the presentations here. (Rather unfortunate that we did not get to video the event...)

More pics here and here.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T09:55:00.001+08:00

Projek Wayang wishes one and all a very merry Christmas, happy holidays, and here's to a good year ahead in 2009!

Wayang Lampu @ SiCKL Open Lab (SOL)

2008-12-23T10:43:00.003+08:00

As promised, here are the details for the upcoming Wayang Lampu performance. I will be working with Lisa Foo, Ronnie Khoo (of Furniture), and Jazmi in an experimental DJ and light installation set. Expect wackiness!

Here's the FB event page.

Here's a map:

SiCKL Open Lab (27 Dec 08)

2008-12-03T09:23:00.002+08:00

Projek Wayang will be working with Lisa Foo on an art installation + wayang lampu performance at SiCKL Open Lab in Cheras, KL, this 27th December. A flyer for the event will be posted once it's ready.

Happy Deepavali!

2008-10-27T14:03:00.003+08:00

In conjunction with the Hindu celebration of Deepavali, Projek Wayang is proud to announce the resumption of its Wayang Lampu research and development works. We hope to be able to present a workshop performance sometime at the end of the year or early next year.

Wayang Buku at Readings@Seksan's

2008-07-26T23:43:00.006+08:00

Azmyl and I had an enormously fun time performing at Readings@Seksan's, a monthly gathering of writers, poets, and avid listeners of Malaysian literature conceived by Bernice Chauly and kept going by Sharon Bakar. I'm sure we'll have some pictures soon, but suffice to say, it was an enjoyable afternoon for those who caught the half hour performance! This time round, we even interviewed a piece of blank A4 paper :)

Oh, here was where we performed. Aah...

Projek Wayang @ Urbanscapes 2008

2008-07-05T00:46:00.002+08:00

Hi guys & gals,

We have a new batch of photos from our recent escapades at KLue's Urbanscapes 2008. Check 'em out here. Courtesy of Ms Myra M.

Upcoming CAIS Project performance

2008-07-04T18:05:00.002+08:00

We're proud to announce that in conjunction with Rumah Air Panas' CAIS Project Project Wayang will be presenting 'Wayang Buku' in the library of Stella Maris on these dates and times:

# 29th August (Fri) - 3-4pm
# 30th August (Sat) - 3-4pm

As Azmyl may be teaching on that Friday, Fahmi may be performing Wayang Buku solo.

More soon!

Projek Wayang in School Library

2008-06-27T19:13:00.003+08:00

Check out this wonderful Art-in-School project, organized by our good friends at Rumah Air Panas.

Projek Wayang will be performing Wayang Buku in the Stella Maris library on 29th & 30th August (exact time to be determined soon).

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Also, our Wayang Rakyat gig with CapSquare has been called off. Oh well...! It will give us time to work on it more, which is great.

Wayang Lampu rehearsals!

2008-06-23T10:59:00.003+08:00

(Ronnie and Fahmi, amazed that they haven't burned down the house with their poor electrician skills)

The Projek Wayang team has been hard at work rehearsing for the KLue Urbanscapes 2008 event happening this weekend, 28th June 2008, at the KLPac. As we've mentioned before, we will be having two performances happening that day:

# Wayang Buku - 3pm, Resource Center (next to the Pentas 2 entrance)
# Wayang Lampu - 8pm, at the Indiecine (on the way to Pentas 1 entrance)

On the rehearsal side, Wayang Lampu seems to be growing in an interesting direction; thanks to the triumvirate of soundsters - Aziz, Azmyl & Ronnie Khoo - we'll be exploring sounds in this piece more concertedly. It's looking good.

2008-05-07T17:29:00.004+08:00

Hi guys,

The Projek Wayang team is proud to announce we're in talks to bring a few more shows to Klang Valley folk. As we're still in discussions, a lot of details aren't available at time of this post, but we'll be sure to update the site as soon as more info trickles in!

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28 June 2008: Projek Wayang @ KLue Urbanscapes

Taking place at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Art Centre (KLPac), we'll most likely be performing Wayang Buku and another performance as well.

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August 2008: Projek Wayang @ CapSquare Merdeka soft launch

Wayang Rakyat: Kisah Sang Kancil & Sang Buaya+ The Misadventures of Pak Pandir

Wayang Buku performance area

2008-03-26T22:44:00.003+08:00

This is where we'll be performing Wayang Buku come August 08. More pics soon!

Two more performances

2008-03-21T15:28:00.002+08:00

As promised, here are some more details of upcoming Projek Wayang performances in the 2008 calendar:

Aug 10: Wayang Kenduri, Ipoh (details tbc)
Aug 29-30: Wayang Buku, Stella Maris school library, KL (time tbc)
Oct 27 - Nov 2: Wayang Emergency (working title), The Annexe (details tbc)

We'll keep updating as and when we have more info.

And if you are in Malaysia and would like to host a Projek Wayang performance, please get in touch with Fahmi Fadzil at fahmiDOTfadzil AT gmailDOTcom.

Sound of Color

2008-03-21T13:23:00.003+08:00

Gap (the clothing label) worked with Chris Do and Blind, Inc to create a music video for a Danish band, The Raveonettes, based on the question: "What sound would black & white make?"

The answer, curiously, was articulated through some elements of shadow puppetry. Video below:

Coming Soon

2008-03-21T01:43:00.003+08:00

To a panggung near you!

Projek Wayang is proud to announce an up-coming performance that for the 2008 Season.

Aug 29, 30 - Wayang Buku at Stella Maris' Library. Time tbc.

More performances are being slated, for sure!

We've been a little quiet, we know, but there's been a lot of 'wayang' happening in Malaysia that warrants us to just pay attention to all the different dalangs wanting to weave their own stories about the country. A lot of material for our performances, no doubt, and you will soon be the beneficiaries of these political turbulences.

(Photograph of Anwar Ibrahim - on the cellphone - outside the Bangsar Sports Complex where his daughter, Nurul Izzah, was standing to contest in the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency for the 12th Malaysian General Elections. She would go on to defeat two-term incumbent from Barisan Nasional, Sharizat Jalil; 24 Feb 2008)

Happy 2008!

2008-01-05T08:29:00.000+08:00

Dear all,

2007 had been a wonderful year for Projek Wayang - we had our first invitation to an arts festival, further understanding of wayang through a theatre performance, and a rather interesting stint of performing in a mall, amongst others.

For 2008, we'll be consolidating this work. We hope to create a full performance by mid-year, hopefully at the Annexe at Central Market, Kuala Lumpur. It's a beautiful space with so many possibilities for performance!

So, here's to a bright year ahead!

New Pictures

2007-10-21T00:21:00.000+08:00

New photos from the Wayang Rakyat show at The Curve on 20 October 2007.

Photos by Khoo Eng Yow.

Painting Puppets

2007-10-17T17:59:00.000+08:00

After the first performance of Projek Wayang's Wayang Rakyat, entitled 'Sang Kancil dan Sang Buaya', several members of the audience stepped up and asked how we made the puppets. We used perspex instead of leather (it's a reflection of what environment we're in, one can posit) and painted them as you can see below.

This is Aziz painting the Pohon Konsumerism.

Taken by Gan Siong King. Puppets designed by Fahmi Reza.

(more pics here)

Sang Kancil @ The Curve (Part 3)

2007-10-12T19:58:00.000+08:00

Final part of Sang Kancil dan Sang Buaya.

Sang Kancil @ The Curve (part 2)

2007-10-12T14:17:00.000+08:00

Second part of the Sang Kancil story.

Sang Kancil @ The Curve (part 1)

2007-10-12T14:12:00.000+08:00

This is our first Projek Wayang video, ever!

Part 1 of 3. More to come.

Pak Pandir!

2007-10-11T08:43:00.000+08:00

Here's a very quick look at the soon-to-be-made Pak Pandir puppet, that will be making its first public appearance at The Curve this Saturday, 20 Oct, and Sunday, 21 Oct! It's not the final design yet, but it's nearly there (we're getting rid of the mustache, which isn't really working).

Designed by Fahmi Reza.

Updated Flyer

2007-10-03T17:30:00.000+08:00

Here's the updated flyer for our performances at The Curve. Feel free to distribute!

New timings for Projek Wayang shows at The Curve

2007-10-02T00:42:00.000+08:00

Hi guys,

Just to inform you that there's been a small change in the Wayang Rakyat performances at The Curve, because of requests from the organizers. Here are the three remaining performances, along with time and titles:

7 Oct - 2pm - Sang Kancil and Sang Buaya
20 Oct - 2pm - Pak Pandir and the Pot of Honey*
21 Oct - 2pm - Pak Pandir and the Pot of Honey*

(*title might change to Pak Pandir and the Fighting Rooster)

Please note that the children's puppet workshop will still be happening at 12pm on both 20 and 21 October 2007.

Venue is still the center court at The Curve.

Pics from gig at The Curve

2007-10-02T00:22:00.000+08:00

Sang Monyet monkeying around on-screen, after the show at The Curve. Projek Wayang was situated at the center court of the mall.

Azmyl Yunor, having a go at being the dalang :)

A blurry shot of Aziz (left) and Azmyl (right) as they fiddled with the puppets after the show.

We'll try and take more pics at the next performance, which is this coming Sunday, 7th October, at 2pm (more on change of time later).

First public performance of wayang rakyat

2007-10-01T15:28:00.000+08:00

Yesterday was Projek Wayang's first full performance of wayang rakyat - a shadow puppetry form based on and adapted from the Wayang Kulit Siam tradition that tells Malayan/Malaysian folk stories (such as the mischievous mousedeer, Sang Kancil, and the blundering village fool, Pak Pandir). It was performed in a mall, quite apt since a lot of Malaysians linger in these behemoths of capitalist enterprise.

From what I noticed after the 20-minute performance, people were very happy to have caught the show; it's probably something they didn't expect to happen in a mall!

Some pics to come, and hopefully by the time we re-perform this show next Sunday, we'll get someone to video it.

Flyer from the Flers

2007-09-28T01:54:00.000+08:00

Hi guys,

Just a quick flyer that Aziz made while at the office and not doing work (haha, thanks Aziz).

Feel free to download and distribute.

Wayang Rakyat at The Curve

2007-09-26T16:05:00.000+08:00

Hi guys and gals,

Projek Wayang is proud to announce our latest public performance, almost in conjunction with Hari Raya festivities: Wayang Rakyat @ The Curve. Featuring Aziz Ali, Azmyl Yunor, and Fahmi Fadzil, with puppets by Fahmi Reza.

There will be two performances over four dates, with two workshops on introductory puppetmaking for kids.

30 September, 4.30pm - Sang Kancil and Sang Buaya
7 October, 4.30pm - Pak Pandir and the Bowl of Honey*
20 October, 2.30pm - Sang Kancil and Sang Buaya
21 October, 2.30pm - Pak Pandir and the Bowl of Honey*

(*title might change)

Synopses
Sang Kancil and Sang Buaya
One day, as he was walking around the jungle, Sang Kancil spots a grove of fruit trees across the river. As he tries to cross the river, he encounters the fearsome Sang Buaya, who is intent on eating the little mouse deer. What will Sang Kancil do to get at those fruit trees?

Pak Pandir and the Bowl of Honey
Mak Andih has grown tired of Pak Pandir's loafing around the house, so she sends him out to gather things from the jungle that they could sell. Pak Pandir finds some honey, and bringing it home decides to eat it instead of selling it, against Mak Andih's wishes. What becomes of Pak Pandir and his greedy ways?

Flyers should be out soon.

Wayang Beber Kota

2007-09-06T09:08:00.001+08:00

Earlier this year, I met up with Dani Iswardana of Wayang Beber Kota, a contemporary Wayang Beber troupe based in Solo, Indonesia. Wayang Beber is often thought of as a dead art, with barely any practitioners, yet here we have a three-man troupe (consisting of Dani, the STSI-trained visual artist, Tri Ganjar Wicaksono, the 17-year old dalang, and Agung PW, the guy I've been closely in touch with, who've also set up the WBK website).

Projek Wayang is trying to see if there are any possibilities of collaboration in the near future, so I'm going over in the early part of next year to learn about their work and how they operate in a contemporary setting.

Back from Bangkok!

2007-09-06T08:58:00.000+08:00

Azmyl and I had a wonderful romp in Bangkok. The show we put up was good, although it could've been tighter, but there was much reflection on the work - regarding context, depth and direction. All in all, it was a fun festival to have attended. I didn't get to force someone to take pics of our performance, but I'm sure the organizers have some. When it pops up in the email I'll post it up here.

Oh, and I lost my voice by the end of our performance, haha!

Live Arts Bangkok flyer!

2007-07-23T17:09:00.000+08:00

This is the e-flyer for the upcoming Live Arts Bangkok arts festival that Azmyl and I will be traveling to. We'll be performing Wayang Buku on August 18th at the Kukrit Pramoj Heritage House. Do drop by if you're in Bangkok then!

Kakiseni Review of Dua, Tiga Dalang Belari

2007-07-09T12:22:00.000+08:00

Here's a review of Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari, by Zedeck Siew of Kakiseni. Poot!

Wayang Buku to Bangkok!

2007-06-21T18:35:00.000+08:00

We're very happy to announce that Wayang Buku - one of the forms developed in 2006 as a means to investigate the performance and performativity of books - has just been invited to the Jim Thompson House: Live Arts Bangkok festival.

Azmyl Yunor and Fahmi Fadzil will be performing Wayang Buku 17-19 August 2007 at the Jim Thompson House Library in Bangkok.

Details to follow.

NST Review

2007-06-11T16:15:00.000+08:00

A review of Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari by Lim How Ngean of the New Straits Times! Enjois.

The Running Puppeteers

2007-06-10T23:44:00.000+08:00

We've recently completed Mark Teh's Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari (Five Arts Centre), a documentary theatre performance that presents the lives of Malaysia's two most important dalangs (shadow puppeteers) - Pak Hamzah Awang Amat and Pak Dollah Baju Merah (or Abdullah bin Ibrahim) - alongside cheeky takes on the Betara Kala story from the wayang kulit Siam performance repertoire. It was toured in several colleges and universities within the Klang Valley as well as a 3-night public performance at The Annexe @ Central Market.

While not directly a Projek Wayang endeavor, this project marked the successful collaboration among KL art practitioners from various fields in an attempt to engage with the wayang kulit Siam tradition. More will surely come out of this!

While waiting for reviews, we serve you an array of wonderful photographs of the production when it was performed at Taylors University College, Subang Jaya, taken by Myra Mahyuddin.

Ucap Mula - a Beginning

2007-06-02T09:26:00.000+08:00

Over the last few years, a group of young arts practitioners - visual artists, stage performers, musicians, graphic designers, writers - have been working towards understanding the Wayang Kulit Siam performance, the Kelantanese variant of the South East Asian shadow puppetry form.

This understanding is then translated into new performance forms - experimentations, really - that help to consolidate our findings or to articulate certain questions we have about what we have found so far. Working from form and traveling inwards into the narrative structure of the wayang form, we have had to attend to questions as elementary (though not simple) as "Why the use of leather?", "Why electric bulbs and not an open flame?", to "What does it mean to improvise?", among many others.

We hope that through learning this wayang form as a point of departure, we can eventually acquire some measure of performance sensibility and a degree of understanding of why wayang developed like it did in Kelantan (and also its sister forms in Java, Cambodia, Thailand, et al), and how a city like Kuala Lumpur (where most of us are currently based) can tell her stories through her own form of wayang.

This blog is a collection of exploits, thoughts, and articulations of our adventures in wayang.