Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Artist: Aki Nakazawa



Aki Nakazawa (Born in Tokyo, 1976) is video artist, curator, and lives and works in Cologne, Germany. She studied visual-media and video-art at the Art College of Nihon University in Tokyo. Since 1997, She is a member of the video-art group “Spread Video-art Project (SVP http://svp2.com)” in Tokyo.

She works for international film and video festivals, institutions and museums as a curator. As an artist, her videos show what our existences are in society, with her view to find subtle incidents in our life and her essential poetic visual-language. They were shown in in many international film and media-art festivals, such as Berlinale, Videonale Bonn and awarded WRO (1st Prize), 13.Marler Video-Kunst-Preis, and so on.

Artist: Jan Verbeek



Jan Verbeek is a freelance Media Artist, lives and works in Cologne and Tokyo. Born 1966 in Bonn, Germany, he

studied at the Art Academy Düsseldorf with Nan Hoover and Nam June Paik, became Meisterschüler / master grade

student of Paik in 1993. Postgraduate studies at the Academy of Media Arts, Cologne. Degree with honours in 1999.

Verbeek's video and installation work is based on a sensitive observation of reality. It is characterized by a delicate

interaction of image and sound and the way how time and space work together. Verbeek received international art

prizes and shows his work worldwide in numerous festivals and museums.

Why no-budget? A little story …

I got interested in organizing art events since college, inspired and influenced by the strong grass-root art community in Buffalo, New York, where I studied and intermittently living in the city for almost 8 years. In 2001, I came home to KL for winter school break, bringing with me a collection of 8 video artists’ works from upstate New York. I wanted to do a video screening at a local art venue. I approached a quite prestigious, self-proclaimed independent local art space with the recommendation of a local dancer. I proposed my little project to the director of the art space and naively requested a discounted rate for venue rental, and if possible for free, since I was doing this with no intention to make commercial payback. I was just a student with no money, the only thing I had was the enthusiasm to share some interesting artworks that I'd discovered abroad with fellow Malaysian audience. Moreover, the dancer told me that he was able to do a few experimental shows at the venue for free. So I was quite hopeful that the director will support the project. A few days later, I got a reply from the director, with a rather cold tone, she wrote: “Well, if you start to ask A or B or C about free places here and there, I’m sure you can get some spaces like someone’s living room or balcony or garage or something. But XX is a proper, professional art space. And let me tell you my dear, ART IS NOT FREE.”

So BANG! There go my naïve dream for a real grass-root, DIY, friendly community oriented artists society in Kuala Lumpur to support my kind of art!

It seems like art is for the elites, or those who can “afford” it. But is that art? Or social status? I would later realized that there were actually more art businessmen than real artists in the community.

I was very disturbed by the unfriendly reply and the authoritative attitude of the director. But deep inside my heart, I didn’t believe what she said was 100% true about Malaysians. Ok, so these so-called independent art spaces won’t work, I’d go find other kind of places. There must be people who support art and culture without asking for commercial returns for a humble project like this. My ever supporting late father, driving me to meet principals of colleges around KL to propose my little project. At last, I was able to do 3 screenings at 2 colleges: INTI College, both Subang Jaya and Nilai campus; and the Malaysian Institute of Art in KL. These screenings were very small and humble (between 20-30 people). But it happened, for FREE!

Two weeks after homecoming to settle in KL in 2005, I met a small group of experimental musicians and artists who were quite interesting, but seem to be the minority in the local art circle. I found such connections with them, artistically, mentally and spiritually. In 2006, we formed the Studio in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, or more commonly called SiCKL. Since then, we have been active in promoting edgy experimental/avant-garde works in music, film/video, dance, performance art and cross-disciplinary works, either at its humble Cheras base or at other venues around town; and involved in coordinating some local art festivals such as the Notthatbalai Art Festival 2007. The long running SiCKL Open Lab series has witnessed many creative and interesting art experimentations rarely seen at the more “proper” art spaces in town. Most of SiCKL events do not charge admission fee but based on voluntary donation, except when we work with other partners who need to fulfill particular interests for their organizations.

Any individual and organization that have gone through the funding process know how exhausting and frustrating it can be, physically and spiritually. It involves so much politics, hypocrisy and authority. Is the criteria of judgement for funding applications impartial and consistent? We wonder. Our "no-budget" motto is not equal to the "rejection of official funding", of course not! But we wouldn't like the complicated funding process to become the biggest obstacle in running our projects. Prestigious funding organizations usually make you wait, and wait, and wait some more. The sponsors will always ask, "What do I get from this? How do you 'sell' this project? Do you have a 'tangible product'?" Sometimes we just want to say, "We do it because we love it! Oh, you can't imagine how we love doing what we love!" :)

This little festival is incredible because we have not expected to gather so many generous individuals from various backgrounds and ideologies to come together, contributing their time and energy, absolutely for free. A big salute to all artists, in-kind sponsors and volunteers! SALUTE!! They are not working for the money or for certain authority, but for the souls, spirits and joy. What do you call that? I call it LOVE. Love for art, love for creativity, love for culture, love for friendship, love for the place, love for the community, and ultimately, love for life!

Only love can beat money, don’t you think so? :)

If even art cannot be free (with every possible context of the word), what else can?

We did it, all of us, over 50 of us, at Sama-sama Guesthouse Mini Alternative Art Festival 2010. FREE, for 3 days in a row!

Mind you, Madam Director.


Cheers,

Siew Wai

28 July, 2010

Artist: Tshiung Han See


See Tshiung Han grew up in Canada, where he attended the birthday party of the son of David Cronenberg. He returned to Malaysia in 1995 where, a few months ago, he made the discovery of no scones at Najib's tea party. He has performed at Sharon Bakar's Readings, British Council's Wayang Kata, Pekan Frinjan, Urbanscapes 2010 and (embarrassingly) Think You Got Skillz. He organized and hosted the Say Goodnight Twitterverse open mic at Cloth and Clef. With the Poetry Underground collective, he organizes the MAP Poetry Cup.

Artists: The Abang Guard


THE ABANG GUARD is a side-project featuring Carburetor Dung’s members and long-time best friends, Joe Kidd & Bullet which started as a laugh around late June 2007. It’s all about experimenting with some ideas we have floating around for years, a band which would be driven by one part cynicism, one part exclamation marks and two parts enthusiasm. It’s a duo which would then collaborate with friends on impromptu projects. The first friend invited and still playing with us is Zai Kuning, a Singaporean sound-artist and enfant-terrible!

http://carburetordung.kerbau.com/category/the-abang-guard/.


Artist: Jerome Kugan

Jerome Kugan is a writer, poet, musician and artist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In April 2008, he released his electro-acoustic debut album "Songs For A Shadow" that features 11 original tracks produced by Hardesh Singh and Ariff Akhir. JK is also working on publishing Poetika, a poetry journal (on hiatus due to funding issues). Not to mention looking for a publisher for his unpublished manuscript "Imaginary Poems". JK also works as co-organiser of Wayang Kata, KL Sing Song, Troubadours (currently on hiatus), was subeditor of KLue and Junk magazines, and now works as media manager for The Annexe Gallery. Currently figuring out his second album "City Of Mud".

www.myspace.com/jkugan

Artist: Koji Tambata


Koji Tambata was born in Tokyo, Japan. He works with video and improvised music, especially interested in live performance. His MusicWorks series is an on-going project with video screening, music and live video performance. To Tambata, it is considered as a "meta-documentary" series on improvised music performance. He has collaborated with Steve Baczkowski, John Bacon, Tony Conrad, Chistopher Borkowski and more. Tambata is currently living and working in ChiangMai, Thailand.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Artist: Ben's Bitches



BIO

Ben's Bitches have been terrorising the local music scene since 2002 when they released 3 back-to-back, now out-of-print EPs entitled Bigger Than The Beatles, Cheaper Than The Pirates; Nibble The Nipple and Flashbacks From The Future respectively. Fueled by toilet humour and cough syrup, the 3-piece went on to release 2 full length albums - National Disservice in 2004 and Mamak Conspiracy in 2006 - that spawned numerous internet hits such as 'The Cha Cha Ska of Amber Chia', 'Aku Suka Jolok', 'Awek Lu fit' and 'Excuse Me Mr Policeman'. In 2007, Ben's Bitches were infamously thrown into the limelight when local Malay tabloid Harian Metro put them on the cover under the headline "Lirik Syaitan" as a response to the band's ever growing popularity and their hit single 'Kotek Berbulu' (translation: 'Hairy Genitalia'). The media stunt soon turned into a full-blown circus with similar risque bands being prosecuted and tormented by the ISA. Shortly after, frontman Ben Liew was arrested on a drug-related offense and sent to rehab.


Now, the newly-reformed Ben's Bitches boasts a unique sound that is in-part psychedelic blues and in-part punk (some critics have commented that they sound like a mix between The Velvet Underground and Ramli Sarip). With a brand new 6-piece line-up, including original shredder Jason Ong and folker-turned-percussionist Azmyl Yunor, the band is ripping and ready with new material and are expected to unleash their 3rd full length album, tentatively titled Pakatan Maut, later this year.


Old Shit: http://www.myspace.com/bensbitches

New shit: http://fairtilizer.com/users/bensbitches

Artist: Au Sow Yee


Au Sow Yee is an experimental film/video artist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her works span from film and video performances, single channel experimental film/video to multimedia design for contemporary theatre performances. Sow Yee is a MFA holder from the San Francisco Art Institute and is currently a lecturer in the Drama and Visuals Department, New Era College, Malaysia. Her works explore light and projected images as organic elements in space and time as well as revealing the abstract quality of every day’s life. She was awarded the Krishen Jit Astro Fund for a film performance/installation and was the 2007 Artist in Residence at Taipei Artist Village, Taiwan. Her works and film performances have been shown in Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Italy and USA.

Artist: Alison Khor


Alison K. is enthusiast in sound and visuals. She used to be a part time singer, production assistant in a television company and voice over talent. She is currently a member of JacAl Map, an experimental music duo. Her first experimental video 24/7 was shown in Japan, EXIS (Experimental Film and Video Festival in Seoul) and others.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Artist: Kok Kai Foong


Kok Kai-Foong graduated in computer science in Tamkang University (Taiwan) and worked as a software engineer for seven years. One day, he decided to quit. He was a column film critic in Sin Chew Daily, and had his first short film made in 2003. Since then, his films have been selected in various international film festivals in Korea, Netherlands, France, Thailand, UK and Germany, that inclusive of International Film Festival Rotterdam, Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, Rencontres Internationales Paris/Berlin among others. In 2007, he was selected to participate in the 5th Berlinale Talent Campus of the Berlin International Film Festival.



Artist: Nadia Mahmud



Nadia Mahmud spends part of her time arranging vertices in 3D space. She spends the other part of her time geeking over Neil Gaiman and being tortured by her very violent and spoilt cat.

“Left” started off as a doodle to observe the different interpretations formed by individuals in her life, sort of like an unplanned Rorschach test. One may see a fish and another may see a mushroom. Ultimately, it’s a small tiny window into another person’s mind and imagination.


Artist: Azman Zulkiply



Azman Zulkiply is a self-taught character illustrator and an independent 3D artist. He “productifies” his unproductive times doodling characters on any surface (usually paper) he could find. His subject varies, from plain dull to straight on grotesque. His visual style is strongly influenced by Film Noir due to its portrayal of corruption and humans’ psychological struggle within themselves.

He currently teaches animation in the Faculty of Creative Multimedia, Multimedia University, Malaysia.

“Aku Taming Sari” is a series of visual development in which he takes a legend and treats it into the dark visual style of Film Noir. The original legend is a story of friendship, betrayal and justice. Its gray portrayal of right and wrong is reminiscent of themes in Film Noir.


Follow his group blog at
http://senimitos.blogspot.com

Artist: Chan Seau Huvi

CHAN SEAU HUVI is a performance artist and a video artist. She is graduated from l’école superièure d’art d’Aix en Provence, France. Huvi starts producing videos for her performance since 2002. She is currently living and working in Kuala Lumpur.

Artist: ZAKU DESIGN FACTORY


Based in Kuala Lumpur,
Zaku Design Factory believes in true creativity, which can sometimes mean working with limited resources, self inflicted deadlines and opposing ideas. BUT we're having fun bringing ideas to life and sharing it with you! We'd like nothing more than having our products exclusive. Hence, we only create 5 to 50 pieces of any one design. Get it, good on you. Miss it, gone forever :)

Website: www.ilovezaku.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ilovezaku

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Artist: Jeremy Chu


Jeremy Chu is a Singapore-born artist, trained in fine arts photography at the Art Institute of Boston. He also studied museology and exhibition making at the MIT List Visual Arts Centre, the Institute of Contemporary Art and Art Interactive, all in Boston. Chu’s solo projects combine performance, installation and photography to explore issues of marginality, dislocation, identity, ritual and desire. He has developed his visual vocabulary around a sensuous, highly tactile aesthetic, which is combined with keen political awareness and a working method that often invites audience/viewer participation, signifying Chu’s belief in the capacity for art as a cultural practice to reshape social relations. His performance and installation project The Fisherman’s Net: A Journey towards Reconciliation (2003) was presented at the Art Institute of Boston and his photographic series I Dream of a Red Pavilion (2006/07) was exhibited at Castlefield Gallery during the Asia Triennial Manchester (2008).


Since 2004, Chu has also collaborated in and organised community-based art projects that involve social research and interventionist-strategies as a mode of engagement and enquiry. Such projects included Sifting the Inner Belt (Boston Centre for the Arts,Boston, USA, 2005) and National Bitter Melon Council (Boston, USA, 2005-present). In April 2008, Chu collaborated with fellow-Singaporean artist Kai Lam and the local curatorial group P-10 to organise the Symposium of the Local at the Asia Triennial Manchester. As a professional fine artist, Chu is represented in private collections in the United States of America and Australia.


Chu lives and works in Singapore.


Short description of the work:

"Between Heaven and Earth" - A site-specific installation


"Everyday colors, everyday things, everyday gestures, and every other

day in a material world."


Artist: Ayisha Rahman

Ayisha Rahman is not a (self-proclaimed) poet, not even a musician. She is a one womyn theatre. She likes to talk to herself about shoes, duct tapes, and venting machines – the metaphorical ones, of course. She calls her allegorical words, her aural-verbal memories. Some are true, some are merely (non)fiction entries of her subconscious mind; mainly concerning on ‘self-diagnosed amnesia’, gender(s) and the strings that are attached to it. When she’s not reading her ‘subconscious mind’ out loud; she is an introvert delta year Digital Media student who fights her narcolepsy by feeding her ears with clever 70s-80s synth, and classic literature.

Fresh from the venting machine, the sleepwalker herself, will be performing poetry soundscape; (shy) satirical kabarett arpeggio-synth style – without tight-laced corset, fishnet stockings, or thunderbolt symbol on her face. (though you can never be too sure). She will be performing with her Baby K and random kiddies toys that she can get her hands on. Oh yes, her words come with lisp.

“The mental image is there, the dots of matrix aren't as accurate though”, says Ayisha.

Artist: Ika Huang


Organic and natural, this is a female singer/songwriter with the perfect kind of presence for this easy listening brand of music. With a voice that is undeniably confident and mature, she effortlessly breathes new life into her acoustic sounding collection of songs that can be enjoyed over and over.

Read more:http://www.myspace.com/ikasound#ixzz0uMcbwpn4

Artist: Silent Keat+Rainf


Silent Keat (real name Tan Boon Chek) is a solo electronic artist. he is also a founding member of artist collective findars.

Rainf (born November 1980 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) is a one man electronic live act artist . from establishing himself as a solo artist ,Rainf is also a member of one of Malaysia 's most promising cantonese dark-core band, Dropout (formerly known as Mumster) as turntablist and sampler. Richly textural, from fractal process music to neo-romantic electronica, harmonically complex yet awash in consonance. This is the sound of DJ Rainf, an intelligent electronica artist with a twist of indie. Besides of creating our preferable music, Rainf also part of member of Bapaguku Sound where the label built to promoting local electronic live act scenes.


Read more: http://www.myspace.com/rainf#ixzz0uyeiB2t1

Artist: HKPT


Bio: HKPT met in prison after being sentenced for minor crimes involving streaking and offence on public toilets. Life in prison was tough with guards beating mates for shaving wrong.

Short description of work: HKPT's hair is done by a friend having a beauty, makeup and lip massage saloon. Glamour Rock is number one. By copying Disco moves you gain exercise with a sound life style. The music sync fail with too hard tension on muscle groups.The gymnastic training outfit are smoking hot being made of soft clothes for a sensitive body.Workout causes heavy sweat and showering is important not to smell bad. Take care and use gentle strokes when washing clean, otherwise the skin will bleed. The guys are barefooted with no shoes or boots not to hurt each other when lifting or pushing together.After being hit by a strong infection, HKPT make sure they are painting nails with natural antibiotic oil. The fellows are kept captured from freedom with the force of the law. The black haired has a mustache often seen on the dance floor during the 70s. It takes good manly male hormones the thick model. You may wonder why there are no girls in HKPT, its because our music is made in a correctional facility for male men. Support charity by buying stuff made by inmates, its the new fashion used by teens and young people of both gender. The warming up is too low in the building and it saves lives to keep the heat manually with friction. The HKPT Guitarist is rough outside but gentle inside, he dont like to fight or compete in any competition. He is slightly retarded or dumb and has problems with difficult words.He loses his temper several times a week and have been arrested before. Inside the wall you need protection. If you drop the soap,you are an easy prey. The sport cell is popular. Its a hall or room with balls and utilities to keep fit. The HKPT singer was fat and ugly but that changed. The reason for being caught is comical. A weed deal was about to be closed but something got wrong. The parts were standing outside a bar when a third came. It was a under cover police man in disguise. He pretended to be a leader or big shot. HKPT was persuaded to travel to a restaurant and enter the dining room. They ordered steak dinner with beer, wine, vodka and sweets.The policeman had a dog which was an expert of finding narcotics like crack or cocaine. He did it on command not to reveal his owner. All started to look dizzy after a couple of hours. An agreement was made to deliver the stuff in the bathroom or toilet. One had to watch for intruders or robbers. A lot of money was involved. A suitcase full of dollar bills chained to the wrist was presented. A laser pen with artificial intelligence circuits was used to detect genuine goods. Two gentlemen was reserves in the military forces and didnt trust the animal. Women was performing a ritual at the scene and the speakers was far too loud. I need a drink said the asian. We started to get bored and didnt suspect the final events. All right,take a break.Without a warning a school class of screaming teenagers ran in.The teachers was old and lost control. The crime was happening now. A bag of illegal cannabis filled chocolate candy marbles was handed over to the thin afro American gay. He checked it with his hands and nose. It smells like flower tea with coffee added. The sugar made the belly go sour. Im bitten! No,its a game we play at home. The doggie Buster isnt dangerous,dont be afraid. The ending chapter was when the pants was pulled to check for microphones or other spy, radio or recording gear.Just a mobile cell phone was found and put on the shell besides the mirror and the candle. Shut the entrance, Dick! A big bang followed by a car crash got us all hyper active and willing to escape. It was too late. Cuffed and humiliated all was driving to rescue.Barbie girlfriend send love.


http://carbonmarrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/installation-for-3rd-pyongyang.html
http://carbonmarrow.blogspot.com/2010/07/hkptjahiliyah.html

Artist: Hee Chee Way

I am interested in photographic and digital art, and likes to insert them in my painting and illustration. I often manipulates printed images and combines them with hand-drawn elements to create collages of reality and fantasy.For this coming show, I am doing some art installation based on the experience I had living in different guesthouse before in different places.
www.urniez.com
cheze.multiply.com

Artist: Wong Perng fey


Born in 1974, Wong Perng Fey is an independent artist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His chosen subject is the Malaysian landscape and oil paints are his favourite medium. The process of his painting forms an emotional bridge between man and his surroundings, exploring questions of belonging, memory, inhabitation, change and permanence. He has exhibited several remarkably sensitive bodies of work, and continues to probe the language of painting to find new powerful interpretations of his subject.
Perng Fey graduated from the Malaysian Institute of Art in 1998 on scholarship and has been a full-time artist ever since. His works have been shown in Kuala Lumpur's major galleries and collected by Malaysian's National Art Gallery and Galeri Petronas.
Perng Fey believes, "Memory is made up from moments that are lost. I paint for memory's sake, about things that are gone, about loss, capturing moments that flash through my mind, moments that will not stay still, because we are constantly moving."

www.wpfey.com

Artist: Ciplak

Ciplak: is a three piece pretenso-poststructuralist-rock band employing unpracticed skills in very practiced frameworks ranging from 12-tone aleatory to fire breathing, Ciplak sucks.
http://www.myspace.com/ciplaktheband

Artist: Alan McLean


Alan McLean uses electric guitar to build finely layered electronic soundscapes. He studied Philosophy in his native Scotland and now lives in Kuala Lumpur where he:


works in an international school;

thinks and writes about learning theory;

tries to emulate the music of classical composer Giacinto Scelsi;

sometimes plays pop music too;

and generally tries quite hard to do interesting things with a guitar and standard 'rock and roll' pedals.


He will collaborate with Michelle Wong (singer) and Tshiung Han (poet) in SGMAAF 2010.



Artist: alt THEA


EXPERIMENT IN LIGHT

The title suggests the theme. The audience will discover the actual theme for themselves.

You never know what to expect from alt

ALT alternates the function of other pressed keys. Thus, the Alt key is a modifier key.

From the Greek theasthai "to behold" (cf. thea "a view," theates "spectator")

Attendees of Sama-sama Guesthouse Mini Art Festival should enter our performance with that idea in mind!

Alt pushes the limits of what dance and theater are conventionally thought of.

Artist: Self Conscious Acronymed Man



Self Conscious Acronymed Man: Yet another mask that is worn to reveal never before seen fake unadulterated emotions and heartbreak.
http://www.myspace.com/selfconsciousacronymedman