A Heritage Institution of MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF THE MALAY LANGUAGE ON PAGE AND STAGE Singapore’s national language takes centre stage at the Malay Heritage Centre’s latest special exhibition and Malay CultureFest 2016 (Left to right) Mr Ong Yew Huat, Chairman, National Heritage Board; Mdm Zuraidah Abdullah, Chairperson, Malay Heritage Foundation; Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu; Ms Yeoh Chee Yan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth, and Mr Alvin Tan, Assistant CE (Policy and Community), NHB – Image courtesy of Malay Heritage Centre Singapore, 15 October 2016 – From familiar folk songs like Rasa Sayang, to words which we use in our daily conversations – Bahasa Melayu (the Malay language) is near and dear to every Singaporean, regardless of ethnicity, and has a special place in the Singaporean conversation. This year, the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) presents Bahasa (or Language) as the central theme behind its 5 th annual special exhibition and Malay CultureFest 2016, in a tribute to how the region’s lingua franca has shaped Singapore’s national identity.
Transcript
A Heritage Institution of
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF THE MALAY LANGUAGE ON PAGE AND STAGE
Singapore’s national language takes centre stage at the Malay Heritage Centre’s latest
special exhibition and Malay CultureFest 2016
(Left to right) Mr Ong Yew Huat, Chairman, National Heritage Board; Mdm Zuraidah Abdullah,
Chairperson, Malay Heritage Foundation; Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu; Ms
Yeoh Chee Yan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth, and Mr Alvin Tan,
Assistant CE (Policy and Community), NHB – Image courtesy of Malay Heritage Centre
Singapore, 15 October 2016 – From familiar folk songs like Rasa Sayang, to words which
we use in our daily conversations – Bahasa Melayu (the Malay language) is near and dear to
every Singaporean, regardless of ethnicity, and has a special place in the Singaporean
conversation. This year, the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) presents Bahasa (or Language)
as the central theme behind its 5th annual special exhibition and Malay CultureFest 2016, in
a tribute to how the region’s lingua franca has shaped Singapore’s national identity.
A Heritage Institution of
2 Mr Harneis Hadir, General Manager for MHC, said, “The Malay language plays a
central role in our society and is a common thread linking us to our neighbours in the region.
It is also a reminder of our shared heritage and history. Bahasa Melayu is the voice of
important ideas and issues in the Malay community, and a record of the rich Malay cultural
tradition. By presenting various facets of language through the special exhibition and the
Malay CultureFest this year, we hope that Malays and non-Malays alike will get a better
understanding of the relationship between the Malay language and our larger Singaporean
identity.”
Bahasa Melayu as a marker of the times
3 With a nod to Kampong Gelam’s past as a prominent publishing centre in the region,
MHC’s special exhibition entitled Mereka Utusan: Imprinting Malay Modernity 1920s –
1960s, happening from 16 October 2016 to 25 June 2017, explores the development of
Malay identity and modernity through the medium of print. The exhibition features over 100
artefacts and reproductions mostly from MHC’s collection. Through these, visitors gain
insights into the aspirations and anxieties of the Malay community in Singapore during those
early years; as well as their responses to important historical events, such as the Great
Depression, World War II and the nationalist movements which swept across Southeast
Asia.
4 Exhibition highlights include well-known publications of the day, such as a copy of
Hiboran with a commemorative Merdeka cover, and an issue of the first Singapore edition of
Indonesian news magazine Waktu, which carried a message from the then-Chief Minister of
Singapore, Lim Yew Hock. Copies of the Utusan Melayu, which was managed by Singapore
pioneer Eunos Abdullah will also be displayed. In addition, a Chandler & Price ‘New Series’
platen press produced between 1916 and 1925, will give visitors an idea of the tools of the
trade in the early 1900s.
5 The visual language of advertisements, editorial cartoons and comics is further
boosted by two specially commissioned artworks by Singapore art collective vertical
submarine and artist Mojoko.
A Heritage Institution of
Bahasa Melayu in arts and culture
7 From understanding the language of print media, and the relationship between
consumers and publications, we move to the experience of language through the performing
arts. MHC’s signature annual festival, the Malay CultureFest 2016, runs from 15 October to
5 November 2016. The three-week long festival celebrates the many dynamic ways in which
the Malay language manifests itself as a language of the arts and culture. There will be an
extensive line-up of 21 different programmes - ranging from oratorical, dance and music
performances; to educational talks, tours and interesting workshops perfect for families with
young children.
8 Festival highlights include witty exchanges of pantun (quartrains) in Malam Dondang
Sayang, directed by respected writer and composer Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zain (Pak Ngah),
and featuring established Malay and Peranakan practitioners, including pantun master
performer GT Lye; and a musical collaboration Alunan Gambus between Singapore group
Sri Mahligai and Malaysia’s Kuympulan Gambus Nurulhilal as part of the inaugural
Singapore Gambus Conference. The festival will close with TAMADUN: Dari Istana Turun ke
Kota (From the Palace to the City), an original dance performance by the Dian Dancers, the
Centre’s current incubation arts group, and Indonesian dance group Sanggar Tari Kembing
Sore, amongst others. The evening’s programme includes dances performed exclusively for
royalty in the past, as well as folk and contemporary creations.
9 Both the exhibition and festival will be accompanied by experiential programmes,
catered for visitors of all ages. These include a specially-curated Publishers and Printers
Heritage Trail around Kampong Gelam, hands-on workshops for printing art, letterpress,
screen-writing and Jawi script calligraphy, as well as educational programmes for teachers
and young children. Please refer to Annexes A and B for details on the exhibition, festival
and programmes; or go to MHC’s website www.malayheritage.org.sg
Mereka Utusan: Imprinting Malay Modernity 1920s – 1960s
Date: 16 Oct 2016 – 25 June 2017 Malay Heritage Centre Free admission
Under the 2016 theme of Bahasa (or Language), the Malay Heritage Centre’s fifth special
exhibition, titled Mereka Utusan: Imprinting Malay Modernity, affirms the importance of
language to a community by tracing the development of Malay modernity and identity through
print, advertisements and editorial cartoons. Gain insights into how the Malay community in
Singapore used the power of the mass media to discuss and respond to historical events such
as the Great Depression, World War II, and the nationalist movements that swept across
Southeast Asia afterwards.
Exhibition Highlights of Mereka Utusan: Imprinting Malay Modernity 1920s – 1960s
Commissioned artworks
Gallery Description
1 Written with Erasure by vertical submarine
The idea behind Written with Erasure is the concept of ‘sous rature’ (under
erasure), which refers to the act of crossing out a word within a text while
allowing the word to remain legible and in place. It signifies a word that is no
longer suitable or adequate in the given context yet necessary to represent a
concept – and in this case, an identity. More than just a mere typographical
expression, it demonstrates how in the process of writing, the act of erasing
does not necessarily create an absence but instead continues to assert its
omnipresence.
vertical submarine has constructed an imaginary 'work space' based on
Pendeta Za'ba (né Zainal Abidin Ahmad, b. 1895 – d. 1973), an intellectual
who was in between this period of transition. This study serves as the vantage
point of a scholar who was sensitive to the ways in which written language is
not just a medium for communication, but also a vital essence of tradition and
culture.
On the writing desk, visitors will notice a piece of paper on which someone
has attempted to transliterate Za’ba’s writings from Rumi to Jawi. The
transition from Jawi to Rumi (Malay in Romanised script) was a pivotal
moment in the history of the Malay language. The new form in which Malay
was written created opportunities for the Malay language to reach out to a
non-Jawi literate audience and was thus intended to form the basis for a more
inclusive nationhood. Although Za'ba supported this change during the third
Malay Language and Literary Congress (1956), he also lamented how
Romanised Malay would detrimentally affect the use of Jawi as a visual
medium of Malay linguistic expression.
The installation, which includes artefacts and archival material from the MHC
collection, invites visitors to enter and explore this space. As they discover
more about Za’ba’s passion for the Malay language, the hope is that visitors
will unearth the different layers of history buried beneath what is ostensibly
an integral part of Malay cultural heritage.
About the artist
vertical submarine is an art collective from Singapore whose works include
installations, drawings and paintings involving text, storytelling and humour.
In 2009, they presented an exhibition at the Singapore Art Museum as part of
the President’s Young Talents showcase. They have since completed
projects in Spain, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, the Philippines, Mexico City,
Australia and Germany. They have also won several awards including the
Celeste Prize 2011 (Installation), the Credit Suisse Artist Residency Award
2009, the President’s Young Talents Award 2009.
2 In Love with the World by Mojoko
In Love with the World is a celebration of the imagery and diversity of Malay
publishing in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Contrary to popular expectations, this
period was a boom time for popular culture, the publishing industry and
international politics. Local celebrities like P. Ramlee and Sarimah featured
alongside international blockbusters whilst illustrations and photography
brightened the pages of these beautiful magazines, some of which were filled
with serious messages and others a mix of frivolous celeb-dom (celebrity
fandom) and theatrical reviews. Jam-packed with advertising and beautiful
people, it paved the way for a modern Malay culture that was both diverse
and exciting. The archive at the Malay Heritage Centre houses an extensive
range of publications which were used as the source material for the work.
About the artist
Born in Iran, raised in Hong Kong and educated in Europe, Mojoko (aka Steve
Lawler) attended the prestigious FABRICA art residency in Treviso, Northern
Italy in 2001. Launching his interactive design career at Diesel, he thrived in
the creative industry as an artist, designer, art director and creative director.
He is also creator of the Kult Magazine, Gallery & Studio. His works explore
the old and historical, alongside new media such as computer programming,
digital sculpture, painting and printmaking.
Artefact highlights
No Image Description
1.
Chandler & Price ‘New Series’ platen press
c. 1920s | Singapore | On loan from National Parks Board Founded in 1881, Chandler & Price was a leading manufacturer of printing presses based in Cleveland, Ohio. The company’s popularity coincided with a burgeoning printing industry in North America but also outside of it – including Singapore, where this particular edition is located. It is estimated that 100,000 of such presses were manufactured from the company’s founding up till the 1960s. This particular press is a 8" x 12" ‘New Series’
platen press, produced between 1916 and 1925
based on its serial number. During this time, only a
few publishing houses and offices in Singapore,
including British-run publishers, would have
achieved the size and capital needed to purchase
this from the US, It would have been used to
produce smaller documents including invoices,
which corroborates the printing press’ original
location at Fort Canning Park (formerly the site of
the British barracks). The New Series press is
made up of exceedingly heavy and broad
components, which were designed to be durable
and long-lasting.
2.
Mutiara Issue No. 180
c. 1960s | Singapore | Publisher: HARMY | Malay Heritage Centre Collection, National Heritage Board This special issue of Mutiara magazine contains stories which marry technological advancements and space explorations with stories of a religious slant. This is also probably one of the magazine’s later issues before the end of a successful 14-year run in 1962. The issue coincides with the Malay community’s increased interest in in space exploration, in part fuelled by intense coverage of the international space race in newspapers, radio and television. The stories nevertheless possess a distinctively local atmosphere, signalling the community’s own assimilation of these
technological developments into their own language and concerns. Mutiara itself was founded at Royal Press (which
was located at 745 North Bridge) by Harun
Aminurrashid, whose own writings and teachings
invoked Malay history and folklore. The
magazine’s first issue debuted in 1948 under
Harun’s editorship and announced the editor’s
desire for “stories that build the society”. The
editorship was later passed on to younger writers
Abdul Jalil Nor, Abdullah Salleh and later Dahlan
Buyong (aka Arenawati) amongst others.
3.
‘Kemajuan dan Kekuatan dapat dicapai hanya
dengan Bersatu’
(‘Progress and Strength can only be achieved
through Unity’)
c. 20th century | Malacca | On loan from The Royal Press Heritage Sdn Bhd
The message on this rare Jawi letterpress plate (‘BERSATU’) (or ‘UNITED’) is reminiscent of former Malay political slogans that rallied writers, activists and musicians towards independence, pan-Malay unity and/or self-organisation. In this instance, the letterpress block is believed to have been used by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) to print their commemorative magazine in Melaka during the 1960s. UMNO itself played a crucial role between its founding in 1946 till the 1960s in advocating pan-Malay ideals that also included Singapore. Such ideals were shared by magazine editors as well, including Harun Aminurrashid and Abdul Rahim Kajai.
4.
‘Minumlah Pepsi-Cola Yang Sejuk, Minuman
Untuk Persahabatan’
(‘Drink A Cold Pepsi-Cola: A Beverage for
Friendship’)
Undated | Singapore | On loan from National Museum of Singapore, National Heritage Board This tinplate sign advertises a ‘Pepsi-Cola’ drink,
and may have been used in provision shops or
restaurants where the cola was sold. The slogan is
typical of advertisements at the time, which
promoted food and beverages through messages
of overall mental and physical health and well-
being. Although written in Jawi, the sign is fronted
by a Western pin-up model, showing the
proliferation of Western visual culture in the local
imagination.
5.
‘Message from the Chief Minister’
Waktu Issue No. 45
December 1956 | Singapore | Publisher: Waktu Press | Malay Heritage Centre Collection, National Heritage Board Waktu was a weekly news magazine produced in Indonesia. This issue – the 45th in the series – is the magazine’s first Singaporean edition and is prefaced by a letter by the Chief Minister at the time, Mr Lim Yew Hock. The letter reinstates the important geographical and cultural relationship between Singapore and Indonesia as well as the role of journalism and publishing in cultivating this relationship. Accordingly, the magazine is littered with columns
covering the following issues; the British
administration; local political developments; Dutch-
English-Malay language columns. The magazine
is also seen to be the choice for various large
advertisers including Mobil, Scott’s Emulsion, Keg
and Continental.
6.
Merdeka Commemorative Cover
Hiboran Issue No. 522
August 1957 | Singapore | Publisher: The Royal Press | Malay Heritage Centre Collection, National Heritage Board This cover of Hiboran from 31 August 1957 commemorates Hari Merdeka or the Day of Independence for the Federation of Malaysia. It ambitiously compresses Malaysia’s history into a few illustrated frames, beginning with a depiction of the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century at the top, the Second World War in the middle and ending with a declamation of Merdeka at the bottom. In line with this sequence, the editor’s note on the first page victoriously proclaims: ‘Tanah Melayu Kembali Lagi’ or ‘The Malay homeland is returned once more’.
7.
A ‘Max Factor’ lipstick
c. 1960s | Singapore | Courtesy of National Museum of Singapore, National Heritage Board ‘Max Factor’, a popular American cosmetics brand, started appearing in local Malay magazines in the late 1960s and often featured Western models and makeup tips inspired by the latest Hollywood fads. An editorial in Majalah Filem encourages women to create fuller, bigger eyes with the aid of their makeup – presumably inspired by Western fashions. Max Factor also produced products such as this elegant-looking lipstick. The head of the lipstick cover is embossed with an early Max Factor logo, showing early attempts at branding.
8.
Utusan Malayu ran from 1907 till 1922
1918 | Singapore | Publisher: Utusan Melayu Press
| Reproduced with permission from National
Library Board
Utusan Malayu, from which this reproduction is
taken, ran from 1907 to 1921 and was intended to
be the Malay supplement to the British-owned The
Singapore Free Press as well as provide a contrast
to more religious publications in Malay that were
circulating at the time. As such, this edition of
Utusan Malayu (from 1918) provides
characteristically general reading in the form of
telegrams reporting on various events around the
world and some select advertisements of local
cinemas. Eunos Abdullah was approached by the
founders of Utusan Melayu to manage the
newspaper.
9.
‘Cara Pendidikan Timur dan Barat’ (‘Education
in the East and the West’)
Hiboran Issue No. 419
1955 | Singapore | Malay Heritage Centre
Collection, National Heritage Board
Hiboran is best known for their weekly editorial
cartoons, which provided incisive, witty
commentary on social, cultural and political
developments in Singapore. During its print run
from 1946 to the 1950s, the cartoons commented
on events as wide-ranging as Merdeka and beauty
pageants. This particular cartoon pokes fun at the
seeming decadence of Western society by
depicting an expatriate with a dancing manual in
hand whilst a Malay bystander is self-absorbed in
his thoughts about the approach of independence.
10.
Che’ Atimah bin Hamidan on the cover of
Hiboran
Hiboran Issue No. 428
October 1955 | Singapore | Publisher: The Royal Press | Malay Heritage Centre Collection, National Heritage Board This cover of Hiboran features Che’ Atimah bin Hamidan, who is described as having recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Malaya on a Federal Government scholarship. The placement of Che’ Atimah on the cover is consistent with the growing advocacy of Malay and Muslim women’s rights during this time.
11.
‘Kebudayaan Melayu Akan Hapus?’ (‘Will
Malay Values Be Lost?’)
Hiboran Issue No. 518
August 1957 | Singapore | Publisher: The Royal Press | Malay Heritage Centre Collection, National Heritage Board This opinion editorial is a third instalment of a series by an unknown writer about the state of Malay society. This particular piece analyses the ways in which the Malay community retains its values and customs in the face of increasing Westernisation. Its publication is contemporaneous with the explosion of foreign products and imagery in the media, as well as discussions reviving Malay nationalist ideals following WWII. Its discussion of these themes in August 1957 also coincides with Merdeka. It was published in Hiboran which covered
entertainment related news but also a vast range
of issues from political, social to cultural and
featured editorials which allowed the magazine to
reach out to a wider reading audience.
Exhibition Programmes
Tours and Trails
Image credit: Abdullah Ali, The
Royal Press
Dichetak Oleh:
A Publishers and Printers Heritage Trail
Session 1: Saturday,11 March 2017
Session 2: Saturday, 25 March 2017
11.00am – 12.30pm
Kampong Gelam precinct
Register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or call 6391
0450 for more information.
Relive the days when Kampong Gelam was the printing
hub of the Malay world as you embark on a trail to learn
more about the history of the Malay printing industry.
Curators’ Tour
Saturday, 5 November 2016 and 11 February 2017,
2.00pm – 3.30pm
Friday, 7 April 2017, 7.30pm – 8.30pm
Gallery 1 and 2
Register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or call 6391
0450 for more information.
Learn more about the Malay publishing world in this
special tour conducted by the curators of Mereka Utusan
and discover fun insights about key artefacts and how the
exhibition was put together.
Workshops
Printing Art: A Letterpress Workshop by
TYPESETTINGSG*
Saturday, 5 November 2016
10.00am – 12.30pm
MHC Auditorium
S$20/pax, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com
or call 6391 0450 for more information
Experiment with a letterpress proofing press under the
guidance of Yao Yu, owner of Typsettingsg, and
personalise your very own tote bag with vintage wood
types!
Image credit: SUPERSEGAK
Family Pop-up Screenprinting Booth by
SUPERSEGAK
Saturday, 29 October 2016
2.00pm – 5.00pm
Courtyard 1
Free, registration not required
Get up close with the equipment and tools used in
screenprinting and create up to three postcards inspired
by magazine covers from the exhibition.
Image credit: Singapore Tyler
Print Institute
Printing Art: A Screenprint Workshop by Singapore
Tyler-Print Institute
Saturday, February 2017
10.00am – 12.30pm
MHC Auditorium
S$20/pax, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com
or call 6391 0450 for more information
Learn more about the art of screen-printing in this
workshop organised by the Singapore Tyler Print Institute
and create your own limited-edition prints.
Printing Art: A Dry Point Workshop by Singapore
Tyler-Print Institute
Saturday, May 2017
10.00am – 12.30pm
MHC Auditorium
S$20/pax, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com
or call 6391 0450 for more information
Find out more about the what’s and how’s of dry point in
this workshop conducted by the Singapore Tyler Print
Institute and bring home prints inspired by the exhibition.
Talks
Image Credit: Malay Heritage
Centre
Bukan Basi: Mengenai Geng Indie
In conjunction with Malay CultureFest 2016 & Mereka
Utusan Special Exhibition
Saturday, 22 October 2016
2.00pm – 4.30pm
MHC Auditorium
Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or call
6391 0450 for more information
Learn more about the rising popularity of indie literary
works, which is gaining a following amongst the younger
generation in the region. ‘Bahasa Bukan Basi’: About
the Indie Group will discuss the importance of these
works to the development of contemporary Malay
literature.
Speakers
Faisal Tehrani, Resident Writer, Department of Malay
Studies, National University of Singapore
Ronasina, Writer, Malaysia
Dr Azhar Ibrahim, Department of Malay Studies, National
University of Singapore
Comics of the Nusantara
In conjunction with Mereka Utusan Special Exhibition
Saturday, 14 January 2017
2.00pm – 4.30pm
MHC Auditorium
Register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or call 6391
0450 for more information.
Step into the wonderful world of comics and graphic
novels at this public lecture and learn more about the
development of comics and graphic novels in Singapore,
Malaysia and Indonesia amidst recent social, economic
and political developments.
Please check our website at malayheritage.org.sg for
15 Oct – 5 Nov 2016 Malay Heritage Centre Free admission
Celebrate the richness and diversity of Malay culture and heritage as the annual Malay CultureFest returns in October this year! Under the theme of Bahasa (or language), the festival presents the Malay language through various creative and dynamic platforms such as oratorical performances, multimedia, dance and music. Visitors may also get a more hands-on feel with song-writing, letter-press and silk-screening workshops, lectures on the Malay language or Jawi writing, or pick up the basics of the gambus – a traditional Malay string instrument.
Programmes
Festival Highlights
Malam Dondang Sayang Friday, 21 October 2016 8.00pm – 10.00pm MHC Auditorium Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or
call 6391 0450 for more information.
Enjoy this dondang sayang concert which will highlight the different styles as practiced by the local Malay and Peranakan practitioners as they engage in a playful banter of pantun (quatrains) with their Malaysian counterparts.
Image Credit: Imej Ihsan: Sri
Mahligai
Image Credit: Imej Ihsan:
Kumpulan Gambus Nurulhilal
Alunan Gambus Sunday, 30 October 2016 8.30pm MHC Lawn Free, registration not required The 1st Singapore Gambus Conference ends with a highlight performance featuring Singapore’s Malay traditional music group Sri Mahligai joining forces with Kumpulan Gambus Nurulhilal from Malaysia in a closing concert not to be missed!
TAMADUN: Dari Istana Turun Ke Kota (From the Palace to The City) Saturday, 5 November 2016 8.30pm – 10.00pm MHC Lawn Free, registration not required Enjoy this spectacle of various dances as they were practiced in the royal palaces of old, to the folk and the contemporary creations.
Other Programmes
Keroncong Kita Sunday, 16 October 2016 8.30pm – 9.30pm MHC Lawn Free, registration not required Enjoy various original and re-arranged keroncong pieces such as Tender Biru, Keroncong Kemayoran and Rangkaian Melati with Teratakseni Kita (Our Home for the Arts).
Teroka Nada Saturday, 22 October 2016 8.00pm – 10.00pm MHC Auditorium Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or
call 6391 0450 for more information.
Teroka Nada is a mini concert which will present traditional and folk Malay songs that mention and describe famous Singapore landmarks at the time of composition.
Image Credit: Imej Ihsan: Firqah
Alwehdah
Singapore Gambus Conference Presents Firqah Alwehdah Friday, 28 October 2016 8.30pm onwards Bussorah Street Free, registration not required Be mesmerized and prepare to groove along as Firqah Alwehdah from the Arabs’ Association belt out modern & traditional Arabic music from Egypt, Algeria and the Gulf countries in their energetic and lively performance!
Image Credit: Imej Ihsan: Fauziah
Gambus
Singapore Gambus Conference Presents Nobat Kota Singa & Fauziah Gambus Saturday, 29 October 2016 8.30pm MHC Auditorium Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or
call 6391 0450 for more information.
Sit back, relax & enjoy the night watching the music performance of Sabah’s very own Princess of Gambus, Fauziah Suhaili, as she performs some of Sabah’s folk songs & other catchy, familiar tunes, backed by one of Singapore’s Malay traditional music group, Nobat Kota Singa.
MHC Public Lecture Series: Bahasa “Bukan Basi”: About The Indie Group
Saturday, 22 October 2016 2.00pm – 4.30pm MHC Auditorium The lecture will be conducted in English and Malay.
Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or
call 6391 0450 for more information.
This forum will look into the rising popularity of Indie literary works in the region where it has gained a substantial amount of supporters, especially amongst the younger generation and the effects of this development. How different is the language used in these so-called ‘Indie’ literary works and how is it important in ensuring the continuity of literary development in the region?
MHC Public Lecture Series: The [sub] Versions of Syair (Rhymed Poems with Narratives) - An Evolving Eloquence By Dr. Azhar Ibrahim
Sunday, 23 October 2016 11.00am – 1.00pm MHC Auditorium The lecture will be conducted in English and Malay.
Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or
call 6391 0450 for more information.
Malay syairs, a narrative rhyming poetic form commonly found throughout the Malay-Indonesian world, is still written and recited today. In this talk, Dr Azhar outlines the history and discusses the various forms of Malay syairs which have evolved over the centuries. He will also be exploring the various functions of syair, how its content can be rather subversive in nature and reflects social criticism, as illustrated by the Syair Kesaksian (the Syair of Witnessing) collection.
Image Credit: Imej Ihsan: Larry Hilarian
Francis
The Structure And Development Of The Malay Gambus (Lute) by Dr. Larry Hilarian Francis Tuesday, 25 October 2016 7.30pm – 9.30pm MHC Auditorium The lecture will be conducted in English.
Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or
call 6391 0450 for more information.
Dr. Larry Hilarian Francis will discuss the organology of the Malay-lute and explore the development in the nineteenth century of two types of folk-lute, both termed “gambus” that are found in the Malay world (alam Melayu); gambus Hadhramaut and gambus Melayu.
Image Credit: Imej Ihsan: Nizam Attan
History Of Gambus Music in Singapore by Nizam Attan Wednesday, 26 October 2016 7.30pm – 9.30pm MHC Auditorium The lecture will be conducted in English and Malay.
Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or
call 6391 0450 for more information.
Nizam Attan will share on the history of gambus music which was once thriving in Singapore in the early 1960’s- 1970’s and the background history of Ustaz Attan Hassan, one of pioneers in Gambus music in Singapore who formed the Gambus music ensemble, Kumpulan Gambus Nurulhilal during mid-1970s.
Gambus Rhythm Therapy: Astrology, Effects on The Organs of The Body, Time Relationship & Healing Effects by Raja Zulkarnain Thursday, 27 October 2016 7.30pm – 9.30pm MHC Auditorium The lecture will be conducted in English and Malay.
Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or
call 6391 0450 for more information.
In this lecture, Raja Zulkarnain will share his knowledge on the healing effects of the different Maqamat (modes), methods of utilising music therapy, as well as discussing the therapeutic effects of music on the soul.
The Construction of Gambus by Halidan Ithnin Saturday, 29 October 2016 2.00pm MHC Auditorium The lecture will be conducted in Malay.
Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or
call 6391 0450 for more information.
In this lecture, Mr. Halidan will explain the process of building a gambus - from the choice of wood, the tools and right to the finishing of the final product.
Basic #oudtalk by Azrin Abdullah Sunday, 30 October 2016 2.30pm MHC Auditorium The lecture will be conducted in English and Malay.
Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or
call 6391 0450 for more information.
Azrin Abdullah will be presenting a basic introduction to the exotic instrument, globally known as oud, as well as demonstrate the different styles of playing in the different Middle Eastern regions such as Egypt, Iraq & Turkey.
MHC Public Lecture Series: Pantun (Quatrains):
The Art of the Implied By Suhaimi Bin Nasrain
Thursday, 3 November 2016 6.00pm - 7.00pm MHC Auditorium The lecture will be conducted in English.
Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or
call 6391 0450 for more information.
Discover and appreciate the finer points of the pantun,
a Malay poetic art form which is often set to music and
sung. Consisting of a rhyming quatrain, the pantun
may be difficult to understand and even appear
frivolous or nonsensical to the uninitiated. Yet, the
central role it occupies in everyday Malay life suggests
pantun has a deeper meaning and purpose. This talk
explores the role of the pantun, its beginnings, literary
structure and the various ways in which it is presented.
MHC Public Lecture Series: Seminar Lagu & Bahasa Sejak Tahun 40-an by Yusnor Ef (Seminar on Songs & Language Since the 40s) by Yusnor Ef Friday, 4 November 2016 5.00pm – 6.00pm MHC Auditorium The lecture will be conducted in Malay.
Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or
call 6391 0450 for more information.
Listen and learn from Cikgu Yusnor Ef as he transcends the various movements and evolutions that had transpired from the last 50 years of music in Malaya and eventually in Singapore.
Bengkel Penulisan Senikata (Lyric Writing Workshop) With Md Khair Yasin Wednesday, 19 October 2016 2.00pm – 5.00pm Auditorium With Siso Kopratasa: Thursday, 20 October 2016 2.00pm – 6.00pm Auditorium With Ebiet G. Ade: Friday, 21 October 2016 9.00am – 1.00pm Auditorium The workshops will be conducted in Malay.
S$25/pax, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or call 6391 0450 for more information Look forward to this series of song writing workshops which cover various genres of Malay music. Participants will be mentored by Khair Yasin, Siso Kopratasa and Ebiet G. Ade.
Discovering the Jawi Script and Scripting Jawi By HAZWORKS* Discovering the Jawi Script: Saturday, 22 October 2016 10.00am – 12.30pm MHC Auditorium Scripting Jawi: Saturday, 29 October 2016 10.00am – 12.30pm MHC Auditorium S$20/session S$30 for two sessions Register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or call 6391 0450 for more information *Limited to 20 pax per session. In this two-part workshop, discover the history of Jawi script that was used for centuries in the Malay Archipelago. Learn to read the Jawi alphabet and apply your newfound knowledge in the second session by creating your very own Jawi calligraphy on canvas! **Basic Malay is required for the workshop
Gambus Workshop by Azrin Abdullah Sunday, 30 October 2016 4.00pm MHC Auditorium The workshops will be conducted in English.
Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or
call 6391 0450 for more information.
In this workshop, Azrin Abdullah explores the possibilities of employing the embellishments in oud playing into the Malay traditional music such as zapin & ghazal.
Image Credit: Imej Ihsan: Hatch Theatrics
Playwriting Workshop with Hatch Theatrics Session 1 Tuesday, 1 November 2016 6.00pm – 8.00pm MHC Auditorium Session 2 Wednesday, 2 November 2016 6.00pm – 8.00pm MHC Auditorium The workshop will be conducted in English and Malay. Plays are to be written in Malay.
*Limited to 15 pax per session Free, register via malayheritagecentre.peatix.com or call 6391 0450 for more information The Malay world is full of stories that encompass every aspect of life. Sadly, many of these stories have been forgotten. In this workshop, participants will get a chance to re-acquaint themselves with their favourite folktales and work them into a play script tailor-made for a young audience of today. Join Hatch Theatrics and discover the storyteller within you.
