Reading Lolita in KL

Just thought I'd post this up :

Dear friends,

KL Alternative Bookfest (KLAB) is just around the corner (this weekend...) so if you are planning to go KLABbing this weekend, I'd recommend you stop by SIS booth and attend our reading.

It being a
bookfest means there are quite a few readings but there are some very compelling
reasons why you should attend ours.

1. without divulging too much as it's an experiential thing, let's just say it's going to be dark and very interesting.

2. the reading list is a selection of books banned throughout the ages, including works by Darwin, Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, Indonesian writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer, and a few other authors and titles you wouldn't expect to be in the realm of the censored.

3. we've been very lucky to get these booklovers to read (for free and freely) and they are:

hot off the air-con Shanon Shah, Marina Mahathir, Fahmi Fadzil, Cecil Rajendra, Rahmat Haron, Priya K. (young poet), Chi Too (documentary filmmaker and a Mak Bedah), and Aishah Hassan (performing arts student).

Whether this event is (malaysian) shariah-compliant I'm not sure but
it's definitely fatwa-free and 100% mother's day-friendly so bring your BFFs and
their moms and join us as we celebrate the freedom to read.

Here are the details:

Reading Lolita in KL
Sunday, May 10, 2009
4.30pm - 6pm
2nd floor, The Annexe Gallery, Central Market KL


booklovers of
the world unite to take over!

XXXmas

--
Masjaliza Hamzah
Programme Manager (Research & Publications)
Sisters in Islam
7 Jalan 6/10, 46000 Petaling Jaya
Selangor, Malaysia
Tel:603-7785 6121,
Fax:603 7785 8737
Website: www.sistersinislam.org.my

An Alternative Bookfest!

Here's something that has needed to happen for a long time. I'm lifting the whole of Amir's post:

The day after the launch of New Malaysian Essays 1 (a 2-hour event where over 200 local books managed to be sold), I spoke to Zulhabri Supian (who works at Gerakbudaya) about the possibility of organising a longer event that focuses on local books. This idea was strengthened when, a week later, I found out that several Malay fiction books were rejected by a large distributor; although no reasons were given, the fact that none of them had 'Cinta' or "Kasih' in the title may have been a contributing factor. So this is what we came up with; do join us!

The 1st KL Alternative Bookfest (KLAB) will be held on the weekend of 3-4 May, 2008 at The Annexe, Central Market.

Held less than a month after the mammoth Pesta Buku KL (where you can buy as many text-books, romance novels and religious instruction manuals as you want), it will be held simultaneously with the very popular Art For Grabs event – but in a different room.

KLAB is ... basically a gathering of small, independent publishers who would like a popular venue to sell, launch and discuss books. We seek to fill 10-15 tables. Each table can be taken up by one publisher, or it can be shared between various people who each have books to sell.

There are many happenin' Malaysian books now being published; the trouble is, not many of them are readily available in the main bookshops. This is an opportunity to bring these books to the public, and to make the whole process fun lah.

4 tables have already been filled up; they are by Gerakbudaya, SIRD, Silverfish, and Matahari Books. We seek 6-11 others. We are in negotiations to bring one publisher each from Singapore & Indonesia too.

The events we plan are:
- Book launch by Hishamuddin Rais
- Discussion of new books, with the authors present
- A 'book give-away' where people can simply get rid of books they no longer want, for free. This will physically take up one corner of the room, where people can just leave the books. The idea is to make interesting books available even to those who can't afford to buy 'em. The remainder of the books will be donated, most likely to The Ricecooker Shop
- Bilingual poetry slam, where the audience gets to vote for favourite performers (to be coordinated by Ted Mahsun)
- And more!

Details:
The fee per table (for both days) is RM100
The event is from 12-6pm both days.
Deadline to receive entries (including payment) is April 26
Payment goes directly to The Annexe

Interested? Contact zulhabri at gmail dot com.

An Outrageous Burst of DIY Creativity

Amir Muhammad's latest project New Malaysian Essays is being launched at Central Market Annexe tomorrow night (16th). I can personally vouch for the book (which contains essays by Brian Yap, Aminuddin Mahmud, Burhan Baki, Saharil Hasrin Sanin, Amir Muhammad and Sonia Randhawa) being mighty good brain food. Amir has tempting glimpses of each of the essays on his blog, and Brian Yap's piece The Trouble With Malaysia can also be read (footnotes and all) in this months issue of Off the Edge. The Sun is also publishing extracts.

A whole lot of other good indie stuff will be launched and sold including Chuah Guat Eng's new collection of short stories The Old House (which I will be writing about later), Bernice Chauly's The Book of Sins, Sufian Abas' collection of disposable (?) pop fiction in Malay Kasut Biru Rubina, and new albums by Jerome Kugan (at last!), Hardesh Singh and the amazing Mia Palancia.

I think Amir (who is proving himself quite remarkably adept at marketing his products) is the very first Malaysian publisher to create a video trailer for a book, and I do hope this is the start of a new trend :



Earlier in the day, Kata-Suara is holding readings at featuring Aisyah Baharudin, Azman Ismail, Azmyl Yunor, Bernice Chauly, Pyan Habib, Razali Endun and Usratika. The event starts at 5 p.m. and the venue is RA Fine Arts, 6 Jalan Aman, off Jalan Tun Razak. (Map here.)

Those with sufficient energy and commitment and a ticket for the LRT should be able to make both events, but do make sure you have deep pockets to buy books and CD's at Amir's bash.

The Complete Ghoul

Here's an exhibition worth checking out this weekend, and the topic is one very close to my heart:

The Annexe Gallery, Central Market
presents

SENSORS
An exhibition of new works by Sharon Chin

Exhibition Opening:
Fri 21 Sep 2007, 8pm
The Annexe Gallery, Central Market
Refreshments are served

Exhibition dates: Fri 21 Sep – Sun 7 Oct, 2007
The Annexe Gallery, 2nd Floor, Central Market Annexe, KL
Opening hours: 11am – 7pm (Mon – Sat), 11am – 5pm (Sun)
Enquiries: 03 2274 6542, 03 2070 1137
Admission is free

'The totalitarian order depends for its very existence on a precarious equilibrium. Without the heretic, the rebel, the writer, the state crumbles: yet by tolerating him, the ruler equally well seals his fate. As least by implication, Big Brother's mighty system disappears because he wanted to eradicate the dissident - but could not do without him'.
-Andre Brink-

‘Sexual organs move independently of will… from this disobedience of the flesh, mark of a fallen state, none are exempt, not even in the guardians of our morals’.
-J.M. Coetzee-

Sensors is an exhibition that takes banned books as a motif. Central to the show is the idea that the process of censorship is essentially arbitrary in nature. A book may be banned in Malaysia according to detailed guidelines, but any attempt to objectively define these guidelines is difficult. The 1500 or so banned titles (since 1971) only suggest, not define, what is deemed forbidden, transgressive or offensive in our society. Thinking about censorship draws for us merely shadowy shapes of our fears, which disappear like wraiths when exposed in the light of knowledge and discourse.

Sensors comprises an installation in two parts, housed in two adjacent gallery spaces. The first consists of a buzz wire game – the sort commonly found at fun fairs, in which the player runs a little hoop along a bent wire, attempting to reach the end of the wire without touching it. If the hoop touches the wire, a buzzer goes off and the player loses. In Sensors, several buzz wires stretch along the length of the gallery. The shape of the wire follows a histogram chart of categories of books that have been banned in Malaysia from 1971 to the present day. The viewer is invited to play with the buzz wire. Each time the hoop touches the wire, a warning light goes off. In this way, information about banned books becomes a spatial entity negotiated physically by the audience.

The second installation is in the adjacent space, which is blacked out. Viewers are provided with handheld torches to navigate the work which consists of several ‘doors’ hanging in space. The viewers open the ‘doors’ to discover monsters and mythical creatures that have been painted on lists of banned books. They may examine these works only by the dim light of the torch. The secret, irrational atmosphere of this installation is in contrast with that of the other space, which is ostensibly characterized by objectivity, empiricism and rationality.

Rather than lament the lack of access to banned materials, this exhibition seeks to explore censorship as a paradoxical and complex process. The completion of this project was made possible with the generous support of a grant from the inaugural Krishen Jit Astro Fund.

Sharon Chin was born in KL in 1980. Returning from studies in New Zealand and Australia (Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland, 2001; BFA, Victorian College of the Arts, 2003), this young artist has already made quite an impact on the Malaysian art scene. Working with text and sculpture, especially in site- specific installations, her work looks at how we negotiate geography, history, human relations and language in the contemporary imagination. Her most recent body of work, Fourth World, was shown at the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur in 2006. She also writes regularly on art for various local publications, including The Star, Kakiseni and Off The Edge.

Style Tips from Rafidah

Got some style tips from International Industry and Trade Minister, Rafidah Aziz yesterday. A woman needs big hair and lipstick and a dapper little leather suit to be successful. Certainly not a dragged through the belukah hair style. And not a scruffy tee to blend in with the arty types who came to Amir Muhammad's book launch for Politicians say the Darndest Things.

But I am proudly wearing the name tag I got as a freebie with the book. I was one of the many Nik Aziz's walking around chatting to the Samy's and Mahathir's.

For photos of other celebs (ahem!) photographed with their dolled-up role models (courtesy of Hishamuddin Rais), and a full account of the proceedings, take a look at Amir's blog.

It was a fun affair, and it was so nice to meet up with friends I feel I've been neglecting over the past few weeks ... and to make a few new ones including folks who've popped up to befriend me on Facebook, but were hitherto unknown in real life. (Yes, I've got hooked too.)

Brian Yap read an amusing piece about turning national service into reality TV (perlease don't give the politicians ideas lah!), Amir read an older essay about khinzir (politicallly correct term for piggies) from Generation, the book he co-authored with Kam Raslan and Sheryl Stoddart.

Amir's book wasn't the only one being launched: illustrator Shahril Nizam's If Only, a collection of his words and art also made it's debut. Sharanya read just one poem - but it was so beautifully delivered. (The artist was outside at the time and missed it.)

Shahril is one shy guy, but so talented, and I am so happy to have this book after hanging round his blog admiringly for so long.

I came home and had my nose in Amir's book all evening, until Abu got annoyed with me.

(Photo by Nikki Tok. Many thanks!)

Amir and The Foot in Mouth Syndrome

I reckon some politicians are really going to be kicking themselves when they get their hands on Amir Muhummad's new book Malaysian Politicians Say the Darndest Things, a compilation of some of the most telling and (I hope unintentionally) funny lines uttered by those in the driving seat.

Some gems from the book (and can you remember who said them?):

Only women who are not pretty should be employed by the State government, as these women would not be able to get rich husbands who can support them financially.

The best way to improve your golf is to chop down the rainforest.

All local institutions of higher learning must give serious attention to the problem of effeminate men on campus.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Shahril Nizam, which is another great reason to buy it.

And what's more, you're invited to the launch:

Sunday, 16 September, 3-5 pm.
The Annexe Gallery, Central Market Annexe, KL.
The launch-day price is RM20. Sales from the day after that, in bookstores, will be RM30.

At the launch itself, there are four bonus features:
* No speeches by VIPs but there will be readings.
* The simultaneous launch of the artist Shahril Nizam's book If Only.
* Photography exhibition by Danny Lim and Hishamuddin Rais.
* Gifts for the first 50 buyers.

You can find out more about the book here.

Malaysian Politicians Say the Darndest Things is the first title to be published by Matahari Books, which was set up in 2007 to publish non-fiction about Malaysia.

For further details:
matahari.books@gmail.com

Take A Seat While I'm Away!

Am off today to the deepest wilds of the Pahang for the next three days, not for fun, but for work: I'm visiting trainee teachers in their schools and am looking forward to the change of scene very much. While I'm away, let me leave you this space to talk about the good books you're reading ... though I suspect most of you are deep into your hard-won Harry Potters.

I have books to write about when I get back. Recently read Mukhtar Mai's In the Name of Honour (which took me only a couple of hours!), and a novel from my to-be-read shelf - William Boyd's Brazzaville Beach. I've been dipping into Tunku Halim's collection of spooky stories 44 Cemetery Road in odd moments too and leave it on the dining table so I can have a quick snack on it while I'm waiting for something to cook.

Now I'm trying to decide what to put in my bag for my trip ... hmmm ... lots of books shouting Read Me! Read Me! Impatient devils!

I also leave you with some pictures of bibliochairs which I've been waiting to post for a while. Can't remember where I found the first two or who sent them to me, for which I apologise profusely, but I think they're all pretty clever!

An end to storage problems?

A novel way of using up remaindered books?

And a clever use for old Yellow Pages! (This one was on display at Central Market Annexe recently but I can't find my note of the artist's name.)

Words for Freedom

Missed the grand opening for the World Press Freedom Day at Central Market yesterday but was happy to meet a couple of important advocates for freedom of expression for the first time.

One was controversial blogger Jeff Ooi, pictured here with Animah Kosai and Sarah; the other director for Centre for Independent Journalism, Sonia Randhawa. I also met up again with Rocky.

I was very happy to pick up a couple of CIJ's publications for free: Instant expert: The Malaysian Media and Freedom of Expression and the Media.

Animah and I had agreed to do readings. (Or rather, I got roped in, so I roped Animah in!) My friend Diana Cooper also turned up to support. (Many thanks!)

The event was an hour later in starting (apparently because some folks wanted to go and have lunch). We got tired and hungry and hot waiting around and went to have some lunch ourselves. A good discovery was that the Indian restaurant in the annexe has some of the best tandoori chicken and naan I've tasted.

When the event finally got going, the appalling sound system meant that the readers couldn't be heard clearly. Tshiung Han See read something that turned out to be a war poem by Robert Bly. (He gave me his copy afterwards.)

A couple of young guys got up and read pieces in Tamil. (It would have been really nice if they could at least have said what they were reading.) A girl strummed a guitar and sang Bird on the Wire.

I read the piece by Asli Erdogan in my best schoolteacherly manner, trying to be as loud as possible to compensate for the distorting microphone. Animah read a verse from the Quran (remind me which one again, Animah!) which fitted the theme very well and then a very effective extract from Brecht's Gallileo.

We snuck out early, unable to bear the poor sound quality and the heat any longer.

There are some nice pictures of the opening on Jeff's blog.

Zounds! It's Zephaniah!

Michael Cheang has an excellent piece about performance poet Benjamin Zephaniah in Star Two today.

How many of you went to see this hard-hitting and hugely entertaining poet when he was in KL last week? I saw part of his performance at the Litfest itself, but the Central Market gig sponsored by the British Council was the main act.

The audience was amazing. here must have been 200 people crammed into the gallery space. For poetry!!! What in the name of Shakespeare is happening to this city?

I was late (thanks to the time it took to get a plate of fried rice at Bau-Bau cafe!) and got there halfway through Rahmat Harun's set. Rahmat, it has to be said, has even better dreadlocks than Zephaniah (I remember how we decorated them with gerbera daisies at the first "Readings" he came to!) and I enjoyed his last poem which was a personal letter to Zephaniah.

The crowd were very appreciative of Zephaniah who took us through a hugely entertaining series of his poems, many of which had a strong political undercurrent.

What Stephen Lawrence Has Taught Us, for example, is about a gross miscarriage of justice in Britain. An Afro-Caribbean boy was murdered at a bus stop and his (white) killers were never brought to justice, although everyone knew that they were guilty.

We know who the killers are,
We have watched them strut before us
As proud as sick Mussolinis’,
We have watched them strut before us
Compassionless and arrogant,
They paraded before us,
Like angels of death
Protected by the law.

I enjoyed the quirky magic of White Comedy which playfully turns the language on its head to ask, why is everything white considered good, and everything black bad?

I waz whitemailed
By a white witch,
Wid white magic
An white lies,
Branded by a white sheep
I slaved as a whitesmith
Near a white spot
Where I suffered whitewater fever.
Whitelisted as a whiteleg
I waz in de white book
As a master of white art,
It waz like white death.

There was a very nice poem about father to son conversations with his father, another that made me laugh in which he had turned racial stereotypes very nicely on their heads and I think one about banknotes (which he collects).

He finished with his charming and funny Talking Turkey ... which might just turn me into a vegetarian next Christmas!

You can find out more about Zephaniah and read a selection of poetry on his website.

Update:

Read Sally Ann's account of Zephaniah's visit to her school.

Pages from the Literary Tatler - Dina's Launch

So Wednesday night, there we were at Central Market Annexe for the launch of Dina Zaman's I Am Muslim.

Here are the copies piled high ...

Saras took a shine to these handsome young men who were Dina's bodyguards.

Saras again with Shahril Nizam Ahmad who designed the eye-catching cover, and Marisa Misron who was my editor when I wrote for Chrome.

There was an exhibition of art by the artists who have set up stalls in Central Market - and I couldn't resist using some of my favourite pieces as backdrops for photos of some of my friends. Here's Animah of course.

and playwright/actor Kee ThuanChye ...

and poet and publisher Raja Ahmad ...

and a very bulgy MyWordUp founder See Ming posing with an even bulgier lady.

Cool guy Reza, who took care of the sound.

After a prayer to bless the occasion, a performance of Malaysia's traditional martial art - Silat, with a bit of kris waving. There was a spectacular "swirling dervishes" dance performance by Chakra Works.

Peter Schier of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation which sponsored the publication of the book gave a very good speech outlining why he thinks the book is a very important one.

A speech from publisher Raman of Silverfish Books about why he decided to publish Dina's work.

A shy speech from the lady herself in which she thanked those who had supported her.

The symbolic moment of launch ... the banner a bit wonky at first ...

A couple of readings. Here's Chye reading the account of the visit to the weird masseur ...

It was hard to take a decent picture of Dina - she didn't keep still for very long! But at last I managed to get her to pose for one with me. She had told me that the dress code for the evening was white so that we all looked like angels. I dug the only white things that I could find out of my wardrobe. When I showed the pic to Ruhayat X later on, he said that I looked like an advert for ironing!

Dina with her family. I'd heard so much from her about her marvellously supportive mum and dad so it was really good to meet them. I think Dina looks like her mum!

Couldn't resist the opportunity to pose for a Bloggers Are Liars photo with a gaggle of bloggers and blog friends. The tall guy on the far left is of course Ahirudin Attan aka Rocky and one of the two bloggers currently being sued for defamation by the New Straits Times. In front of him Ruby Ahmad, then my blog groupies Animah and Saras then me (towering over everyone) with Chet just in front of me. Then broadcaster journalist Zahara Othman who goes by nom-de-blog Kak Teh, Nuraina A Samad and Zarina (Eliza of the Haberdashery).

Afterwards a group of us dropped by a nearby mamak shop for a drink en route to the LRT.

Here's Animah, Chet, Kenny Mah and Leon, and below Zahara with veteran journalist Aishah Ali who had brought along some of Zahara's press clippings.

Thanks Dina for a lovely evening in the company of good friends! May the book hit the bestseller list soon.

Postscript:

You can read lots of other accounts of the evening on other blogs. Dina of course has all the behind the scenes stories, entertaining stories and great pictures. The most howling funny one though is her account of the naked man when she went to inspect the venue. (Please Dina never take your blog down again. I want to laugh at this every time I feel blue). Madcap Machinist made an excellent job of the sound for the evening and was the latest to get accosted in the men's loo. Here's Ruby Ahmad having a good time and Chet networking with all the bloggers and blog friends. More links to be added as they're written.

We Made the Telegraph!

It makes you realise that even in the parts of the world where our politicians have singularly failed to make an impact - or made a negative one - British literature can sneak in, appreciate other cultures and show them what we have to offer. ... Sitting in the Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, I feel as though being a British novelist is the best job in the world.

Novelist Louise Doughty writing about being at our Night of the Living Text event at Central Market in the Daily Telegraph!

You know you're doing something right when an event you organise here makes the British press!!!!!!!

Now, when's the next one?

(Pic of Louise nicked from the Telegraph)

Kakisenied!

Even the tiniest scintilla of snobbery would have turned the whole thing into an exhibition of exhibitionism, but these were writers with heart, not ego. They were there to entertain, not showboat, and all six thoroughly excellent wordsmiths endeared themselves to us immeasurably.

Sherry Siebel reviews our Night of the Living Text event on the Kakiseni website.

I wanna organise another one now!!!!

(Dunno whose mouth this is, but I nicked it from the Kakiseni website)

Night of the Living Text

The "sexy" poster Ruhayat X promised.

Please feel free to paste on your own blogs and websites, and pass it on to anyone else you think would like to have it.

“Readings” goes International!

Beat those mid-week blues! Come and hear an exciting line-up of poets and authors from the UK, Malaysia, The Philippines and Singapore at Central Market Annex next Wednesday night.

Featuring:

Louise Doughty (UK)

Roger Robinson (UK)

Tan Twan Eng (Malaysia)

Dina Zaman (Malaysia)

Kam Raslan (Malaysia)

Isagani R.Cruz (The Philippines)

Venue: Main Gallery, 2nd Floor, Central Market Annex, Central Market, Kuala Lumpur.

Date: 7/2/07

Time: 8.30 p.m.

Free admission. Everyone very welcome.

Organised by Sharon Bakar with the assistance of The British Council and Central Market.

(Enquiries: sbakar at streamyx dot com - 012-6848835)

Please pass this information on to anyone you feel would be interested.

International "Readings" - So Who's Coming?

So here's the line up of writers and poets for the "Readings" event 8.30, February 7th at Central Market Annex!

Roger Robinson is a poet, short fiction writer and lyricist who lives between London and Trinidad. He has performed worldwide and is an experienced workshop leader and lecturer on poetry. His performances often incorporate words and music, and his one-man shows are: The Shadow Boxer; Letter from My Father’s Brother; and Prohibition (all premiered at the British Festival of Visual Theatre at Battersea Arts Centre). He was also chosen by Decibel as one of 50 writers who have influenced the black-British writing canon over the past 50 years. He has published a book of short fiction, Adventures in 3D (2001) and a poetry collection, Suitcase (2004), and is currently working on a full-length novel.

Up to 2000, Roger Robinson was programme co-ordinator of Apples and Snakes. He was one of 30 poets chosen for the New Generation Poets collection at the National Portrait Gallery.

Louise Doughty is a novelist, playwright and critic. She is the author of five novels: Crazy Paving, Dance with Me, Honey-Dew, Fires in the Dark and Stone Cradle, and five plays for radio.

She has worked widely as a critic and broadcaster in the UK, where she lives, including a spell as Theatre Critic for the Mail on Sunday and presenter of several books and arts series for BBC Radio 4. In June 2007, Simon & Schuster UK will publish her first work of non-fiction, A Novel in a Year, based on her highly successful newspaper column of 2006. Throughout 2007, she will be writing another column for the Daily Telegraph's Saturday Review entitled A Writer's Year.

Isagani R. Cruz writes plays, essays, and short stories in Filipino and English, for which he has won numerous awards, including a SEAWRITE award, a Centennial Literary Contest award, and a Gawad Balagtas award. He has been named to the Hall of Fame of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards in Literature. He has written or edited more than 30 books.

He is also the Former Philippine Undersecretary of Education, the Director of the Teachers Academy of Far Eastern University in Manila, a Visiting Lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University, and a Professor Emeritus, a University Fellow, and the Executive Publisher of Academic Publications of De La Salle University Manila. (A much longer version of his CV can be found on his blog!)

Tan Twan Eng was born in Penang, but lived in various places in Malaysia as a child. He studied law through the University of London, and later worked as an advocate and solicitor in one of Kuala Lumpur's most reputable law firms. He also has a first-dan ranking in aikido and is a strong proponent for the conservation of heritage buildings. He has spent the last year travelling around South Africa, and is currently living in Malaysia. His first novel The Gift of Rain is to be published in the UK by Myrmidon Books in March 2007.

Kam Raslan is a writer and director, working in film, TV and theatre in Malaysia. He is a columnist in The Edge weekly and Off The Edge magazine. Some of his writings were previously compiled in Generation. He also writes for Instant Café Theatre and will one day make his feature film. His first novel Confessions of an Old Boy has been serialised in Off the Edge and will be published in book form in March 2007 by Marshall-Cavendish.

Dina Zaman writes both fiction and non-fiction, and is interested in "religion, society and what makes Malaysians tick". She has a B.A. in Mass Communication and Creative Writing from Western Michigan University and an M.A. in Creative Writing from Lancaster University and has been published abroad and locally. Her first collection of short fiction was night & day, published by Rhino Press (1997), while her play Harakiri was produced by Chakra Works in 2003.

She began her career in journalism with her column Dina's Dalca in the New Straits Times. She has also written for other publications including Men's Review, Marie Claire, and the Rentakini section of online newspaper Malaysiakini which she also edited. Her new book, I Am Muslim is due to be published by Silverfish Books in March 2007.

Postscript:

Ruhayat X is in the process of making me a sexy poster for the event which I will post tomorrow.

Please note that, sadly, Edwin Thumboo who was on the list earlier, will not now be reading.

Space to Read

Was at Central Market Annex today to meet the lovely Pang and look at spaces for the International Readings on 7th.

Renovation work is still going on - there were teams of workmen banging about all over the place, wooden floors were being sanded and varnished, but when the place is finished ... I think it's really going to be a home from home for all in the arts community and I can already think of ways I'd like to occupy some of the rooms!

As for the quest at hand - I took one look at the main gallery on the 2nd floor and declared that this was exactly what I wanted. There is an exhibition on at the moment celebrating the landmarks of New York and Kuala Lumpur. The photography is excellent. Nearly broke my heart all over again over an installation by Caecer Chong showing a huge blow up of Bok House as it was being demolished, with masking tape over all the evidence of mutilation ... as if a sticking plaster could heal the wound. (I got a bit carried away in the guest book and almost ended up writing an essay.) Also very much enjoyed working out what was happening in the Pang's own photos ... hidden in a little side room. And came away educated about landmarks I hadn't realised were landmarks.

Pang cut me a deal for the room hire, logistics were worked out and we celebrated with curry mee in Central Market next door. Am comforted that despite the renovations, this place is as tacky as ever.

Had a really nice wander through Chinatown after that with a visit to my favourite shop - Peter Ho's - which sells all kinds of household treasures, clothes, jewellery and divine cakes.

But an otherwise perfect day was spoiled by my car breaking down and needing the medical services of a tow-truck.

Anyway, the publicity for the event will be out shortly ...

Postscript

Pang is organising Art Bites a weekend of creative workshops at Central Market Annex for the public on 3rd and 4th February, and has roped in some of KL's top arts practitioners. Sessions include story telling, folk dancing, drumming, creative writing, theatre games, collage art, relaxation techniques and a talk on the history of philosophy.

Pang's New Arts Space

Pang sent me this ad. and since it's a venue I'd like to use myself in time to come ...

17.1.7
MALAM BUKA PANGGUNG
Oh no! Not another arts centre!

But seriously:

Venue: 2nd Floor, The Annexe @ Central Market, KL
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2007
Time: 8.30pm

As you might have heard, along with the upgrading of Central Market, The Annexe @ Central Market has been converted into an arts centre. Yes, an arts centre right smack in the heart of the city. About time, eh? Over the last few months, we have discovered wonderful spaces within the building that can now be shared by artists for exhibitions, performances, workshops, multidisciplinary projects, and all things practical and impractical.

17.1.7 – Malam Buka Panggung is to introduce the arts centre to the arts community of KL. We would like to invite you to come and see the possibilities at hand and to join us in celebrating... no, not just another arts centre, but a way of life!

On this special night, The Annexe @ Central Market is blessed with performances by the following artistic and spiritual guardians:

Marion D' Cruz
Hishamuddin Rais
Carburetor Dung
Lee Swee Keong
Fahmi Fadzil
Mohd Kamrulbahri Hussin
Hardesh Singh
Juliana Yasin
Ray Langenbach
and ASWARA students, under Joseph Gonzales, performing the Buka Panggung from Mak Yong

Refreshments provided. See you there!

Pang Khee Teik
Arts Programme Director,
Central Market
012 305 1135

Central Market Annexe, Jalan Hang Kasturi, 50050 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03 2031 0399 / 5399 / 7399 / 9399