“Evolution Stage”
The birth of a public art festival
Evolution happens where there are anomalies and adaptations. This self-initiative festival baptized “notthatbalai” by Ili Frahana is the first step for four young artists to push the boundaries of art to go beyond lacklustre art conventions. Spanning five days, “notthatbalai” – evolutionary stage in essence centres on art activities moving into experimental mode rather than its artistic value.
In true Malaysian fashion, the intermingling of languages of “notthatbalai” highlights the need for inclusivity, stimulating an atmosphere that leads to better mutual understanding. By allowing people of multi-ethnicity, multi-cultural and multi-religious backgrounds to fraternize, “notthatbalai” festival offers both audience and artists an intimate space for dialogue, exchanges and insights. This temporary space converges upon the borderless realm of art and humanity within Malaysia’s multi-cultural society.
Collaborating with both local and international artists, Lostgens’ bungalow ran amok with visual art exhibitions and happenings, intersecting with flea market stalls, music gigs, movement-based performances, theatrical drama and dances.
Dates of festival
21st to 25th July 2004
Venue
Lost Generation Space
Visual Art
Afwan • Ahmad Zuraimi • Aisyah Baharuddin • Analiza Mohd • Azliza Ayob • Ilham Fadhli • Carries Tan • Chong Kim Chiew • Digital Nusantara Collective • Eddy Sulistyo (Indonesia) • Farius Ahmad Yusoff • Fam Pek Sun • Muhd Fauzul • Nur Hanim Khairuddin • Helen Guek Yee Mei • Ili Farhana Norhayat • Ise • Kurma Manis • Mohamad Rahimi • Liew Chee Heai • Liew Teck Leong • Lim Kok Hong • Lim Kok Yoong • Low Khay Hooi • Nansee • Ng Chia Hui • Ng Kah Yeow • Ng Kim Piew • Ng Wei Ling • Ooi Lee Beng • Pang Khee Taek • Rahmat Haron • RAP (Rumah Air Panas) • Sun Kang Jye • Tan Chean Teak • Tengku Azhari Tg. Azizan • Wong Siew Lee • Yaksa Agus Widodo (Indonesia) • Matahati Group • Muzzafar Kasim
Performance Art
Alam Kitai • Arahmaiani • Jenni and Shirley • nyo-ba & dancers • Seng Soo Ming • Moon Chong • Hoi Foong Yee • Ngiam Tiang Tze • Sim Kien Shiong • Joseph Teo • Sim Wai Yen • Chong Pei Wen • Ng Wei Mei • The ALaRm Co-Op • Yap Sau Bin • Chuah Chong Yong
Arahmaiani Performance Video
In the day-time, school children toured the exhibitions, playfully engaging with the art installations. The children also dipped their hands into artmaking by participating in the printmaking demonstration. As dusks fall, screenings of local independent movies and short films run throughout the evening, in parallel with gigs and art performances. Throughout the night a gathering of art lovers deep in discussions, sharing thoughtful opinions and contemplations at forums organized by the festival. Some performance highlights are Indonesian artist Arahmaiani performance, provoking contemplation of text and its relations to the oppression of the body; Nyo-ba & dancers whimsical site-specific performance; The ALaRm Co-Op proposition among other happenings and art performances. The programme of the festival igniting a succession of post-festival collectives and performances to take place in other alternative spaces such as Food Not Bombs and Universiti Bangsar Utama (UBU). “notthatbalai” deeply believes that exposure to diverse art practices and programmes contributes to an independent and progressive underground art scene.
Through word of mouth, the festival on average drew in hundreds of visitors per day, reinforcing “notthatbalai” belief that artists should make an effort to self-organize events, exhibitions and happenings conveying our own themes, ideas and concerns. By creating this art event, an alternative art space for artistic exchange and incubation can be done anywhere. “notthatbalai” hopes to promote and stimulate more alternative art activities.
This festival would not have happened without the festival organizers, and the support of various private sponsors, personal consultations and support from the local art scene.
Advisor Dr Lam Peng Chong JP • Organiser Saiful Razeman, Ili Farhana Norhayat, Yeoh Lian Heng, Lam Tsu Jiun • Secretary Ili Farhana Norhayat, Yong Pui Ling • Graphic Designer Lam Tsu Jiun • Space Coordinator Ng Wei Ling • Visual Art Producer Ili Farhana Norhayat • Music Producer Saiful Rahman • Performance Producer Joseph Teo • Film Producer Yeoh Lian Heng, Tham Wai Fook ‘sense club’ • Flea Stall Producer Analiza Bt Mohd • Event Coordinator Yeoh Lian Heng • Volunteer Sim Wei Yen, Ng Wei Ling • Modulator Pang Khee Teik
Angela Hijjas • Central Art Gallery 中央画廊 • Chai Bee Yan • Chang Yoong Chia • Chew Wee Jack • Chu Chu Yuan • City Art Gallery 连城画廊 • Dorlis Fong Ying Ying • Dr. Steve Wong • En. Azizan • Gajah Gajah Gallery • Infobase Creation Sdn. Bhd • Jalaini Abu Hassan • James Lim • Lona Tee • Matahati Group • Mr. Khoo and Friend • Mr. Loo Foh Sang • Mr. Poh Swee Hiang • Ms. Tang • Nur Hanim Mohamed Khairuddin & Yayasan Kesenian Perak • Print Code Sdn. Bhd. • Prof. Redza Piyadasa • Rahime Harun • Raja Ahmad Aminullah • Rimbun Dahan • Rumah Air Panas • Sam Muhizam • Sammy Chong • Tan Chui Mui • Tan Sei Hon • TNT Design Studio • U-Wei Haji Saari • Wong Tay Sy • 黄美芬 • 张敏华 • 张依玲 • 黎秋燕 • 拿督蓝平章 • 陈亚才 • 蔡锦南 • 戴炳煌 • 谢书鑫 • 谢锦有 • 合益贸易公司
Why, Where, How “notthatbalai” art festival
Insurrection & Conviviality in Independent Autonomous Zones
A reflection of the attitudes and culture of the times, art influences society and vice versa. In 2003, Malaysia had a new prime minister succeeding an incumbent of twenty two years who was apathetic to the arts beyond its economic value.
For young artists to find strength in artistic freedom, independent art spaces are pivotal as communal meeting points for critical discourse and expressions from artistic, NGO and intellectual communities looking beyond the needs and regulations of commercial galleries and national institutions. Autonomous and open-ended zones that allowed art practice to transverse social networks and media were found in collectives from the 90s such as Spacekraft and Rumah Air Panas among others. Lostgens collective and “notthatbalai” festival continue the paradigm in the same vein as envisaged at Chow Kit Fest 2002, organized by Spacekraft collective.
“notthatbalai” festival arises as a statement by Ili Farhana Norhayat, Saiful Rahman and Lostgens’ TsuJi Lam and Yeoh Lian Heng dismayed at the negligence of the National Art Gallery of Malaysia in engaging young artists, concomitantly promoting an attitude of hierarchal submissiveness. Finding little avenues for arts operating outside the conventional norms dominated by established artists, regulations of nationalist agendas and censorship, “notthatbalai” aims to proliferate progressive alternative artists-run initiatives and happenings which conveys the themes, ideas and concerns of young and radical Malaysian cultural and art workers. Lostgens’ believe that artists should work in an atmosphere of open engagement advancing critical discourse among young art practitioners.
This independent art festival embodies the spirit of sharing, creating and giving, welcoming individuals from diverse artistic disciplines across generations, race and social background initiating a field of relations among cultural workers and artists. By instigating an autonomous space free of control from commercialization and institutional control, the public has direct interactions with the artists. This instils a broader understanding of the local arts scene and appreciation of the arts, forging shared knowledge that crosses boundaries within disciplines and mediums of art. Providing an alternative space for artists to experiment, share and showcase works unsuited to the traditional gallery culture, “notthatbalai” festivals infuses the visual arts and performance scene with the robust spirit from progressive Malaysian youth-led NGOs, underground music and indie films.
