Berita Harian 2, opens 12 Jan 2010

Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore (ICAS) co-presents
*Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu;
the surreal
the contemporeal
the cosmoreal

12 JAN, Tuesday
7.30 – 9.30pm
ICA Gallery 2, LASALLE College of the Arts

Symposium
Malay Newspapers: Shifting Functions and Representations

The symposium that will grace the exhibition involves the meeting of minds between artists and academics – a sharing session touching on the function of Malay newspapers in pre-independence and contemporary Singapore.

Panel Exchange

Khairuddin Hori
The birth of Berita Harian 2003 and the need for a legacy of critique in redefining ‘Malay Representation’ in ‘Contemporary Art’

Dr Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied
Malay newspapers in the Life of the Singapore Malays in the pre-independence period

Gene Sha Rudyn
“Berita Harian fails Malay” – coverage of a theatre actor’s work 1998 – 2000 subsequent failure, 2001 -2010

Dr Maznah Mohamad
Malay Newspapers Today: A Misfit?


Moderator:
Adeline Kueh (Senior Lecturer of LASALLE College of the Arts)

Adeline’s previous stints include being the Director of the Intermedia Lab with the Office of Research & Creative Industries, as well as Director of Studies, Art Theory & Art History in the college.

Rooted in cultural studies, her research interests include notions of monstrosity within Southeast Asian contexts, smart fashion, architecture and the future of cinema. She has chaired and presented at a number of cultural studies conferences in UK, Australia, Finland and Hungary.


Speakers:
Zaki Razak (Curator of Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu)

Originally trained in graphic design, Zaki made a switch and later graduated with BA (Hons) in Fine Arts from the University of Huddersfield, UK in 2006. To date, he has undergone residency at The Land Foundation in Chiang Mai, Thailand, curated an exhibition at the National Youth Council, Singapore and exhibited at 1a Space Gallery, Hong Kong.

He is currently completing a Master of Fine Arts programme at LASALLE College of the Arts.


Dr Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied (Co-curator of Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu, Assistant Professor at Department of Malay Studies, NUS)


Much of Khairudin’s work has revolved around the history of Muslims in Southeast Asia, with a special focus on the construction of identities, native resistance to colonial rule, the impact of colonial administrative structures and policies on the lives of ethnic minorities and western perceptions of Islam in the region.

He is currently researching on the histories of minorities in Penang and the Philippines as well anti-colonial resistance in British Malaya.


Dr Maznah Mohamad (Visiting Fellow at Department of Malay Studies, NUS)

Dr Mohamad joined ARI as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow in 2006. Concurrently, she is a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Southeast Asian Studies Programme, NUS.

Maznah’s publications include, The Malay Handloom Weavers: A Study of the Rise and Decline of Traditional Manufacture (ISEAS, 1996); Risking Malaysia: Culture, Politics and Identity (co-edited, Penerbit UKM, 2001) and Feminism and the Women’s Movement in Malaysia (co-authored, Routledge, 2006). She has also published articles on Malaysian politics, Islam, democracy and human rights.


Gene Sha Rudyn (Participating Artist; Theatre practitioner)


Gene Sha Rudyn began performing professionally in his late teens and joined the theatre industry in 1991, playing Tanggang in Si Tanggang at the Singapore Arts Festival Fringe and The Pauper in The Prince and The Pauper the following year.

Two landmark moments in his career were the 2007 six-state Malaysian kampung tour of Anak Bulan Di Kampong Wa’ Hassan and the 2009 mosque premiere of AL-IKHLAS (SINCERITY) – a monologue in seven acts re-introducing God, both unprecedented.
He has performed at international festivals in Australia, Hungary, Japan and New Zealand, and currently leads Keelat Theatre Ensemble.


Khairuddin Hori (Participating Artist; Curator of Berita Harian, 2003)


Khairuddin Hori graduated with a Master of Arts from LASALLE in 2006 and attained a Diploma in Fine Arts at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1998. He has since explored and presented works across various media and disciplines including theatre, painting, sculpture, installation, performance art and the curatorship of contemporary arts.

In early 2009, Khairuddin presented 'Jakarta Biennale Community College', a makeshift school of sorts at the 13th Jakarta Biennale. Meanwhile, Khairuddin's last solo exhibitionTrading Craft, where he employed six Asian curators as his art-makers was presented by Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore at The Substation Gallery (Singapore) and The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok (Thailand) in 2007.




Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu is part of the ICAS programme of exhibitions showcasing contemporary art practice. This exhibition is supported by National Arts Council, Lee Foundation, National University of Singapore, Abd. Gafoor Mosque and Villains.