“KHABAR DAN ANGIN: Excursus on Faith in Kelantan” by Projek Dialog presents artists’ field-notes from encounters with various faith communities in the state.
Initiated by Projek Dialog team Ahmad Fuad Rahmat and Yana Rizal, it began with the idea of bringing artists on field-trip to the largely rural Kelantan to engage in a circumstance whereby religious conviction pervades everyday life under the watchful moral investment of the state’s long ruling Islamic political party. The project also wanted to reflect on the complex and dynamic coexistence of minority faith groups practicing various religions, cultural rituals, spiritual devotion, and cosmological notions in a place synonymous with Parti Islam Se-Malaysia.
During the first week, participants comprising of 8 artists and 2 curators were taken on a structured itinerary to meet with community leaders at Thai-Buddhist temples, a Temiar village, Rumah SAHABAT shelter for persons living with HIV, a Hindu Temple, a Gurdwara, Guan Yin temple, Malaysia’s oldest surviving mosque and the Kelantan state mosque. They also witnessed a Main Puteri healing ritual theatre and the Temiar’s Sewang healing dance ritual performed in a community setting. The second week was self-directed by the 5 artists who continued roving along the Malaysia-Thai border.
This exhibition presents works that expose the artist’s individual modes of apprehending spirituality and religion through its attendant issues.
Here are some of the picture of the artwork from our talented local artist Poodien, Engku Iman, KG Krishan, Nadia J Mahfix, Alex Lee, Khatijah Rahmat and William Sim.
For those who are interested in arts and wanted to learn more about our locals culture head down to Balai Seni Visual Negara it’s open for all and it’s still on going till 16 March. All you have to do is come and support this event. For more information about the event do check out on their website here.
