THE ABRISHAM JOURNEY About Kakiseni Arts Exchange KL 2013 Kakiseni Arts Exchange KL (AEXKL) is Malaysia’s premier arts exchange programme that unites and bridges the local and international performing art communities through a transferand exchange of knowledge. AEXKL is a platform that challenges participants’ perspective and skills by exposing them to other cultures and art forms while simultaneously stimulating public awareness and interest in the performing arts industry through community outreach activities. Already in its second year, the programme brings together a diverse group of artists across vario us artisti c discip lines in a focused, collabora tive effort spanni ng two distin ct tracks: an overseas collaboration/local community outreach and a collaborative workshop between local and international performing artists resulting in a final staged production. As the host of AEXKL, Malaysia is well-placed as the home to a unique and diverse performing arts scene due to its multicultural makeup and wide-ranging cultural heritage. With roots in Malaysian culture but complemented with a global exchange of ideas and ins pir ati on, AEXKL dra ws a thr ead thr oug h Mal ays ian per for min g arti sts, the ir for eign counterparts and the public through the common language of art as a powerful tool ofpersonal expression. Worki ng alongside the Natio nal Department for Cultu re and Arts (Jabata n Kebud ayaan dan Keseni an Negara - JKNN), Kakiseni spearhead s AEXKL by bring ing toget her gover nment , private and public support as a firm foundation for this initiative and the local performing arts industry.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Kakiseni Arts Exchange KL (AEXKL) is Malaysia’s premier arts exchange programme that
unites and bridges the local and international performing art communities through a transfer
and exchange of knowledge. AEXKL is a platform that challenges participants’ perspective
and skills by exposing them to other cultures and art forms while simultaneously stimulating
public awareness and interest in the performing arts industry through community outreachactivities.
Already in its second year, the programme brings together a diverse group of artists across
various artistic disciplines in a focused, collaborative effort spanning two distinct tracks: an
overseas collaboration/local community outreach and a collaborative workshop between local
and international performing artists resulting in a final staged production.
As the host of AEXKL, Malaysia is well-placed as the home to a unique and diverse
performing arts scene due to its multicultural makeup and wide-ranging cultural heritage.
With roots in Malaysian culture but complemented with a global exchange of ideas andinspiration, AEXKL draws a thread through Malaysian performing artists, their foreign
counterparts and the public through the common language of art as a powerful tool of
personal expression.
Working alongside the National Department for Culture and Arts (Jabatan Kebudayaan dan
Kesenian Negara - JKNN), Kakiseni spearheads AEXKL by bringing together government,
private and public support as a firm foundation for this initiative and the local performing arts
For 2013, AEXKL will be spreading its wings westward in an exciting international
collaboration as one of this year’s two major programmes, giving Malaysian artists a once-in-
a-lifetime opportunity to work together with award-winning Iranian puppeteer and thespian
Hamed Zahmatkesh. Whimsically named The Abrisham Journey, the programme will see
local performers handpicked by Zahmatkesh himself to adapt and localise The Mythical
Moon – a classical Persian myth telling the tale of Fereydūn and Zahhāk – to share with
Malaysian children and communities nationwide.
The Abrisham Journey will begin with a six-day workshop from the 25 th of August for up to
20 participants to learn and hone their skills in puppetry, masks, and acting, even culminatingin a forest camping trip for a night. At the end of the workshop, director Zahmatkesh will
choose four performers from the group – two men and two women – for the actual
production of The Mythical Moon.
The finalised cast will then begin rehearsals from the 2nd to 27th of September, working
between 10 to 12 hours a day with breaks every Sunday in preparation for the play which will
be performed in Bahasa Malaysia and in a mobile stage that can be easily transported
between performance venues. To localise the presentation and performance, all props, sets
and costumes will be produced in Malaysia.
The Malaysian cast will then get a once-in-a-lifetime experience to transcend language
barriers and cultures when the story is brought back to its birthplace – Iran. For more than
three weeks, the cast will be performing this classic tale in various Iranian communities and
locales while perfecting it further. This will culminate in performances at the International
Children Theatre in Hamadan between the 16th and 22nd of October, right before the
production travels back to Malaysia on the 23rd of October.
Armed with a unique cultural perspective and experience, the cast of The Mythical Moon will
embark on a tour of Malaysia between the 25th of October and 2nd of November to reach
rural communities in Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor, and Johor, with a main showcase inKuala Lumpur slotted between. By bringing the production off the beaten path, The Mythical
Moon is expected to surprise and delight children of all ages in an entertaining yet easily
understandable manner.
Interested participants can submit their applications from now until 20 August 2013.
• To participate in The Abrisham Journey Workshop (25th – 30th August 2013).• To be videotaped and/or photographed while participating in The Abrisham Journey
Workshop. (Photos and video footage of participants will be used for archival and
promotional purposes only).
• The organiser shall not be held liable for any loss, damage, injury and/or any mishap that
may occur during this workshop.
Name:
NRIC or Passport No:
Date:
_______________________
Participant’s Signature
Please fill in your personal particulars on the next page.