Latest news with #EtherealEchoes
The Star
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Weekend for the arts: 'Ethereal Echoes' exhibition, 'I Love Perak' film series
EXHIBITION: LAI LOONG SUNG'S 'ETHEREAL ECHOES' Venue: Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai Malaysia, Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL Date: ends June 8 Ethereal Echoes: Sketches And Recent Works, an evocative solo exhibition that traces the four-decade artistic journey of Selangor-born veteran artist Lai Loong Sung has taken over the Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) art gallery space. It offers the public a rare opportunity to engage with over 80 deeply reflective works — including manuscripts, oil paintings, and ink pieces — created by Lai between 1986 and 2024. Rooted in both philosophical insight and personal revelation, Ethereal Echoes draws inspiration from the ancient Chinese text Zhuangzi, where 'Tianlai' (Heavenly Sound) refers to the 'unspoken word' — the soundless sound that echoes from the universe and the depths of the human soul. As Lai shares, 'Ethereal Echoes is a melody from the heavens and a sound born within humanity.' This exhibition represents the culmination of Lai's ongoing reflections on the complexities of contemporary life — from war and environmental degradation to the impact of rapid technological advancement — woven together with intimate expressions of the inner self. The show is divided into three sections, each part of the exhibition invites viewers on a deeply contemplative journey. Free admission exhibition. Open: 11am-5pm. Closed on Mondays. More info here. DANCE: 'THE QUIET IS SO NOISY' Venue: Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC), Empire Damansara, Petaling Jaya Date: May 10 and 11 Need a break from the hustle and bustle? Presented by Kongsi Petak, this solo contemporary dance performance offers an alternative to the usual weekend rush — an invitation to experience sound and silence through movement. Created and performed by Gabriel Wong, an award-winning dancer based in Sabah and Paris, The Quiet Is So Noisy is solo performance that merges physical poetry with emotional depth. Drawing on the language of contemporary dance — the work delves into the emotional contradictions of silence: its capacity to soothe or suffocate, to heal or estrange. Through intricate choreography and raw, embodied movement, Wong navigates themes of mental health, loneliness, and resilience, offering a visceral exploration of what it means to be alone with one's thoughts in an increasingly noisy world. More info here. FILM SCREENING: 'PERAK I LOVE YOU' Venue: Centre For Film's Research & Appreciation, Alam Budiman, Shah Alam Date: May 10, 8.15pm Tonight, the Wayang Budiman series is hosting "Perak I Love You", a special screening featuring two short documentaries highlighting the unique charms of the Malaysian state of Perak. Uthaya Sankar SB's 2025 film Kenangan Di Lorong B is a heartfelt love letter to Taiping, the town he grew up in, while Ansell Tan's The Forgotten Railway Of Kinta Valley (2024) explores the overlooked history of the Ipoh–Tronoh railway branch — once the vital artery of the Kinta Valley's booming tin mining era. The screenings will be followed by a sharing session with the documentary directors and a Q&A session, moderated by Amir Muhammad. Established in 2014, the Centre For Film's Research & Appreciation serves as a dedicated community space for the study, preservation, and appreciation of cinema. More info here. Esther Geh's 'The Peranakan Kitchen: The Kamcheng (watercolour on paper, 2022), which is part of the group exhibition at Harta Space. Photo: Artemis Art EXHIBITION: 'MORE MEN (AND A WOMAN) WITH PLANTS' Venue: Harta Space, Ampang, Selangor Date: ends May 30 Continuing its ongoing collaboration with Harta Space, Artemis Art presents More Men (And A Woman) With Plants, the latest iteration of a thoughtfully evolving exhibition series by Penang-based artists who draw inspiration from, and pay homage to, one of nature's most enduring yet often overlooked presences: plants. Featuring works by Ch'ng Kiah Kiean, Cheah Meng Kwok, Esther Geh, Fuan Wong (also the series co-founder), Howard Tan, IMMJN, and Thomas Howell, the exhibition goes beyond the conventions of botanical art. Here, plants are not merely subjects of study, but vessels of memory, emotion, and time — rendered in a range of mediums from ink and photography to glass and mixed media. Each work offers a distinct lens into the ways flora can reflect inner states, cultural imprints, and our ever-evolving relationship with the natural world. This also marks the third instalment of the Men In Plants exhibition series, following earlier editions in George Town. Keep an eye out for workshops and artist-led tours happening throughout the exhibition period. More info here. A view of Tan Zi Hao's installation series 'You Again' (steel and stainless steel, 2022) at the group A 'Colloquy' exhibition. Photo: Wei-Ling Gallery EXHIBITION: 'A COLLOQUY' Venue: Wei-Ling Gallery Kuala Lumpur Date: ends May 17 Wei-Ling Gallery is showing A Colloquy, a group exhibition featuring eight contemporary artists whose practices investigate the complexities of language and typography as forms of expression. Among the highlights are the Malaysian debuts of Kameelah Janan Rasheed (United States) and Cian Dayrit (Philippines), both internationally recognised for their critical engagement with text-based art. On view through May 17, the exhibition spans the entire gallery space in Brickfields and includes works by Choy Chun Wei, H. H. Lim, Ivan Lam, Marcos Kueh, Tan Zi Hao, and Yin Yin Wong (Netherlands). By employing diverse approaches - ranging from installation and painting to print and mixed media - the artists examine typography not merely as a vehicle for clarity, but as a mutable, expressive medium shaped by cultural and technological shifts. More info here. A view of 'The Plantation Plot' group exhibition at Ilham Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Ilham Gallery EXHIBITION: 'THE PLANTATION PLOT' Venue: Ilham Gallery, Kuala Lumpur Date: ends Sept 21 The Plantation Plot is an art exhibition featuring the work of 28 artists from South-East Asia and the Americas, showing how plantations shaped the world we live in today. The exhibition, curated by Lim Sheau Yun, looks at plantations, which were big farms that grew just one kind of crop, like sugar or rubber, to sell across the globe. These farms were part of European empires that grew wealthy by using people's labour to harvest crops. The exhibition takes inspiration from Jamaican writer Sylvia Wynter, who thought of plantations not just as places, but also as stories about power and control. Plantations needed a lot of workers, many of whom were forced to travel far from their homes. For example, workers from India and Sri Lanka were sent to harvest tea, while people from the Amazon were made to collect rubber on land they already owned. Many of these workers were treated as less important than the crops they were forced to grow, and their lives were changed forever. This exhibition is a collaboration between Ilham Gallery and Kadist, a global non-profit arts organisation. This weekend, Filipino multimedia artist Cian Dayrit will be speaking about his art practice and its intersections with activism, colonial histories, and critical geography in an artist talk (May 10 at 3pm), followed by a hands-on cartographic workshop (May 11 at 2pm), both held at the gallery. More info here.
Khaleej Times
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Immersive, experiential: Luxury brands are offering cool new ways to shop
Retail can be therapeutic, but shoppers are craving more. And so curators of luxury brands are going the extra mile to offer immersive shopping experiences to their target market. Experiential retail not only engages the consumer but also creates nostalgia and sensory experiences one cannot possibly escape. To captivate the audience and connect with them on an emotional level, brands are making the stores unique, dynamic, meaningful, and most importantly, Instagrammable! 'We're living in an incredibly fascinating time where boundaries between the physical and digital are blurring, and immersive experiences have become a natural part of our everyday lives. What once felt like a game (remember the Pokémon Go craze?) has now evolved into a whole new way of interacting with the world around us,' says Dubai-based Marina Fedorova, artist and creative mind behind Cosmodreams. When it comes to luxury shopping, as consumers we like to physically go to the store and get a sense of what we are splurging on. The sensory experience is what matters. Details matter. Lighting, ambience, music, hospitality, product display — everything matters. Experiential retail should tell a story, a sweet narrative that hooks the customer as soon as they step into the store. Today, there's 3D mapping turning a dinner at a restaurant into a theatrical performance. We can try on jewellery or clothes virtually before making a purchase — or shop for digital outfits to dress our avatars in the metaverse. It's become the new normal to visit virtual exhibitions, walk through digital museums, and experience the story behind a painting through augmented reality. 'We're no longer just shopping or visiting a gallery — we're stepping into carefully curated worlds. What was once the realm of science fiction is now becoming our daily reality, and I find it absolutely thrilling. The future is here, and it's immersive, interactive, and beautifully designed,' says Marina. Her artworks have been presented at major exhibitions including Art Dubai, Dubai Design Week and Ethereal Echoes with Yousef Akbar. That's the thing. People crave stimulation. Especially in the addictive digital world, physically oriented sensory experiences are need of the hour. Today, everything is expected to be immersive, interactive, and entertaining. A traditional exhibition with just paintings on the walls might no longer be enough to draw a crowd. Whether it's a gallery, a café, or a luxury boutique, audiences are seeking experiences. 'Luxury is no longer just about exclusivity, it's about experience. Sensory engagement plays a crucial role in elevating brand perception, making every interaction feel bespoke and personal. From the scent of a boutique to the textures of a product display, the soundscapes in a salon or the curated lighting in a high-end retail space, each element is designed to evoke emotion. This level of immersion enhances the shopping experience by making it more intimate and memorable. When customers feel emotionally connected, they don't just buy a product, they buy into a lifestyle,' says Sakshi Nath, co-founder of Trèsind and the founder of Queens Beauty Lounge. Experiential shopping is the new luxury and it has become an essential part of how brands connect with their customers, especially in the luxury world. While food and retail is a potential market, art is coming up in a big way. For one thing, there has been a rise in the number of collaborations between luxury brands and contemporary artists. This crossover can be exciting and mutually beneficial: it introduces art to a wider audience, and gives artists new platforms to express themselves. Newer techniques like augmented reality and virtual reality aren't just tech gimmicks — they're evolving forms of art. And yes, they're absolutely reshaping the shopping experience, particularly for those who are curious and open to experimentation. While international brands like LVMH and Dior are already nailing it when it comes to experiential shopping — there's a line-up of UAE-based brands curating some fabulous experiences. Take, for example, jewellery and piercing brand Kismet by Milka. 'We focus on offering unique, personalised experiences that go beyond just purchasing jewellery. Our stores have dedicated piercing corners with professional piercers who consider ear anatomy when selecting the perfect piercing, guiding clients through the entire process, including aftercare. It's all about providing a complete, thoughtful journey. 'Additionally, we offer infinity bracelets where clients collaborate with our team to design a bracelet together. This bespoke approach makes the experience feel like stepping into a mini design house, where every detail is curated. Then, we also complement the space with carefully selected art pieces that align with our store's interior, creating a harmonious and immersive atmosphere,' says Milka Karaagacli Ince, the founder of Kismet by Milka. Brand immersion makes people more likely to engage and connect, and in turn, buy. There are stores that look like art museums and there are stores with live streaming where people can see the creativity and craftsmanship in real-time. It allows people to feel part of the storytelling. How does that impact the buying power of the consumer? 'As an artist, it's difficult for me to judge this purely from a commercial perspective. But I would like to believe that yes, in some way, it does. Even if someone can't afford to buy a Dior handbag, they might still visit a Dior exhibition in Tokyo, Paris, or New York and step into the brand's universe. That emotional connection — that sense of being part of a story — is incredibly powerful. Brand immersion invites people not just to consume, but to dream. It builds a relationship that goes beyond the product. When a brand creates a world you can touch, see, and feel — whether through scent, sound, architecture, or digital design — it becomes more than just an object of desire. It becomes an experience,' believes Marina Fedorova. It's a fact that Dubai is a gigantic market and it is experiencing a revolution in the retail sector. Experiential luxury is a global trend and now it's seeping into the UAE market. It's not just the product alone. It's more that the client wants. So how experimental will the concept stores get to tempt the shopper and influence them to buy will be an interesting trend to watch. So next time, when you walk into that favourite luxury store of yours, don't be surprised if you experience a well curated line-up of fashion, art, food, interiors — all in one — exclusive and limited edition, only for you.
