Thursday, September 14, 2006

The BMW Art Car World Tour kicks off in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia is the first stop for the international museum exhibiton about “rolling sculptures”.

The BMW Group started the world tour of its unique and rare BMW Art Car Collection in the Malaysian capital today. BMW cars designed by artists Frank Stella (1976), Roy Lichtenstein (1977), Andy Warhol (1979), and Ken Done (1989) are being presented at Galeri Petronas in KLCC from September 15 until October 22, 2006.



View More Pictures from the exhibition click here.

BMW Group, Director of Corporate Communications, Mr. Richard Gaul said, “The BMW Art Cars represent BMW’s commitment within the arts and are one of hundreds of cultural engagements that the BMW Group is involved in worldwide. The BMW Group sees the development and realization of cultural projects in cooperation with private and public institutions as a pioneering way of promoting networks within the cultural landscape.”

Gaul added that the BMW Art Car World Tour will take the ‘rolling sculptures’ to Singapore, Philippines, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Taiwan, China, Russia, Turkey, the United States of America and Europe.

The initial idea for the collection, which was to have an automobile redesigned by an artist, was introduced by Hervé Poulain, an auctioneer and ardent racing driver from France. It was upon his initiative that his American friend, an artist by the name of Alexander Calder, transformed his BMW racing Car - a BMW 3.0 CSL - in 1975. The first vehicle to establish a symbiosis between the world of art and the world of motor sport later participated in the 24-hour race at Le Mans.

Prompted by enormous enthusiasm for this work of art on wheels, BMW then established the Art Car Collection. In the initial years only racing cars that had taken part in the renowned 24-hour race at Le Mans were worked on. Later, production cars were added to the spectrum. The final work of the series to date was completed by the American concept artist Jenny Holzer, who covered the surface of a BMW V12 Le Mans racing car with her word art known as "truisms".

The 15 exhibits which have thus far been presented in the BMW Art Car Collection include works by well-known artists such as Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, A.R. Penck, David Hockney and Jenny Holzer.

The Art Cars reflect the developments in art history with regard to fine art, design and technology and are displayed worldwide in major museums such as the Paris Louvre, the Royal Academy in London, the New York Whitney Museum of Modern Art, Venice’s Palazzo Grassi, Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum and the Guggenheim Museums of New York and Bilbao. In the future, too, Art Cars will document the fascinating link between art and technology in international exhibitions.

Director of Galeri Petronas, Tengku Nasariah Tg Ibrahim, said the gallery felt privileged to be chosen as the venue for the BMW Art Car World Tour debut. “As the first in the region to present the BMW Art Cars, Galeri Petronas is honoured to join the ranks of other prominent art galleries and museums in the world. In their way, BMW's efforts and involvement in cultivating the appreciation for art among the public is indeed commendable. This is very much in line with PETRONAS' objective for establishing Galeri Petronas which is to inspire Malaysians and promote holistic development.

“Cultural Communications has been an essential activity for the BMW Group for over three decades. With the precedence that art and culture must retain their independence, the BMW Group forms lasting and exclusive partnerships with cultural organizations and creative artists”, said Gaul in explaining the Group’s philosophy and approach towards culture.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Japanese Film Festival 2006



The annual Japanese Film Festival is back again!

At the Japanese Film Festival 2006, 9 films will be screened at 2 venues in Klang Valley. This year, we have a special guest from Japan, Mr. SHINOHARA Tetsuo, the film director of “Inochi” and “Heaven’s Bookstore”. He will give a speech at the opening ceremony on 5th September, and his special talk will be held at ASWARA (Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan, formerly known as ASK, Akademi Seni Kebangsaan) on 6th September.

These are a wide range of films from human drama to comedy, suspense to romance, and all of them were produced between 2002 and 2004. So, it’s a rare opportunity for Malaysians to catch all those new Japanese films at one time! UCHIDA Kenji’s “A Stranger of Mine” was awarded 4 awards at the Cannes International Critics' Week (part of the Cannes International Film Festival). And good news to Ultraman fans! “ULTRAMAN: The Next” will be screened as well.

Also, we’ll have lucky draw for the audience. The 20 lucky audiences can obtain a gift certificate for a body treatment at Embun Day Spa in Mon’t Kiara.

Japanese Film Festival 2006
Venue : GSC, Mid Valley & GSC, 1 Utama
Duration : 7 (Thu) – 11 (Mon) September 2006
Ticket Price : RM5 per screening
Reservation: Call GSC at 03-8312 3456 or log on to www.gsc.com.my
* Booking can be made from 2 days before the screening.
** If reservation is full, tickets may be available for walk-in purchase at participating cinemas.

Talk by Director, SHINOHARA Tetsuo
Date : 6 (Wed) September 2006
Time : 8:30pm
Venue: Theatrette, ASWARA
(Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan, formerly known as ASK)
No. 464, Jalan Tun Ismail, 50480 Kuala Lumpur

The list of films to be screened is as follows:
*** All films are in Japanese with English subtitles

Ø Inochi 命 Directed by SHINOHARA Tetsuo 篠原哲雄(2002, 111 min)
Ø Heaven’s Bookstore Directed by SHINOHARA Tetsuo 篠原哲雄(2004, 111 min)
天国の本屋~恋火
Ø A Stranger of Mine  Directed by UCHIDA Kenji 内田けんじ(2004, 98min)
運命じゃない人
Ø Fireflies: River of Light Directed by SUGAWARA Koji 菅原浩司(2003, 101min)
ほたるの星
Ø Kamikaze Girls Directed by NAKAJIMA Tetsuya 中島哲也(2004, 103 min)
下妻物語
Ø Quill クイール Directed by SAI Yoichi 崔洋一(2004, 100 min)
Ø Ramblers リアリズムの宿 Directed by YAMASHITA Nobuhiro 山下敦弘(2003, 83min)
Ø The Stars Converge Directed by SASABE Kiyoshi 佐々部清(2003, 114 min)
チルソクの夏
Ø ULTRAMAN: The Next Directed by KONAKA Kazuya 小中和哉(2004, 97 min)

Notes: Titles are subject to change in the case of unforeseeable matters.

For further inquiry, please contact:
· The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur at 03-2161 2104, email to jpcc@jfkl.org.my or log on to
www.jfkl.org.my

This festival will be held in Penang from 21st to 24th September. For the details please contact:
· Consulate-General of Japan at Penang, Ms. Abiru at 04-226 3030 Ext: 116 / 117

The Magic Shoes Charity Performance




A charity show of ‘The Magic Shoes’ will take place in Dewan Auditorium MPPJ on September 2, 2006, performed by the dance troupe Dance Space. You are cordially invited to this charity event. By attending you can both support the performing artists and dancers, as well as make a contribution to society of your own.

‘The Magic Shoes’ is a dance performance about the magical journey of a little girl who loves dancing more than her life. It begins when she unintentionally obtains the story book ‘The Magic Shoes’. Later she meets an angel in a dream and is given a pair of magical dance shoes. With the magic shoes she enters the world of the story, meeting different creatures in different places. She dances with little animals in the deep forest, with swan sisters alongside the swan lake, and even with robots and machines. The play joins together various styles of dance in a work of great imagination. It is the most essential work that Dance Space has yet conceived, a charity performance you and your children will regret missing.

Apart from selling tickets, the performance also welcomes donations from any good hearted person or group. All income, after deducting necessary costs, will be dedicated to three charity institutions — Good Samaritan Home (Klang), Caring Old Folk’s Home (Kajang), Rumah Love & Care (Kajang).

‘The Magic Shoes’ will be performed by both teachers and students of Dance Space. The troupe, led by the dean Ms. Jane Lew, is also assisted by several local and overseas dancers. Asian dance artist Vincent Tan, founder of Batu Dance Theater, takes the position of Artistic Advisor for this performance; internationally renowned dancer Mr. Lee Swee Keong, Malaysia’s Hip Hop King Mr. Joel Tan, Teresa Chian and other famous dancers are in charge of the choreography.

With this performance, the members of Dance Space dedicate their artistic learning to the inspiration of charitable works. With genuine hearts and bright smiles the children of the group will give you the best dancing performance, and a joyful and meaningful night.

The Magic Shoes
Location: Dewan Auditorium MPPJ
Jalan Yong Shook Lin, 46675 Petaling Jaya ,selangor Darul Ehsan.
Date: September 2, 2006
Time: 7:30 pm
Ticket Price:RM 200, RM 100, RM 50, RM 30
Charity Institutions: Good Samaritan Home (Klang), Caring Old Folk’s Home (Kajang), Rumah Love & Care (Kajang).

Art Director: Jane Lew (Founder of Dance Space)
Artistic Advisor: Vincent Tan (renowned Asian dance artist),
Choreographers: Lee Swee Keong (International dancer), Joel Tan (Malaysia’s Hip Hop King), Teresa Chian, Jane Yap, Eng-See Chew, Jolyn Lim, Jeanie Ng, Siew-Keng Low

For ticket reservation and all enquiries, please call or visit Dance Space’s service desk at:
No12, 12A, 16(3rd Floor) Jalan Tiara 2, Bandar Baru Klang, 41150 Klang, Selangor.
Tel: 603 – 3343 3525