In the lively streets of Penang, a creative renaissance is unfolding as artists unite in collaborative innovation, reshaping the city’s art scene with a rich tapestry of diversity and cultural influence.
By Agnes Chin
Penang, a gem on the Malaysian map, has always been a hub of artistic expression. Recent years have seen a surge in collective efforts, with individual talents coming together to craft something extraordinary. These collaborations are not only changing Penang’s art scene but also moulding the city’s cultural narrative.
We delve into the world of collaborative creativity and its profound influence, emphasising the stories of MyPenang Creative, Open Studios Penang, and Dabble Dabble Jer Collective, unveiling the benefits, challenges, and inspiring transformations within Penang’s artistic tapestry.
MyPenang Creative: Resurrecting Penang’s Arts Spirits
STRUCTURE AND APPROACH: MyPenang Creative, under the leadership of founder Ilya Rusaidi, stands as a shining example of the transformative power of artistic collectives. Ilya’s journey began as a Production Manager at PenangPAC (Performing Arts Centre of Penang), deeply entrenched in the world of performing arts. The post-COVID closure of PenangPac ignited her passion and determination to continue enriching the performing arts scene in Penang. Founded in December 2021, MyPenang Creative inherited the legacy of PenangPac and embarked on a mission to celebrate the multi-racial and traditional diversity of the region. Its focus spans various performing arts disciplines, including dance, theatre, festivals, and music. MyPenang Creative collaborates mainly with Penang-based performers to promote and showcase local talents and occasionally extends its partnerships to external groups to foster cross-cultural collaborations and enrich the local arts scene.
PROS OF CREATING A COLLECTIVE: Forming a collective has brought numerous advantages for MyPenang Creative. A primary benefit is the establishment of a strong community for support and promotion. Collaborations with organisations such as PenangPac, USM, and Triple I Production House have nurtured a well-knit network of artists and enthusiasts. This network serves as a creative and logistical safety net, fostering idea exchange, resource sharing, and valuable connections.
Collective efforts also expand the reach and audience of MyPenang Creative. Projects across various performing arts disciplines attract a diverse range of spectators, engaging various segments of the population and fostering cultural exchange.
Furthermore, the collective’s combined expertise enables them to undertake complex and ambitious projects, including large-scale theatre performances, festivals, and multidisciplinary events. This collaborative approach challenges the boundaries of creativity and holds the potential to make a more profound cultural impact.
CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES: Ilya’s journey with MyPenang Creative emphasises open communication and a commitment to seeking feedback for improvement. While occasionally encountering differences in working styles and addressing priorities with collaborators, they address these variances with open communication and a genuine appreciation for audience feedback.
IMPACT AND FUTURE GOALS: MyPenang Creative’s impact extends to broadening opportunities for Penang-bred artists and promoting multiculturalism. Future goals include establishing a performing arts academy and organising a Penang-based theatre festival and competition, fostering cross-cultural collaboration, and making cultural storytelling more inclusive and innovative.
UPCOMING PROJECTS: Anticipated projects include the annual Festival Teater Tradisional Utara (FTTU) and the expansion of the successful programme, “P. Ramlee: One in a Million, A Tribute Show to a Legend”. Additionally, Ilya is actively pursuing a Jazz Performance in 2024, collaborating with exceptional jazz ensembles and talents to bring this musical masterpiece to life.
MyPenang Creative’s journey is a testament to the unifying power of collective creativity, sparking a cultural renaissance in Penang’s vibrant arts scene.
Open Studios Penang: Fostering Artistic Synergy
STRUCTURE AND APPROACH: Open Studios Penang (OSP) is an annual non-profit art event that fosters a vibrant exchange of ideas among artists while offering the public an intimate glimpse into their creative processes. This unique platform provides a direct connection between artists and the audience, allowing visitors to witness their work, hear firsthand about their methodology, and explore a diverse array of art from local, national, and international talents. This event thrives on generous donations and contributions from artists and venues, and it is skillfully orchestrated by a dedicated team of volunteers.
Ivan Alexander Francis Gabriel, a programme curator at Open Studios Penang, offers invaluable insights into the world of art collectives and collaborations. His role involves curating exhibitions and projects that require bringing diverse talents together and driving the narrative through visual art, informed by his background in theatre, where the art of storytelling is paramount.
PROS OF CREATING A COLLECTIVE: Collaborative work offers numerous advantages, according to Ivan. It provides a structured framework for project execution, involving meticulous planning, securing artists and galleries, and meeting deadlines. Collaborations efficiently distribute the workload and resources. Furthermore, working collectively expands an artist’s reach and audience, bridging gaps between different communities, art forms, and styles, while fostering cultural exchange. This approach allows for the execution of ambitious projects that might be challenging for individuals, as resources, talents, and expertise are pooled to bring grand ideas to life.
CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES: Ivan highlights the significant challenge of ensuring fair compensation for artists and collaborators, emphasising that artists should not have to work for free even if it is for exposure. His emphasis is to not become part of the problem by giving preferential benefits, thus creating a template that sets a precedent for fair pay in the art community. To foster unity and collaboration while maintaining individual identities, Ivan emphasises mentorship, providing platforms for emerging curators and artists who wish to venture into curation, and fostering a collaborative spirit among artists.
IMPACT AND FUTURE GOALS: OSP has had a notable impact on the local art and cultural scene by emphasising inclusivity and accessibility, bringing new audiences into the art world, some of whom are first-time buyers with limited knowledge of the art scene.
UPCOMING PROJECTS: Considering the success of OSP and Open Galleries Penang (OGP), previously launched by OSP’s team, there might be a possibility of OGP’s continuation in the coming year, although organising it for this year could pose challenges, given its proximity to the year-end. The OGP’s innovative framework, with its thought-provoking approach to redefining art gallery experiences, suggests a promising future, something we could look forward to.
Read more: https://penangartdistrict.com/open-studios-penang-cultivating-artistic-expression-in-a-digital-age/
Open Studio Penang’s journey is a testament to the power of collective creativity in the arts, encompassing expanded reach, audience diversity, resource pooling, and a commitment to fair compensation. Such dedication to nurturing and promoting the arts continues to be a driving force in the Penang art scene, reflecting OSP’s commitment to both celebrating the past and empowering the next generation of artists.
Dabble Dabble Jer: Nurturing Inclusivity through Collective Dreams
STRUCTURE AND APPROACH: Dabble Dabble Jer Collective (DDJ Co.) was formed by six friends: Miriam Devaprasana, Bernardine Abeysekra, Charity Yong, Darynn Wee, Ysabel Loh, and Justin Khaw. They began with a common vision of creating inclusive, community-centric art projects.
The collective, founded in December 2022, aims to nurture and maintain synergy among its members. Each is an expert in their field. Their structure reflects a collaborative approach with everyone bringing their expertise to the table, resulting in a powerful synergy that blends their individual passions for the arts and their love for the community. They value diversity and inclusivity, emphasising trust and collaboration as key principles. The collective, inspired by Yasmin Ahmad’s “film dabbler” reference about herself, celebrates a variety of arts disciplines, embracing the diversity of Penang’s cultural narrative.
PROS OF CREATING A COLLECTIVE: One of the primary benefits of collective work, as observed by DDJ Co. is the capacity to curate and organise events with a broader scope. The group has successfully hosted multiple events like Readings@Tanjong and was part of the community-centric Penang Harmony Celebration. These events attract a diverse audience, including locals and expats from various backgrounds, fostering community engagement and building bridges between art disciplines.
Moreover, collective efforts provide an avenue for more extensive community involvement and support. By opening opportunities for people to share their stories and talents, DDJ Co. empowers individuals, even those without formal training, to take the stage and express themselves. The collective seeks to hold space for stories, offering a platform for untrained actors and writers.
The practical aspects of working collectively are highlighted by the strong network the members bring to the group. This network extends the reach of their initiatives. The collective’s approach is driven by a desire to create sustainable contributions to the local art scene, transcending barriers of language and disciplines through initiatives like Readings@Tanjong, in the hope that it will catalyse others to create more meaningful “Reading” initiatives in various languages.
CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES: One of the unique challenges among the DDJ Co. members lies in understanding and adapting to the diverse working styles of its members. This diversity results in varying response times and work rhythms within the collective. Some members reply promptly, while others may take more time. The multitude of available communication channels can also be overwhelming, making it essential to streamline information effectively. To address these challenges, the collective employs strategies that involve recognising and respecting individual working styles. They also prioritise tasks efficiently and employ messaging apps like WhatsApp, tagging members to enhance communication clarity. Additionally, mentoring and offering constructive feedback play pivotal roles in fostering effective collaboration within DDJ Co.
IMPACT AND FUTURE GOALS: DDJ Co. has had a significant impact on the local art and cultural scene. Their emphasis on community-centric initiatives and fostering inclusivity has brought new audiences into the art world. They aim to continue holding spaces for stories, encouraging aspiring writers and performers.
Future goals for the collective involve expanding their projects in various domains. With ten projects lined up for 2024, they seek to create a vibrant and dynamic cultural experience that resonates with the people of Penang.
UPCOMING PROJECTS: Entry passes for DDJ Co.’s anchor project, Burden of Proof are now available. To purchase and for more information, visit dabbledabblejer.co.
While DDJ Co. looks forward to a plethora of exciting projects for 2024, some initiatives have particularly piqued their interest. These projects include educational programs and workshops to engage and nurture the artistic community, exploring mental health through art, and delving into digital media, augmented and virtual reality (AR/ VR), mixed media, new music, and spoken word poetry with music. Each of these endeavours reflects their commitment to celebrating art, community engagement, and cultural inclusivity.
DDJ Co. stands as a testament to the power of collaborative creativity and its capacity to foster inclusivity and community engagement. Through their diverse and innovative approach, they have not only made a significant impact on Penang’s art scene but have also provided a platform for individuals from various backgrounds to share their stories and talents.
Celebrating Collaborative Creativity in a Nutshell
Collective creativity is transforming Penang’s arts scene, fostering unity, and enabling artists to produce innovative, community-centric projects. These collectives and collaborations demonstrate the power of working together to create a more vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape. Whether it’s Ilya Rusaidi’s MyPenang Creative, Ivan Gabriel’s Open Studios Penang, or the shared dream of Dabble Dabble Jer Collective, they are all leaving their mark on Penang’s artistic tapestry. The spirit of collaboration and the commitment to individuality within a collective framework continue to inspire new generations of artists and curators to build a legacy that will endure for years to come.