MALACCA: The overwhelming response to the state’s pilot Art and Performance Festival (MAP Fest) has the organisers already planning one for this year.

The three-day festival organised by E-plus Entertainment Productions was one of the major events to round out 2009.

Many of the festival-goers made the trip from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and various other states in Malaysia to catch the site-specific performances, art installations and 15/15 film festival featuring short films from international directors.


STREET ART: Brendan O’Connor performing to an audience.

The programmes, all of which were free, were listed in huge prints at strategic spots.

The site-specific performances that took place at seven locations around the historical hill of St Paul were the highlight.

Site-specific performance is a repertoire inspired by the site where the artist performs.

MESMERISING: Indonesian performer Agung Gunawan inspiring the audience.

Colourful banners decorating the old city square and hillside helped create a more festive atmosphere.

Crowds cheered, danced along to music and watched the artistic performances with rapt attention and often left hungry for more.

A downpour on one of the evenings failed to stop the dance artists who assimilated the weather into their performance.

One of the most interesting art installations was a tree covered with the thoughts, wishes, fears and deepest secrets of hundreds of people written on coconut leaves.

The writings, in a multitude of languages, have been archived to be used for a future sound installation.

ENTHRALLING: A view of the St Paul’s Church ruins during the event at night.

The key events, Budak Melaka and Eulogy For the Living, transformed the ruins St Paul’s Church into a magical experience with integrated dance, music, performance art and video images like a living fresco on the walls and ceiling. Even nature provided a full moon as the celestial lantern.

Meanwhile, the 15/15 film festival was screened at an open space. It provided filmmakers, including budding talents, a chance to tell their stories.

For the festival-goers, history was living through the arts in poetic languages that moved them.

The organisers are now in search of sponsorships for a fuller version of the MAP Fest this year, at which they plan to also hold a workshop on making short films.

MAP 09 – An Art Festival is Born

Melaka first pilot Art and Performance Festival took Melaka, it seems, by surprise.

Although many came from KL, Singapore and others states in Malaysia just for the festival, many wished they knew of the Festival earlier. Well in 2010 most arts lovers will be well informed in advance.

However, MAP 09 received a huge ready audience because of the Hari Raya weekend and school holidays. The events were free and everyone was welcomed to all events.

The site-specific performances on at seven different sites around the historical hill of St Paul highlighted the festival. Programs were listed in huge prints for all to see. Banners decorated the city square and hill side. Crowds cheered, danced along to music and watched performance arts with eagerness and often left hungry for more. At one evening, even a pouring downfall of rain didn’t stop dancers on some sites. Passion driven truly site-specific, weather situation included.



Rain was well spaced out and had an uncanny perfect timing. A selected tree carried the sacred writings of hundreds on coconut leaves with their deepest secrets, wishes and fears. All data now recorded in their varied languages for archival and future sound installation. Some of these writings changed individual lives as their intimate confessions mingled with the others for all to see.

The key events, ‘Budak Melaka’ and ‘Eulogy for the Living’ transformed the ruins St Paul Church into a magical experience with intergrated dance, music, performance art and video images like a living fresco on the walls and ceiling. Even nature provided a full moon as a lantern from the celestial sky.



15/15 Film festival was screened in the open with deep inspirations for budding filmmakers or anyone with a video camera and a story to tell. In 2010 the team will teach anyone how to make a short film of their own for the international circuit of 15/15. A Malaysian sector has taken roots.

History is living through the arts in poetic languages that moved audiences.

When the weekend ended signs of the festival cleared swiftly away for another week of Melaka normality. However, photos in the thousands were taken, memories of the magic lingered and taken home by artists and audiences alike – some with profound meanings and others inspired to express themselves with new creative models of possibilities.

MAPFest 09 wasmade possible from the generousity on artists and E-plus Entretainment productions and is now seeking funds and sponsorship to present a fuller vision for the Festival in 2010.

Information and Enquires: Suen Kar Nee 016 2273 761