OpenLab 2025 Suzy Sulaiman @sssuzysulaimannn “Decolonizing Curatorial Practices: Presenting Lived Experiences of Mah Meri Indigenous Children” + Jakob Van Klang & Danielle Lin @jakobvanklang @daniellelinart “ART Rabbit: Editorial & Community Presentation + Panel Discussion” On 10 June 2025, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the FCM, CCA Lab an insightful session will be held exploring contemporary dialogues in arts and curatorial practices. This event features the insightful presentation by Suzy Sulaiman on decolonizing curatorial approaches through the lens of the Mah Meri indigenous community, emphasizing the importance of authentic representation of lived experiences. Following Suzy’s talk, Jakob van Klang and Danielle Lin will introduce ART Rabbit, an initiative fostering editorial and community-driven perspectives within arts practices. The session concludes with an engaging panel discussion, Q&A, and informal networking, providing a platform for dialogue on decolonization, community engagement, and the future of curatorial and artistic practices. Discover more about Suzy Sulaiman’s work at SuzySulaiman.com () and explore ART Rabbit’s initiatives at artrabbit.com (). Program 12:00 – 12:10 | Arrival & Informal Networking 12:10 – 12:30 | Talk 1: Decolonizing Curatorial Practices: Presenting Lived Experiences of Mah Meri Indigenous Children 12:30 – 12:50 | Talk 2: ART Rabbit: Editorial & Community - 12:50 – 2:00 | Q&A, Casual Networking, & Wrap-Up The session will be hybrid

CCA OpenLab 06: Machine Fictioning, AI, and Tropics Futurism Date: May 27, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Venue: CCA Lab For this session we provide a fascinating exploration of art made from the intersection of technology, history, and future imaginaries rooted in tropical and post-colonial contexts. CCA OpenLab 06, host artist Eddie Wong as he presents his innovative exploration of archival narratives, memory, and speculative futures through the lens of artificial intelligence. As a Malaysian computational artist, Wong leverages AI, durational media, and interactive installations to craft counter-archives that unsettle dominant histories and reveal archival silences shaped by colonial legacies. His talk will focus on *machine fictioning*, a process he uses to generate speculative narratives from fragmented family histories, particularly around themes like identity, erasure, and tropical futurism. Wong’s recent work, including the acclaimed AI film *Portrait of the Jungle People*, exemplifies how machine learning can deconstruct and reimagine collective memories and histories. This session offers an insightful look into his artistic practice and his upcoming research trip to Sarawak, exploring oral histories within Bornean contexts. Dive into discussions on AI, colonial histories, and the future imaginaries of tropical regions. Program 12:00 PM – 12:10 PM: Welcome & Introduction - Overview of the event themes and speaker 12:10 PM – 12:50 PM: Artist Presentation: Eddie Wong - Biography and artistic practice - Deep dive into *machine fictioning* and his work “Portrait of the Jungle People” - Exploration of themes such as identity, erasure, and colonial legacies through AI and speculative narratives 12:50 PM – 1:30 PM: Discussion & Q&A - Interactive audience engagement - Topics include AI, archival silences, tropical futurisms, and fieldwork in Borneo 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Closing Remarks & Networking - Summation of key ideas - Opportunity for informal discussion and networking This session provides a fascinating intersection of technology, history, and future imaginaries rooted in tropical and post-colonial contexts.

CCA OpenLab 05: Imagining Liminality Through Sound and Found Matter Date: May 20, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Venue: CCA Lab CCA OpenLab 05, promises an insightful journey into sound-based practices and critical discussions on ecological and technological interrelations. Through a compelling exploration of liminality through the immersive lens of sound and found matter. This session features Ng Yi Kee, a Kuala Lumpur-based designer and sound artist known for her innovative approach to human and nonhuman relations. Through her recent work, including soundwalking, field recordings, and algorithmic composition, Ng Yi Kee advances the concept of ‘agential sensibilities’ in sound art practices. Her presentation will showcase her latest artwork, *Tangible Resonance* (2024), highlighting her insights into the delicate boundaries and intersections between human and nonhuman entities. This Openlab offers a unique opportunity to engage with experimental sound arts and intersecting ecological and technological themes. Program 12:00 PM – 12:10 PM: Welcome & Introduction - Overview of the event and its themes 12:10 PM – 12:50 PM: Artist Presentation: Ng Yi Kee - Brief biography and artistic approach - Presentation of “Tangible Resonance” (2024) - Discussion on her research on human/nonhuman relations through sound 12:50 PM – 1:30 PM: Discussion & Q&A - Audience engagement with the artist - Exploring themes of liminality and found matter 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Closing Remarks & Networking - Wrap-up of the session - Informal networking opportunity #newmediaartists #soundart #sensing #artxtech #artisticresearch #centrofcreativearts #liminality #sounding #foundmatter #posthumanism

OPENLAB 2025 presents Touch Designer Film ""WILL THERE BE FLOWERS ON MARS?”” A Soo Wilkinson Studio Production in collaboration with Copyplanet & PrOmid Music We invite you to experience a transcendent evening at the screening of “Will There Be Flowers On Mars?”—a short film that intertwines the delicate beauty of nature with profound existential themes. This cinematic piece serves as an artistic homage to the Celestial Flower, revered as The Flower of all Flowers. These ethereal blooms, emerging only once every fourteen years under the cloak of night, symbolize the cosmos and the supreme soul in its most refined essence. Witnessing their ephemeral blossom is believed to impart the strength and courage necessary to navigate life’s labyrinth, encouraging an inner journey toward peace and tranquillity. As the narrative unfolds, we follow seven luminous starseeds—each a representation of universal consciousness—embarking on a journey that visualizes the interconnectedness of all beings. Their crystalline stalks, rooted in the earth and sustained by a rich mycelium network, remind us of our profound bonds to one another and the universe, emphasizing our shared biological, chemical, and atomic existence. This exquisite screening of “Will There Be Flowers On Mars?” promises to be more than a mere film; it is an artistic exploration that transcends the ordinary, inviting viewers to embrace themes of love, harmony, and unity. Prepare to be inspired as you immerse yourself in the mystical narrative of the Celestial Flower and its transformative potential. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Soo Wilkinson and Copyplanet Organized by the Centre of Creative Arts (CCA) in collaboration with the Faculty of Cinematic Arts (FCA), the Faculty of Creative Multimedia (FCM), and TM Research and Development, this event is moderated by James Ly, CCA Research Chair. Venue: FCA Cinema Date & Time: 6/5/25, 6 PM - 8 PM Location: FCA Cinema, FCM, MMU Cyberjaya

James Ly: Redreaming the Convergence of Life, Matter, and Machine (2024) James Ly’s practice explores the intersections of devotional practices, material consumption, and the rituals of everyday life. Positioned as both participant and “visitor,” Ly navigates cultural and aesthetic systems through “intuitive analysis” unfolding the complexities of contemporary entanglements. His methodology incorporates serendipity, chaos, and chance, crafting inquiries that linger on the boundaries of the possible and impossible. In these spaces, perception is reshaped, and meaning becomes fluid, inviting reflection on coexistence in a world increasingly shaped by polarity. At the core of Ly’s project, “Redreaming Technics”, lies an evolving ontological apparatus—an assemblage that reconciles philosophy, technology, and art within a speculative framework. The work examines the convergence of life, matter, and machine as a site of reconfiguration. Influenced by early computational aesthetics, AI-generated imagery, open-world video game simulations, and the poetic temporality of film, Ly creates immersive environments that intertwine fragments of time, materiality, and existence. These fractured yet interconnected realities form a speculative dreamscape that is both deeply personal and globally resonant. The project unfolds in two interconnected modalities: hybrid sculptures and a free-roaming virtual world. These forms do not merely represent but enact processes of becoming, creating ecologies where the tangible and digital, human and non-human, material and immaterial coexist. Through these hybridized landscapes, Ly proposes a speculative space where binaries dissolve, and new models of existence emerge. His work challenges inherited narratives and reimagines hybridity as a central principle of living within planetary systems. #worldbuilding #digitalart #gameengine #unity #contemporaryart #redreamingtechnics #philosophy #consciousness #sensuality #existentialism #ecology #culture

CCA OpenLab 03: Harmonic Convergence: Where Sound Meets Vision Join us on April 22, 2025, 12pm for CCA OpenLab 03, where we welcome Olof van Winden, the visionary founder and director of TodaysArt festival and former director of Netherlands Media Art Institute as well . Known for his unconventional approach to media arts and cultural innovation, Van Winden has played a crucial role in shaping The Netherlands into a global hub for new media art. In this talk, he will explore the dynamic relationship between electronic music and new media arts, highlighting how these fields intersect and inspire one another. From the rise of innovative soundscapes to interactive installations, Van Winden will share insights into how electronic music has influenced contemporary media arts and the creative processes at play. Drawing from his extensive experience—curating for Media City Seoul, the Moscow Biennale, and the Detroit Electronic Music Festival—Van Winden will discuss the forces driving advancements in both electronic music and new media, and their roles in cultural innovation. This session is a must-attend for artists, curators, and creatives interested in the intersection of technology, culture, and innovation. Date:April 22, 2025 Location:FCM, CCA Lab Time:12 PM – 2 PM Program: 12:00 – 12:10 | Arrival & Informal Networking 12:10 – 12:50 | Talk: “Harmonic Convergence: Where Sound Meets Vision” Speaker: Olof van Winden (TodaysArt) 12:50 – 1:30 | Q&A + Open Discussion 1:30 – 2:00 | Casual Networking & Wrap-Up

CCA OpenLab 2025 2.0 – Panel Talk with Andy Wauman
March 5, 2025 | 10 AM – 12 PM
Venue: CCA Lab Moderated by James Ly CCA OpenLab is excited to welcome Andy Wauman, a professional new media artist and founder of the collective Copyplanet, for our second panel talk of the year. Known for his poetic yet rebellious approach, Wauman has transitioned from contemporary art into new media, continuously pushing the boundaries of expression. In this session, Wauman will share insights into his evolving practice, focusing on how his work emerges not from art-historical or theoretical frameworks, but from personal protest and social principles. His art transforms everyday materials and symbols into powerful statements, reclaiming their lost poetic essence. Wauman has exhibited internationally, with solo shows at Deweer Gallery (2006, 2009, 2012, 2016), Art Statements Gallery in Tokyo and Hong Kong, and Bourouina Gallery in Berlin. His work has also been featured in The Underground School of Contemporary Art (Antwerp, 2016), Winter Harvest (Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, 2017), and Het Vlot. Art is (not) lonely (Mu.ZEE, 2017). His 2018 exhibition In Defence of Poetry in Malaysia reflected his commitment to art as a form of resistance. This talk is especially relevant for staff and researchers in CCA, FCM, and FCA, offering a deep dive into Wauman’s unique artistic philosophy. Join us for an engaging discussion on art, protest, and the ever-changing landscape of new media. Open to staff, students, researchers & the public! The event will be hybrid this is the link and pass word to join: Meeting ID: 426 235 962 25 Passcode: Qf6Km2Yc

“OpenLab 3.0: ‘Redreaming Technics: Sensing the World,’ curated by James Ly of the Centre for Creative Arts at Multimedia University (MMU), Malaysia, is the third iteration of the OpenLab series. This exhibition explores how both humans and non-humans perceive and interact with the world. Featuring works by James Ly x students of the CCA Research Fellow Program and Dr. Anis Haron, the exhibition delves into the intersection of AI, game engines, sensors, and sound, offering immersive experiences that challenge traditional boundaries of perception. Through innovative use of technology, ‘Redreaming Technics’ reimagines sensory engagement, inviting visitors to reconsider how we sense, communicate, and experience our environments. The exhibition is supported by Yayasan TM and TM Muzium Media Art Living Lab, whose contributions have made this exploration of creative and technological intersections possible.” Artists: Anis Haron, James Ly x CCA Research Fellow program members ( Aniq Farhan, Eddy Sufian) Supported by DTI, YTM, Filemen, TM Muzium, CCA 23/12/2024 - 23/01/2025 Artwork 1: “Redreaming Technics: Sensing the World” By James Ly Artwork 2: Gridlock by Dr Anis Haron

“Spiritualities Landscapes” emerges as a poignant meditation on the entwined existence of human, non-human, and technological forces in the Anthropocene, a time where the boundaries between nature, culture, and artificial intelligence dissolve. Following the “Cybernetics” exhibition, this second iteration of the CCA OpenLab series contemplates the evolving landscapes of spiritual and technological co-existence, where the concept of ‘technics’ – the human capacity to manipulate, transform, and extend – confronts ‘technologies’ that now extend beyond human control or comprehension.In this exhibition, through the works of six artists, we navigate a world where non-human intelligences begin to permeate the artificially constructed worlds humans have built around themselves. These worlds, once demarcated by natural and artificial distinctions, are now blurred. In their practice, artists are no longer limited by the binaries of human and non-human, spiritual and mechanical, but instead explore a new field of fluidity, where ancient spiritualities and emergent technologies cohabit the same landscapes. Artists: Yap Sau Bin x Wee Jia Foong Anis Haron James Ly Dendi Permadi Iwani 15 October 2024 15 December 2024 11am - 5pm MALL @tmmuzium Supported by @yayasantm @wearefilamen @creativemmu @mediaartsmmu #cca #artandtechnology #digitaltechincubator #mediaartlivinglab #ccaopenlab #futureofart #interactivemedia #dti #digitalart

The Centre of Interactive Media (CIM) at Multimedia University, in collaboration with AoM and Filamen, proudly presents the second volume of the CIM Open Lab series: “Cybernetics” at the Media Art Living Lab @ Muzium Telekom. Part of the Digital Tech Incubator program powered by Yayasan TM, “Cybernetics” dives into the intersection of systems, control, and communication across biological and artificial realms. Experience immersive installations and digital art by James Ly, Roopesh Sitharan, and Ng Yi Kee, as they explore human-machine interaction, feedback loops, and the ethical dimensions of our technologically mediated future. Join us in this unique convergence of art and science, where creativity challenges conventional narratives and sparks new dialogues about our interconnected world. #Cybernetics #DigitalArt #MediaArtLivingLab #YayasanTM #CIMOpenLab #Filamen #ArtAndTechnology #MuziumTelekom #DigitalTechIncubator #DTI #FutureOfArt #InteractiveMedia @roopeshsitharan @schnell_presto