iMAGE OF THE MONTH

Australian resident artist Jessica Watson embroidering 'Rain Falling on Butterflies', a work for Art for Nature 2010 'SURVIVAL'. See also Malaysian year-long resident artist Kojek at work on a mixed-media on paper piece as his contribution for Art for Nature.

Mosaic Work on Show for George Town Festival

The new mosaic installation work 'The Shyness of Trees', at Hotel Penaga in Penang, will be on public display as part of the George Town Festival to promote art and heritage in Penang. The part of the hotel on Jalan Transfer will also be completed for the visit of the Chief Minister of Penang on 7 July. Future arts projects at Hotel Penaga include gates by sculptor Multhalib Musa and wall murals by Indonesian artist Oceu Apristawijaya.

Residency Featured in online Radio Show

American mosaic artist George Fishman was part of the group collaboration that created 'The Shyness of Trees' at Hotel Penaga in Penang. George also produces the online radio program Mosaic of Art, which featured the new project as well as Angela Hijjas talking about the arts residency at Rimbun Dahan in a segment in May.

Norwegian Choreographer Creating Outdoor Work

Kristine Nilsen Oma is currently undertaking a two-month residency at Rimbun Dahan. Her new work, entitled 'Marilyn Monroe's last 20 minutes before committing suicide', will be performed at Dancing in Place, a weekend of site-specific contemporary dance performances at Rimbun Dahan on 7-8 August 2010.

Sculptures by Ahmad Osni Peii for Sale

Indonesian artist Ahmad Osni Peii has loaned Rimbun Dahan three magnificent sculptures for our garden. These works are for sale, so if you are interested please contact us. Ahmad was resident at Rimbun Dahan for 6 months in 1999 when he returned to Southeast Asia after living in the States for 40 years.

New 2-Person Cottage for Accommodation

Hijjas has converted the open-sided balai at Rimbun Dahan into a cottage for guest accommodation. Located at the back, in the same area as Rumah Uda Manap and the Penang House, it is suitable for one person or a couple.

Image of the Month

Raphael Stoll captured this juvenile barred eagle-owl in the garden at Rimbun Dahan. Still in its fuzzy phase, it is being fed regularly by its parents.

Hijjas Opens Australian Architecture Exhibition

Opening 'Abundant Australia', an exhibition showcasing highlights from the Australian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale of 2008, Hijjas Kasturi praised the creative concepts evident in current Australian architecture.

mosaic project in georgetown

As the first artist project at Hotel Penaga in Penang, four mosaic artists from around the world spent almost a month in Penang creating a stunning work entitled 'The Shyness of the Trees' for the new boutique hotel.

Adelaide Reunion at Rimbun Dahan

A large group of alumni from Adelaide University enjoyed a tour of Rimbun Dahan and a meal at a reunion event on 27 March 2010.

Practical Experience in the Garden

French landscape architectuse student Raphaël Stoll is performing a work placement in the garden at Rimbun Dahan, involving general garden maintenance as well as collecting seeds from indigenous trees for propagation.

Burmese Painter in Residence

Burmese painter Zaw Win Pe is also enjoying a three-month residency at Rimbun Dahan. He joins Jessica Watson (Australia) and Ilham Fadhli aka Kojek (Malaysia) who are settling into the year-long Malaysia-Australia Visual Arts Residency.

Hotel Penaga in the News

On 2 March, The Edge Financial Daily featured an article on the construction and plans for Penaga Hotel in Penang, which was visited by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. The article highlights the five-star features of the hotel as well as its compliance with the green building index.

Image of the Month

Beautiful swirly earthy patterns on a nest built by hornets, suspended from a tree in the garden at Rimbun Dahan.

Trees 1, Sculptures 0

Another storm has broken a heavy branch off one of the Shorea materialis trees near the front fence, unfortunately crushing a sculpture by Darwin-based artist Brian Ash which was installed in 1999.

More Renovation at Rimbun Dahan

The passion for reconstruction never ceases. Hijjas' latest mini-project is the renovation of the open-sided balai near Rumah Uda Manap to become a small self-contained cottage, to add to the artist accommodation available at Rimbun Dahan. Meanwhile renovation of the row of shophouses at Jalan Transfer in Penang is going well.

Nature Notes February 2010

Breeding season is coming. A pair of black-thighed falconets chased our gold-whiskered barbet out of the tree hole it excavated, only to have their new home threatened by intruding dollar birds!

The 15th Rimbun Dahan Residency Exhibition

The works of resident artists Samsudin Abdul Wahab, Monika Behrens and Rochelle Haley will be displayed in the Underground Gallery at Rimbun Dahan from 28th February to 14th March, 2010, Saturday & Sunday 10am to 6pm, weekdays by appointment only. The exhibition is open to the public.

On Sunday 14 March 2010 there will be a guided tour of the grounds and garden at Rimbun Dahan at 9am, and a guided tour of the exhibition at 3pm.

Alice Under Construction

Resident choreographers Paloma Calle (Spain) and Joavien Ng (Singapore) will conduct a performance laboratory of their creative processes at 12pm on Sunday 14 March, and a lecture presentation of their previous work at 8pm on Monday 15 March, both at The Annexe Central Market. Admission is free.

Image of the Month

George Pople, son of resident artist Felicity Fenner, with Delilah, one of our weimaraners.

Resident Choreographers from Asia-Europe Foundation

Choreographers Joavien Ng from Singapore and Paloma Calle from Spain will spend a month at Rimbun Dahan starting in February developing a new collaborative dance work. This residency is supported by the Asia-Europe Foundation as a follow-up to ASEF's Point to Pointe dance forum in Portugal last year.

High Tea at the Pleasure Garden

The general public is invited to this ancillary event at 3pm 28 February 2010 at Rimbun Dahan will include a discussion moderated by managing editors of ARTERI (Eva McGovern, Simon Soon & Sharon Chin) based on the site specific installation Pleasure Garden and will involve a panel of established Malaysian artists. It will also mark the debut of the new Penang House at Rimbun Dahan.

Dance-Drawing Performance at Lot 10 Theatre

Strings, a dance-drawing performance conceived by Rimbun Dahan resident artist Rochelle Haley, and performed by dancers from Balletbase and ASWARA, will be performed at The Actors Studio @ Lot 10 on Saturday 23 January 2010. Entry RM 10. A unique performative process which changes every time it is performed, Strings gives us insight into new ways to produce art and movement.

New Sculpture Installed at Rimbun Dahan

Some say it's a dragon, some say it's an earth-mover. Sixty Turns, an imposing steel sculpture by Abdul Multhalib Musa, has been unveiled in the grounds at Rimbun Dahan, in honour of Angela Hijjas' sixtieth birthday.

Australian Curator in Residence

Felicity Fenner, an Australian curator and arts writer, is in residence at Rimbun Dahan, where she is continuing her ongoing research into contemporary Asian art in preparation for a major exhibition our future urban and social environments.

Penang House at Rimbun Dahan completed

The Anglo-Malay house that was moved from Georgetown, Penang, and reconstructed in the garden at Rimbun Dahan is finally finished. The house will provide additional accommodation and studio space, and will house an art installation by Monika Behrens and Rochelle Haley in February 2010 (see item below).

Nature Notes December 2009

A fine day for birding at Rimbun Dahan, with an impressive Barred Eagle-Owl on its perch, and a Drongo Cuckoo trapped in the house giving us the chance to get up close with two very different birds.

Dancing in the Waterfall

ASWARA work placement student Shafirul Azmi choreographed a site-specific contemporary dance work to ring in the new year, performed by dancers from ASWARA and Balletbase. Entitled Gesek-Gosok, the performance took place around the reflective pool at Rimbun Dahan, in a boat, and in the water.

Photo of the Month

Rochelle Haley admiring a Lime Butterfly, Papilio demoleus malayanus, on the glass door of her studio.

Aswara Dancers in Work Placement

Two second-year degree students in the dance program at ASWARA will be doing a one-month work placement at Rimbun Dahan in December. The duo will develop a number of new works for performance at Rimbun Dahan and elsewhere.

Ribut at Rimbun DAhan

After weeks of stormy weather, a sudden gust of wind felled our mature specimen of Shorea sumatrana. In this month's nature notes, Angela Hijjas ruminates on tropical landscape design and the need to plant trees away from houses.

Full Steam Ahead with Construction

Much to our joy, the Penang city council has approved our plans for our hotel in Georgetown, and construction is now going ahead. The old Penang house being built at Rimbun Dahan is also almost finished.

Our Woman in Korea

Noor Mahnun Mohamed, our arts manager at Rimbun Dahan, went to Korea for five days to attend a conference for artists' residencies.

Works-in-Progress for Next Residency show

The 15th Rimbun Dahan Residency Exhibition is approaching and resident artists Monika Behrens and Samsudin Abdul Wahab are hard at work on their collections for the show. The exhibition will be open to the public from 28 February 2010.

Rimba Ilmu Tour Reminder

On the first Saturday morning of every month, Angela Hijjas leads a naturalists' tour around Rimba Ilmu, the botanical gardens of University Malaya, in association with the Malaysian Nature Society. The discussion focuses on ecology, conservation issues facing Malaysian species, how to identify some trees, and why that is important.

Nature Notes November 2009

A pair of black-thighed falconets are a new addition to the list of birds frequenting Rimbun Dahan. And for the first time since 2005, our Grammatophyllum orchid is flowering.

One Day Dance Workshops with Karen Lacey

British dance teacher Karen Lacey will conduct workshops in contemporary dance and jazz from 10AM to 4.30PM on Saturday 21 Nov. A full day of class including lunch is RM 50. Places are limited, so register now!

Current Short-Term Residents

Vietnamese artist Thu Kim Vu is resident at Rimbun Dahan for September 2009. See her new works of calligraphy on paper that she has created during her residency, on Flicker. She follows Diana Lui, a Malaysian photographer living in Paris, who was with us for August.

Construction: Some Fast, Some Slow

The house from Penang that is being rebuilt at Rimbun Dahan is approaching completion, while progress on the hotel being renovated in Penang is hampered by waiting for council approval.

Indonesia Artist Solo Show

Dadi Setiyadi, an Indonesian artist resident at Rimbun Dahan in July 2009, presented his solo exhibition Transmission at House of Matahati at the end of July. Angela Hijjas was invited to open the exhibition. See the House of Matahati website for more details.

Nature Notes July-Sept 2009

Occasional sightings of a large pig-tailed macaque, or beruk, in the gardens at Rimbun Dahan to add to our list of native primates. Meanwhile, a real pig: a baby wild boar is cornered by the dogs and bites Sham! And Shorea acuminata, a red meranti tree, is fruiting for the first time at Rimbun Dahan.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE at new theatre

Almost twenty years after Hijjas Kasturi Associates Sdn completed its iconic design of Lot 10 shopping centre, the building enters a new phase with the opening of the rooftop Actors Studio theatre. Contemporary dance company Balletbase, which rehearses at Rimbun Dahan, presents part of a series of free trial performances at the new theatre, with a mixed bill of short dance works on Saturday 3 Oct starting at 8.30pm.

Year-Long Visual Arts Residency Applications Extended

The Malaysia-Australia Visual Arts Residency at Rimbun Dahan for 2010 will continue to accept applications until 30 September 2009. This is a funded 12-month residency, providing accommodation, studio, living allowance, and an exhibition at the end of the year. (Posted 9 July 2009)

Images from Dancing in Place

The weekend of site-specific dance works at Rimbun Dahan at the end of May was a great success. From shots of bodies emerging from the earth, to bodies jumping into the swimming pool, a number of talented photographers share their viewpoints of Dancing in Place. (Posted 9 July 2009)

Pantun Inspiring multimedia art project

Resident Australian visual artist Cathy Brooks and poet Mike Ladd are working on a collaborative project of still photography, video, sound and text, drawing on the Malay pantun form. Read some of Mike's pantun-in-progress! (Posted 10 July 2009)

Solo Exhibition for Indonesian Resident Artist

Indonesia painter Dadi Satiyadi, who has been resident at Rimbun Dahan for the past month, will present Transmisi, a solo exhibition at House of Matahati, opening on 31 July 2009 at 8pm. The exhibition will contain 6 works made before Dadi came to Kuala Lumpur, 2 works he produced during a month's residency at House of Matahati, and the remainder produced at Rimbun Dahan. For more information, see the House of Matahati blog. (Posted 10 July 2009)

New Heritage House Under Construction

The colonial wooden house from Jalan Perak in Penang is being relocated to the back of Rimbun Dahan, where it will provide additional accommodation and studio space. Watch how quickly the structure rises! (Posted 10 July 2009)

Opening of the Art for Nature Exhibition

Photos from the opening of Tanahair on 16 May 2009, at which with Raja Dr Nazrin Shah was guest of honour, are now online. Art for Nature this year raised a total of RM 262 150.70 for WWF-Malaysia, dispelling fears that the economic recession would hurt fundraising efforts. (Posted 10 July 2009)

From Clutter into Sculpture

Dan Wollmering, a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Art and Design at Monash University, is taking a sabbatical to experiment with how abstract art can arise from the quotidian objects that accumulate in bottom drawers and backyard sheds. (Posted 10 July 2009)

Dance Workshop and Performance

Resident choreographer Angela Goh will give a contemporary dance workshop at ASWARA on Friday 17 July from 10am to 12.30pm. She will also perform her solo filled spilt in the group show Lepas...tetap menari! from 17 to 19 July, 8.30pm at the Experimental Theatre, ASWARA. Entrance to both show and workshop are free.

Photo of the Month

A prolonged dry period meant many trees shed their leaves in February, including the fruiting Terminalia bellirica, giving good views of the leaf monkeys that come to feed on the seeds, including one mother and baby.

Photo by Angela Hijjas.

Dance Day 2009

For the third year running, Rimbun Dahan, in partnership with MyDance Alliance, hosted a day of dance workshops at Rimbun Dahan on the Labor Day holiday, to celebrate International Dance Day. A crowd of dancers turned up to experience three local choreographers teaching excerpts of their own work.

Nature Notes April

Nesting season approaches, and several native trees, including Firmiana malayana, Kayea grandis and Baccaurea lanceolata, are showing signs of flowers and fruits.

New Artists in Residence

The year-long visual artists for the Malaysia-Australia Visual Art Residency 2008 are now ensconced at Rimbun Dahan. Monika Behrens is the Australian artist, with her partner Rochelle Haley, and Samsudin Abdul Wahab is the Malaysian representative for this year. We have also welcomed Australian dancer-choreographer Angela Goh (pictured left) who will be staying at Rimbun Dahan for three months and creating a new work with local dancers.

Our diverse landscapes shelter and shape cultures and communities. Without having seen a forest, how could we understand the potential of the material we work with? Where do we stand when our tanah air ceases to exist?

This year's fundraising exhibition in aid of WWF-Malaysia will run from 17 May – 31 May 2009 in the underground gallery at Rimbun Dahan. The exhibition is open from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and on weekdays by appointment.

There will be a talk about the art work at Rimbun Dahan Gallery 3 pm, Saturday, 23 May.

Art works are still available for sale. See images online now!

Tour of Rimbun Dahan Gardens on 31st May

Angela Hijjas will conduct a tour of the gardens, the gallery exhibition Tanah Air and the restored kampong house at Rimbun Dahan, on Sunday 31st May. Meet at the front gate at 9AM, wear long sleeves and white if you are susceptible to mosquitoes, and bring along repellent. There will be a charge of RM10 per person, in support of the Malaysian Nature Society and WWF Malaysia. Refreshments will be served after the tour. To register, if you are not a member of the Malaysian Nature Society, please send an email to

Dancing in Place

Draped around trees. Crawling through sculptures. Underwater. Underground?

Six emerging choreographers present a collection of site-specific contemporary dance works at Rimbun Dahan, 4-7pm, 23 & 24 May, in conjunction with the Art for Nature 2009 Tanah Air exhibition. Free to the public!

Angela Opens Lisa Roet Exhibition

On 4 March, Angela Hijjas opened the exhibition at Annexe Central Market by Australian artist Lisa Roet, whose works continue to explore her interest in the relationship between humans and our simian relatives. Angela's opening speech addressed how primates like the orang utan reflect our future, illustrated by the example of a stranded orang utan recently helped by WWF officers to save herself.

Nature Notes March 2009

Angela Hijjas considers the New Malaysian landscape of oil palms, lalang and non-indigenous acacia trees, and finds that Baya Weavers have adapted to their new home.

Resident Artist From Philippines Will Return

Filipino painter Lynyrd Paras will return to Kuala Lumpur to take up an artists residency at Taksu Gallery in preparation for his exhibition there in September. Check out some of the works that Lynyrd produced during his residency with us over the last few months.

Event for University of Melbourne Alumni

On 21 March, Rimbun Dahan hosted a dinner for alumni of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne, to raise money for new developments at the Faculty.

First Renovated Penang House Ready for Guests

Hijjas and Angela slept their first night in 34 Lebuh Clarke, the first of five houses to be finished in the Penang hotel development cum restoration. The house now boasts recycled furniture from China as well as contemporary art works from the Rimbun Dahan collection.

The 14th Rimbun Dahan Residency Exhibition

The works of resident artists Megan Keating, Lauren Black and Justin Lim will be displayed in the Underground Gallery at Rimbun Dahan from 15 February to 1 March 2009, Saturday & Sunday 10am to 6pm, weekdays by appointment only. The exhibition is open to the public. There will be an artists’ talk at the gallery at 3pm on Saturday 21st February 2009.

Images of the work displayed and price lists can now be viewed online.

Photo of the Month

Artists and friends of Rimbun Dahan enjoying Wednesday morning yoga in the dance studio.

Images from the Exhibition Opening

Over four hundred people spent their Valentine's evening at the opening of the 14th Rimbun Dahan Residency Exhibition, and our photographer caught them examining the art, eating, drinking, and merry-making. Did YOU make the social pages?

Dance Production Earns 3 Boh Cameronian Nominations

Rimbun Dahan resident choreographer Lina Limosani has been nominated for Best Choreographer in a Feature Length Work for her creation of 'A Delicate Situation' which was performed in December at KLPac. Visiting costume designer Eve Lambert also earned a nomination for Best Costume Design in Dance and dancer Elaine Pedley (pictured) picked up a nomination for Best Featured Performer.

Nature Notes February 2009

Groups of Oriental Pied Hornbills visit Rimbun Dahan to feed on fruit, and Angela witnesses the departure to the north of a migrant flock of Ashy Minivets.

The Wknd Sessions Films at Rimbun Dahan

The weekly online show for independent music filmed its music recordings and interviews for its second season at Rimbun Dahan this month.

Filipino Painter Starts 3-Month Residency

Filipino artist Lynyrd Paras has taken up a 3-month residency at Rimbun Dahan, until the end of March.

Penang Project Continues Apace

Five terrace houses in Georgetown, Penang, are currently under renovation, in the first stage of work on a development of a boutique hotel in Penang's heritage area that will complement Rimbun Dahan's work in Selangor.

Hijjas Receives University of Melbourne Honour

Hijjas Kasturi received an honourary doctorate from the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne in December 2008. The award recognizes his contributions to architectural education and to architectural identity in Malaysia, including the design of Rimbun Dahan.

Pontianak work Thrills KLPac Audiences

'A Delicate Situation', created by Rimbun Dahan resident choreographer Lina Limosani, was performed to appreciative crowds at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre in December. Check out the photos of the performance taken by Philip Craig, and the review from Lim How Ngean at The Star newspaper.

Choreographers Invited for 2009

Rimbun Dahan invites emerging choreographers from Southeast Asia to apply for a 3-month residency. Accommodation, studio space and airfare are provided for successful applicants, as well as limited production assistance for the final showing of their work.

Nature Notes January 2009

Our snake of the month is a Copperhead Ratsnake, Elaphe radiata, which preys on rodents around Rimbun Dahan. This handsome but non-venomous animal adopts an interesting defence mechanism when attacked or cornered.

'A Delicate Situation' Coming Soon to KLPac

Resident choreographer Lina Limosani has been working with four talented Malaysian dancers to create a chilling new contemporary dance work inspired by tales of our local pontianak. Three months in the making at Rimbun Dahan, the work will be performed at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre from 12 to 14 December.

Don't miss this dramatic event combining great dance, theatre,
costumes and original music. Buy your tickets now!

Nature Notes November 2008

In a very gray and wet November, colour in the garden is hard to find, except for the birds, which have supplied several exciting new sightings. This month we also feature two snake species, proving that Rimbun Dahan is a welcoming home for our reptilian friends.

INDONESIAN ARTIST's Works Sold Well

Indonesia artist Oceu Apristawijaya had a successful showing at the end of November of the work he created during his residency at Rimbun Dahan, selling three out of five large works displayed. Visitors were also given a preview of works that will be displayed by the year-long resident artists in next February's exhibition.

Resident Artists Chosen for 2009

Samsudin Abdul Wahab, a graduate of UiTM who recently presented his first solo show at Taksu Kuala Lumpur, and Sydney-based artist Monika Behrens, who paints playful still lifes dealing with historical events, have been chosen for the year-long Malaysian-Australian Visual Art Residency for 2009.

Forest Hardwoods Filling Out

Developing a high canopy of indigenous trees is not always easy, especially with frequent lightning strikes, but more measurements of dipterocarps show that the trees at Rimbun Dahan are growing well.

Dance Wins KLPac december slot

A Delicate Situation , a new contemporary dance work by resident choreographer Lina Limosani, will be shown at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre from 12 to 14 December 2008. Four talented Malaysian dancers are rehearsing hard for the performance -- check out the photos.

Snakes and Snake Food

Just when you thought we couldn't have more pictures of snakes eating things. And take a look at our fluffy clutch of chicks in the chicken house, hopefully destined for a better fate!

Oceu works on sale

Indonesian resident artist Oceu Apristawijaya will display the work he has created at Rimbun Dahan for potential buyers on Friday 21 November 2008. Those interested in the preview should contact Anum Mohamed The studios of other artists resident at Rimbun Dahan will be open for visits.

Great Strides in Physical Theatre

British physical theatre artist Al Seed introduced a group of Malaysian dancers to elements of mask, clowning and creature work during an intensive 6-day workshop at Rimbun Dahan in September. Check out images from the workshop.

Painting Our Links with Nature

Indonesian visual artist Oceu Apristawijaya is in residence at Rimbun Dahan for three months. Oceu's work centres around the theme of man's relationship with nature, and he hopes that his stay will help him gain new appreciation for the biological diversity in Southeast Asia.

Penang Restoration & Renovation Project

Last month, there was news of Dahan Timor, a development on the East Coast. This month, Penang is all we can think about. We have been awarded a tender of 15 units of pre-war terraced houses and shophouses in Georgetown. They are outside the conservation zone, but just a close walk from all the markets and activities in Penang Road. The proposal is to restore and convert them into a hotel, which will help to support ongoing activities at Rimbun Dahan.

Image of the Month

Bats are commonly seen at Rimbun Dahan roosting upside down in small colonies on the Shanghai plaster pillars during the day. When disturbed, they move horizontally around the pillar until they cannot be seen. The bats in this group are obviously getting to know each other quite well! (Posted 22 Sept 2008)

Rare Dipterocarp Puts Forth in Pink

Shorea sumatrana, a critically endangered species of forest tree, is flowering for the first time at Rimbun Dahan. Its blooms will be immortalised by resident botanical artist Lauren Black.

Help Dress the Pontianak

Resident choreographer Lina Limosani is working with French-Canadian costume designer Eve Lambert to create haunting costumes for Lina's upcoming performance with Malaysian dancers in December 2008. Eve is also urgently looking for an assistant to work with her during her stay.

New Installations in Permanent Collection

New works by former resident artists Tim Craker and Louise Saxton, recently displayed in the dot-net-dot-au exhibition at the Annexe Gallery in Central Market, are now on show as part of the Rimbun Dahan permanent collection.

Afro-Contemp Dance Workshop a Hit

20 excited dancers filled the dance studio at Rimbun Dahan last weekend, to take part in resident choreographer Mcebisi Bhayi's Afro-contemporary dance workshop. Mcebisi will be back at Rimbun Dahan from 1 to 20 September -- so book a workshop now! Or check out the video from the workshop.

plans for Rimbun Dahan East

Hijjas and Angela have purchased an old house from Penang, which will be moved to our site in Sungai Cendor, Pahang, as the start of an East Coast venture for Rimbun Dahan.

Image of the Month

A 160-cm long monitor lizard running down the steps from the reflective pool and carrying a prize.

Photo: Lauren Black

Calling for Applications for Year-Long Residency

Rimbun Dahan is calling for applications from Australian or Malaysian visual artists for the next funded 12-month residency, providing accommodation, studio, financial assistance of RM2 000 per month for living and materials, and an exhibition at the end of the year. Deadline 31 August 2008.

Tea and Poetry

Wong Yoke Hin Nicholas is spending his college summer holidays in residence at Rimbun Dahan, working on pieces about Malaysian flora and fauna, as part of his first poetry collection. On Monday 25 August at 4pm, the public is invited to enjoy tea and poetry in the Underground Gallery at Rimbun Dahan.

Physical Theatre Workshop Open for Applications

Australian choreographer Lina Limosani and British physical theatre performer Al Seed will conduct a free 6-day intensive workshop in physical theatre from 16 to 22 September at Rimbun Dahan. Interested dancers and actors are invited to apply. Limited to 12 participants.

FREE AFRO-CONTEMPORARY DANCE WORKSHOP

Resident choreographer Mcebisi Bhayi will conduct a three-hour workshop in Afro-contemporary dance technique at Rimbun Dahan on Saturday 16 August.

Angela Hijjas Opens Fundraising Matahati Exhibition

On 20 July, Angela Hijjas delivered the opening address to Artriangle at Sokka Gakkai, a collective show bringing together artists from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore to raise money for the MATAHATI Art Fund.

Rare Plants Take Root On World Environment Day

58 plants were installed at Rimbun Dahan on World Environment Day last month. Many of them are specimens of rare, uncommon or previously undescribed species now endangered by logging or habitat loss.

Nature Notes July 2008

An Oriental whip snake, Ahaetulla prasina, poses for a portrait in the Taman Sari at Rimbun Dahan.

TRACING: DANCE DIALOGUES IN SINGAPORE AND SOUTH AFRICA

Resident choreographers Joey Chua from Singapore and Mcebisi Bhayi from South Africa will perform a work-in-progress showing of their ground-breaking collaborative work on 1 & 2 August at the Fonteyn Studio Theatre in Petaling Jaya. Entrance is free. Q & A session follows the performance. (Updated 23/7/2008)

Art Exhibition by Former Rimbun Dahan Resident Artists

Australian artists Tim Craker and Louise Saxton, who undertook short term artist residencies at Rimbun Dahan gallery in 2006, explore their most vivid impressions of Malaysia in the exhibition dot-net-dot-au, at The Annexe Gallery from 10 to 27 July. The artists will give a public presentation about their exhibition on Saturday 26 July at 2pm. (Updated 24/7/2008)

Image of the Month

Staff at Rimbun Dahan turn out in force to address the problem of non-native tilapia fish taking over the waterways. (Posted 26/05/2008. Photo: Angela Hijjas)

Burmese Resident Artist Helps Cyclone Victims

Khin Zaw Latt, resident at Rimbun Dahan in May 2008, returned home to Burma to win the prestigious Myanmar Contemporary Art Award 2008, and to provide aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma's south. (Posted 18/06/2008)

Nature Notes: Return of the Blue-winged Pittas

The beautiful but shy blue-winged pittas have returned to Rimbun Dahan to breed, much further south than previously recorded. Their nest has been discovered in an abandoned woodpile and their calls can be heard all over the garden. (Posted 16/06/2008)

Hijjas Addresses Alumni in Australia and Malaysia

Hijjas bin Kasturi visited Australia in March 2008 to lecture at his two alma maters, the University of Adelaide and the University of Melbourne. He was later featured in the alumni magazines of both institutions. Angela Hijjas also gave a public lecture at the University of Melbourne about the residency program at Rimbun Dahan -- now you can listen to it online! And in May Hijjas gave the keynote address to a gathering of University of Melbourne alumni in Kuala Lumpur, expounding on his experiences at the university and on the proper use of a university education. (Posted 3/06/2008)

Remember/Rebel -- Balletbase Show in July

The preprofessional dance company Balletbase, run by Bilqis Hijjas, will present two new contemporary dance works from the 11 to 13 July -- 'Rebel without a Cause?' by emerging choreographer Radhimalar Govindarajoo, and 'River of Memory' by Bilqis. (Posted 27/06/2008)

year-long Resident artists settling in

Rimbun Dahan's year-long resident artists from Australia -- Lauren Black and Megan Keating -- are settling in at Rimbun Dahan. Both contributed new works to the 2008 Art for Nature exhibition, and Lauren (right) has been demonstrating to interested visitors how she creates intricate masterpieces of botanical art with the help of a microscope and specimens of rare plants from University Malaya. Lauren and Megan will display works produced during their residencies in an exhibition with Malaysian artist Justin Lim at the beginning of 2009. (Posted 27/06/2008)

Pioneering Asian-African Collaboration

Singaporean choreographer Joey Chua and South African choreographer Mcebisi Bhavi are currently in residence at Rimbun Dahan. Their collaboration, the first of its kind in the world, will produce a contemporary dance duet to be performed in July. (Updated 3/7/08)

Nature Notes: Python in the Henhouse

Like a bull in a chinashop, a reticulated python laid waste to the Rimbun Dahan chicken coop last night. Two hens were killed and one eaten, then hastily regurgitated as the python attempted to escape. Warning: contains graphic images. (Posted 12/05/2008)

Where are we going to draw the line between ecological impact and economic growth?

The 2008 Art for Nature exhibition has been a great success, raising over RM 270,000 for WWF and participating artists! The exhibition can be seen until 1 June in the Underground Gallery at Rimbun Dahan.

Selected artworks are still available for sale! More info...

Garden Tour

On Sunday 1 June at 9am, Angela Hijjas will lead visitors on a guided walk through forest, herb and wetland gardens at Rimbun Dahan, including a visit to Rumah Uda Manap, the restored century old kampong house from Perak, and a tour of exhibition, followed by refreshments. The tour is free and open to the public; donations to WWF-Malaysia are appreciated.

Dance Day Workshops

Over twenty dancers assembled in the dance studio at Rimbun Dahan to celebrate International Dance Day with four workshops: Cunningham technique conducted by Yuka Tanaka, ballet performance skills by Kim Long, contemporary repertoire by Rathimala, and Horton technique by Joey Chua. (Posted 1/05/2008)

Gabrielle Bates' Australian Exhibition Opened

Angela Hijjas gave the opening speech at the launch of Gabrielle Bates' exhibition 'Mouth of Flowers' at Trocadero Art Space, Footscray, Melbourne, on 26 March. The exhibition displays the body of work that Gabrielle created during her residency at Rimbun Dahan during 2007. Now updated with images! (Updated 9/04/2008)

Then and Now

How much a garden can grow in seventeen years! From a few saplings and not much shade to riotous greenery -- check out the before and after images. (Posted 8/04/2008)

Permanent Collection Online

A selection of works from the Rimbun Dahan permanent collection is displayed in the Underground Gallery in between other exhibitions. Featuring works by former resident artists, images of the permanent collection are now available for viewing. (Posted 27/02/2008)

Accommodation for Resident Artists

To help prepare resident artists for life at Rimbun Dahan, we have published images and descriptions of the various styles of accommodation available.

Curator's Talk

Noor Mahnun Mohamed will conduct a tour of the 2008 Art for Nature exhibition, lending insights on the contributing artists and their work, on Saturday 24 May at 3pm. Refreshments will follow. The talk is free and open to the public; donations to WWF-Malaysia are appreciated.

A Fitting tool to investigate our nation

Humour surfaces for the first time in the works of Rimbun Dahan resident artist Ahmad Fuad Osman, despite the strong theme of social criticism running throughout, according to Carmen Nge in her essay for the catalogue of Fuad's recent exhibition. (Posted 19/02/2008)

The Elasticity of a Golden Thread

"It mixes memory and ambivalence with a restless exoticism, " writes Southeast Asian arts correspondent Gina Fairley of Rimbun Dahan resident artist Gabrielle Bates' new body of work. Gina's essay accompanying the catalogue for Gabrielle's exhibition at the Rimbun Dahan gallery in January 2008 is now available online. (Posted 17/02/2008)

Burmese Performance Artist in Residence

Moe Satt, a performance artist from Yangon trained in zoology and community development, will be resident at Rimbun Dahan for three months, from February to April 2008.

Hundreds Flock to See new art

The opening of the 13th Rimbun Dahan Residency Exhibition on 12 January was a roaring success, with over 500 guests coming to view the work by Gabrielle Bates and Ahmad Fuad Osman. The food may have run out early, but the fun lasted all night! Check out the images from the evening. (Posted 4/02/2008)

More Large Trees on Plant Lists

Work continues apace to keep the plant list at Rimbun Dahan updated with new plantings and a few unfortunate losses. 42 images and 39 species have been added in the past few days, mostly to the family of large forest trees Dipterocarpaceae. (Posted 29/01/2008)

Nature Notes Dec 2007

Four new bird species have been spotted at Rimbun Dahan recently -- the Rufous Woodpecker, Purple Heron, Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo, and Stripe-Throated Bulbul -- much to our resident birdwatchers' delight! (Posted 07/12/2007)

13th Rimbun Dahan Residency Exhibition

Current Short-Term Resident Artists at Rimbun Dahan

Thai artist Sarawut Chutiwongpeti arrived on 10 October and will be staying at Rimbun Dahan for three months, working in installation art, photography, digital art and video. He has come fresh from a residency in Korea and will be following up his stay at Rimbun Dahan with the Malihom artists' residency program in Penang.

Indonesian photographer Bahtiar Dwi Susanto arrived on 15 November, for a stay until 14 January 2008. Affiliated with Insomnium Visual Studies Malang, he has just finished working at Cemeti Art House in Yogyakarta. At the end of December he will be conducting a photography workshop at Home of Matahati. He has started a project working with local artists called "Me, Friends and Photography" and will have an exhibition in Indonesia after the residency, supported by the Indonesian Embassy.

Writer/poet Cecep Syamsul Hari will be arriving for a residency this Saturday, completing a full house at Rimbun Dahan! (Posted 07/12/2007)

Memorial: Mulch, 1988-2007

Mulch, our oldest and most long-suffering dog, passed away yesterday, 19 years after he was born at Rimbun Dahan. He lived a long full life and in the end his demise did not come as a surprise. He leaves behind a pack of five other dogs, none of whom are mourning him overly much. His regular barks at the evening azan will be missed. Meanwhile, the People page at Rimbun Dahan has been updated to reflect our current population of pets (Posted 03/09/2007)

PROGRESS REPORT: AHMAD FUAD OSMAN

New works by resident artist Ahmad Fuad Osman, featuring Rimbun Dahan dog Samson, were collectors' favourites at a recent Matahati group show. Images from Fuad's recent series 'Recollections of Long Lost Memories' have also just been put online on 13 Nov 2007.

Progress Report: Gabrielle Bates

Visual artist Gabrielle Bates has now been at Rimbun Dahan for six months, half way through her year-long residency. She has spent her residency exploring combinations of patterns and figuration, using interesting and unique media.

Nature Notes August 2007

A pair of the shy and unusual Blue-Winged Pittas has been sighted several times in the at Rimbun Dahan over the last week. Usually a winter migrant to this area, these pittas might even be a breeding pair!

Residency for Choreographers

Applications are invited for residencies for Malaysia, other Southeast Asian and Australian contemporary dance choreographers, for a three-month stay at Rimbun Dahan from March to June 2008.

PLant list still growing

After a spate of planting and documenting, there are 80 new images of trees growing at Rimbun Dahan in the online plant lists. (Posted 16/06/2007)

Video artist on site

Malaysian video artist Lau Mun Leng is resident at Rimbun Dahan from July to August 2007. She will be researching new media, digital video and audio production for a new work for public presentation. Mun Leng's stay comes on the heels of Yaksa Agus from Yogyakarta, who was resident at Rimbun Dahan in June, and Matt Cox from Australia from February to April this year.

Nature Notes June 2007

RARE WATER Plant Moved to Rimbun DAhan

As the Selangor State Government will not guarantee the protection of the Sungai Buloh Nature Park, some specimens of Cryptocoryne minima have been transferred to a new home at Rimbun Dahan. (Posted 16/04/2007)