The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 03:32 AM PDT

WHAT do writers and poets draw on when they create their work?

Most would agree it is some combination of ideas, experiences, emotions, and, often, factual research.

Creativity requires an open mind, and what could promote this better than a literary festival that brings writers from different parts of the world together to exchange ideas and experiences?

Since 1995, Writers Unlimited (formerly known as Winternachten) has been organising an annual international literary festival every January in The Hague, Netherlands, as well as literary events abroad in different countries.

Organised in cooperation with local partner organisations, these literary tours bring a small, select group of writers from different countries to the host country to connect with local writers and audiences.

This weekend, Malaysia will be hosting the first leg of this year's Writers Unlimited Tour in the Klang Valley, with the theme "Writing And Truth – Fact Or Fiction?".

Says event organiser and writer Bernice Chauly: "The main objective of the tour is for the touring writers to engage in as many ways as possible with the local writers.

"The theme will hopefully address many of the concerns and issues that are pertinent and relevant to many of us."

The four writers who will be visiting Malaysia are Gündüz Vassaf from Turkey; Iraqi immigrant to the Netherlands, Rodaan Al Galidi; United States-based Ethiopian Maaza Mengistem; and Abeer Soliman from Egypt.

Meanwhile, Malaysia will be represented by Dain Saad, Kee Thuan Chye, Chuah Guat Eng, Uthaya Sankar S.B. and Dipika Mukherjee.

When asked about the unique experiences each writer is expected to bring to the tour, Chauly answers: "Many of the writers come from interesting backgrounds and experiences and have written about them in different ways.

"You have many voices – the immigrant, the political commentator, the storyteller, the refugee, the rebel, the satirist; all will bring their own strengths to the discourse at hand."

The three-day event starting on Friday will have three events that are open to the public.

The first on Friday is a 10.30am reading in the Experimental Theatre at Taylor University's Lakeside Campus in Sunway, Selangor.

This event, which is free, is primarily aimed at students, and will feature readings from five of the writers, followed by a question-and-answer session.

June 11 will see two sessions held at The Annexe Gallery, Central Market, Kuala Lumpur, at 10.30am and 2.30pm respectively.

These two sessions, which are also free, will involve all the writers as they read or perform their works and discuss the theme with the help of moderators Amir Muhammad in the morning and Umapagan Ambikaipagan in the afternoon.

On June 12, there will be an evening performance at the No Black Tie restaurant in Kuala Lumpur that will consist of readings by the writers, as well as musical performances from the bands Stalk and Shh ... Diam!. There is a RM30 cover charge for this event, which starts at 8.30pm.

All the sessions will see the writers using the languages they usually work in – Arabic, Dutch, English, Malay and Turkish. However, English translations will be projected simultaneously on a screen for the benefit of the audience.

Says Chauly: "I would like as many kinds of people to come for these sessions as possible.

"It's a public forum, and we want the writers to not only engage with each other, but also with the audiences.

"I hope that people will be able to come away with greater insight into why writers write what they do, what they choose to write about, and how."

After Malaysia, the four touring writers will be visiting Makassar, Indonesia, for the second half of their tour. – Tan Shiow Chin

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Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Selasa, 7 Jun 2011

The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf

The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf

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