This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on July 5, 2019

2 excellent exhibitions

Visit the cross-generational pop-up group exhibition in the White Box Gallery at Publika called GENSET. An abbreviation for “generator set” which refers to a powerful light that points out the relationships and the exchange of knowledge between mentor and mentee artists. Presented by Gajah Gallery with support from Tabluarasa Studio, this exhibit of 21 contemporary artists from across Southeast Asia is curated by Syed Muhammad Hafiz. Malaysian artists featured in the exhibit include Sabri Idrus, Kayleigh Goh, Syed Fakaruddin. Other artists include individuals from the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. The exhibit is open from today to Sunday, from 11am to 6pm. Admission is free. Head to White Box @ Publika, Level G2-01, Block A5, Solaris Dutamas, No 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, Kuala Lumpur. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/gajahgallery/

For an exhibition that bends tradition, visit The Human Exhibit: Sex & Gender. After its successful Mentalhealth rendition, I’M Entertainment is back exploring the representations of sexual identity and gender expression. The exhibit is a fine art gallery with humans, allowing audiences to witness human representation in multiple forms, including dance, spoken work, monologue, movement and more. This immersive experience takes place in different parts of AkuSembunyi, from the porch to the swimming pool, playing from yesterday to Sunday and July 11 to 14. Tickets are RM60. The venue is AkuSembunyi, 11A, Jalan 12/8, Petaling Jaya. For more information, visit facebook.com/imentertainment.my/

2 staged performances

From a partnership between MyDance Alliance and The Actors Studio, emerged The Dancebox series, and ongoing project since 2001. Allowing short works of Malaysian dance, Dancebox is an informal performance platform that showcases experimental or work-in-progress dances, and to receive audience feedback. Many contemporary dance choreographers have benefited from this platform. For the Sunday performance, at 8.30pm, there will be six local choreographers and one international choreographer displaying their work. Tickets are a RM15 donation at the door. The venue is klpac, Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan, Kuala Lumpur. To grab tickets, visit klpac.org

Written by internationally-acclaimed Iranian writer of White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, Nassim Soleimanpour’s Blank will star a different actor in each show from today to Sunday. Each day an actor will receive an unfamiliar script in a sealed envelope which is full of blanks. The actor must perform the script, filling in the blanks with the help of the audience. This exciting play at Damansara Performancing Arts Centre (DPAC), in association with Aurora Nova, and in collaboration with The Instant Café Theatre Company, is curated by Jo Kukathas. Each day has a show at 8pm, and for tomorrow and Sunday, there is an additional show at 3pm. Actors include Ghafir Akbar, Farzana Hussaini, Nani Al-yahya, Mwaffaq Al-Hajjar and Arief Hamizan. Tickets are RM68. Head to DPAC, H-01, DPAC, Empire Damansara, Jalan PJU8/8, Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya. To buy tickets, visit dpac.com.my

2 cool comedy shows

Based in Shanghai, China, Egyptian comedian Mohammed Magdi is well known for his headlines at the Kung Fu Komedy Club, and has toured all over the world, including Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, Osaka, Manila, Yangon, Dubai and many more. He has opened for the likes of Jim Gaffigan and Gad Elmaleh, and has worked with Kurt Metzger, Ari Shaffir, Brad Williams, Joe Wong, Jimmy Shubert, Mark Normand and Kyle Kinane. His show at Crackhouse will have you laughing all night. He is performing today and tomorrow at 9pm. Tickets are RM50, or RM60 at the door. Crackhouse Comedy Club is located on 1st Floor, 24A, Lorong Rahim Kajai 14, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. To buy tickets, visit crackhousecomedy.asia

Catch Prakash Daniel’s Trial Show, a platform to try out his new material and never-heard-before jokes before his one-man show. A real treat for comedy fans, the show will include some new bits and stories that you may never see again. Daniel is known for hosting The Joke Factory’s Open Mic, as an improvisor on Making S#it Up! and for the hilarious Thursday Theme shows. The show is on tomorrow at 5pm, and a RM20 ticket gets you a free snack. Head to the Joke Factory, Lot 26, Level G3, Publika Shopping Gallery, Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur. For more information, visit thejokefactory.com.my

2 musical moments

The Ensemble Virama presents its 14th production called A Fantastic & Rhapsodic Souvenir on Sunday. Featuring romantic works of Herbert Howells, Benjamin Britten and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the evening promises to be one to remember. Musicians playing are Howard Ng on the oboe, Julian Ong on the clarinet, violinists Bernice Ooi and Andrea Sim, viola players Angela Lou and Cheryl Choi, and cello players James Ng and Eugene Chong. Tickets are RM50 apiece. The location is Deciso Music Studio, 3 Jalan Margosa SD 10/4A, Bandar Sri Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. To buy tickets, visit facebook.com/viramamalaysia

Tria Aziz is fresh off the theatre stage, after the succesful The May 9th Show by Instant Cafe Theatre. She returns to Bobo KL with her spin on pop, broadway and R & B favourites. Accompanying Aziz’s soulful vocals is Shensation Shen on the piano. For a night filled with the music you love, head to Bobo KL tonight and tomorrow night at 9.30pm. Tickets are RM60 or RM45 for diners. Bobo KL is located at 65-1, Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. For more information, visit facebook.com/BoboKualaLumpur/

2 ways to beat the heat

Our favourite ice cream brand is celebrating the launch of its two new flavours with a roving Häagen-Dazs Cool Wheels truck. The new refreshing flavours, Kiwi & Mango Frozen Yogurt and Strawberry Frozen Yogurt, are crafted with 100% real cream and milk. With a blend of fresh fruit, these frozen yogurt delights will cool you right down in this heat. The fun and colourful truck will have both flavours, hitting different spots in the Klang Valley. From 11am to 6pm today, it will be at Plaza Mont’Kiara; tomorrow it cruises to Sunway Putra’s main entrance from noon to 10pm; and on its last day, Sunday, it will be at the Sunway Velocity ground floor Jalan Peel entrance from noon to 10pm. For more information, visit facebook.com/haagendazsmalaysia or @haagendazsmy

Starbucks has two new summer-ready Frappuccino flavours that are handcrafted to ensure you cool down in our Malaysian heat. For coffee lovers there’s the Dark Caramel Coffee Sphere Frappuccino, a blended beverage that includes milk, buttery dark caramel sauce, bursting coffee spheres filled with the  brand’s signature Brazilian coffee, and a dollop of whipped cream on top. If you’re interested in something more fruity, try the Watermelon and Lychee Aloe Frappuccino, a concoction of watermelon juice, chia seeds and ice, layered with floral lychee whipped cream and sweet lychee aloe. These drinks are priced at RM17.50 onwards. For more information, visit starbucks.com.my