REXKL transforms its former cinema hall into an immersive digital art gallery
REXPERIENCE (RXP.KL), an immersive digital art gallery in the former cinema hall of REXKL, officially launched on September 15, 2023.
Located in downtown KL, the 8,800 sq ft gallery’s first art exhibition is titled “Other World”, and features multiple local and global artists, such as Julius Horsthuis, Fahmi Hosnan, and Colas Fiszman.
With three main exhibits and interludes, each show lasts approximately one hour and promises a “transformative experience” that honours the limitless possibilities of art.
RXP.KL’s press release described the exhibition as an immersive journey that takes visitors through cosmic, natural, urban, and abstract dimensions, offering a transcendent escape into realms of enchantment and creativity.
Rather than the traditional art gallery experience where you roam about from art piece to art piece, RXP.KL is more of a seated experience where you watch the screens and projections change before your eyes, taking you on an audio-visual journey.
“At REXPERIENCE, we’re redefining what an art gallery can be—it’s a chance to step into a world where technology and creativity meet in amazing ways,” said RXP.KL’s CEO and Creative Director, Sébastien Jurkowski.
“Our vision is to create exhibitions that spark discovery and inspiration amongst art lovers, young innovators, and travellers in search of genuine creative, cultural and shared experiences.”
A new art space for creatives
We were able to experience Other World ourselves on the launch day. The exhibit is broken down into three main parts:
- “Annihilation” by Colas Fiszman and Jonas Margraf
- “Foreign Nature” by Julius Horsthuis and Ben Lukas Boysen
- “Yume” by Fahmi Hosnan and Ashish Khilnani
The “Foreign Nature” exhibit is an exploration of intricate fractals that unveil the hidden geometry of the universe. Julius Horsthuis crafts immersive encounters where self-similar shapes and patterns emerge.
It’s accompanied by Ben Lukas Boysen’s specially composed soundtrack, which heightens the sensory journey and evokes altered states of consciousness, akin to “psychonautic experiences”, RXP.KL stated on its poster.
Following that is “Yume”, a creation by RXP.KL that invites visitors on an journey through history’s cherished artworks. The exhibit reimagines traditional masterpieces through projection and motion, forging a connection between past and present.
Lastly, “Annihilation” blends dance, technology, and music to create a captivating narrative. The exhibit delves into a realm where innovation and consequences merge, painting a vivid picture of humanity’s complex relationship with technology.
Along with those are intermittent interlude artworks featured between shows by both global and local artists. RXP.KL describes these as providing moments of contemplation and connection, ensuring a complete and immersive experience.
Some background on RXP.KL
Co-founded by Sébastien and Eugene Yeo, RXP.KL leverages the duo’s decade-long dedication in exploring new media through technologies.
It was established in collaboration with REXKL co-founders and architects, Shin Chang and Shin Tseng, who continue their mission of adaptive reuse and community building within the REXKL space.
Together, they aim to revolutionise the traditional art experience, as well as to transform the historic cinema space into a renewed hub for cultural exchange and community engagement.
This includes utilising technologies like Unreal Engine 5, TouchDesigner, spatial audio systems, and Lidar (light detection and ranging) sensors. “These technologies enable the art to breathe and evolve, inviting visitors to become co-creators in unfolding narratives,” the press release stated.
“RXP.KL serves as a hub for exploration and lifelong learning. Here, you’re not just an observer; you’re a participant in a shared journey of artistic discovery and growth.”
From past to future
“REXPERIENCE is transformative space that reimagines the legacy of REX Cinema. By adding an immersive art experience, we’re not just preserving history, we’re writing REXKL’s future,” Shin Chang said in the press release.
“This collaboration between co-founders Eugene Yeo and Sébastien Jurkowski will allow us to blend multidisciplinary art form and technology to create a new kind of entertainment and artistic expression.”
Having experienced it for myself alongside my colleague, Matt, we both agree that it’s definitely something that you need to experience yourselves as words don’t really do it justice.
We went in not knowing what to expect, but left actually hoping that the hour-long exhibition lasted longer.
RXP.KL will officially open to the public on September 20, 2023 and will be available for three months, ending on January 20, 2024.
The “Other World” exhibition will be shown daily by the hour, starting from 10AM to 10PM. Tickets are available for purchasing now at its website, with the pricing as follows:
| Without live performance | With live performance |
|---|---|
| RM60 | RM80 |
Children aged six and below can enjoy complimentary entry, but do note that they must be supervised by a parent or legal guardian at all times.
Also Read: These Perak bros turned their dad’s bunga kantan chilli sauce recipe into a full-fledged biz
Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post
Here are top performing sellers from each M’sian state, as highlighted in Shopee’s new book
In conjunction with the upcoming Malaysia Day, we’re taking a look at Shopee‘s recent book highlighting local ecommerce sellers.
According to a August 29 press release, the goal of this book is to preserve Malaysia’s heritage, nurture local talents, and drive our economy in an inclusive and sustainable way.
But other than that, the ecommerce site’s aim with this is to empower Malaysians to start shopping purposefully with a focus on products made in Malaysia, particularly from underserved communities.
The 100-page booklet titled Shopee Spotlight Locals is available to download in English and Bahasa Malaysia on Shopee’s website. It’s the first part of a series to give a voice to Malaysian sellers that are breaking barriers online, Shopee stated.
Altogether, there are 77 independent sellers highlighted in Shopee’s book. Here are 32 of those Shopee sellers that caught our eye from across the 13 states and three federal territories in Malaysia.
Perlis
1. KYLE MOTOR PARTS
Specialised in motorcycle spare parts and accessories, KYLE MOTOR PARTS provides customers with over 5,000 products to choose from, which the brand states are all genuine and of the best quality.
Its products are ready-stock items unless specified otherwise. As such, customers can receive products faster as the brand ships items out within two days.
2. ThailandMari
Packed with a variety of products from our neighbours up north, ThailandMari‘s virtual shelves consist of 219 products that Malaysians love.
One of them being its halal fruit cordial and jelly topping, which Shopee reports to be a highlight sought after items. With a 4.9-star rating, the ecommerce store has 9.5K followers.
Kedah
1. Ocean Papa
A Shopee Preferred+ Seller, Ocean Papa provides customers with seafood from the Straits of Melaka. One of its bestsellers is the brand’s popular Ikan Bilis Mata Biru (blue-eyed anchovies).
According to its website, the brand has over 30 years of experience in the seafood industry. Aside from dried seafood, the brand also sells ready-to-eat snacks like shredded squid and sambal garing.
2. Momo House
Located in Alor Setar, Momo House is a local “one-stop online baby shop”, providing essential mom and baby products.
At the time of writing, the brand sells over 800 products, such as prenantal and newborn baby products. With a store rating of 4.9 stars by 3.4M reviewers and over 953K followers, it seems the 7-year-old brand has made quite a name for itself amongst parents.
Penang
1. Apex Bladers
Based in Bukit Mertajam, Apex Bladers is a hub for card game collectors that has garnered 8.4K followers.
Some items the brand provides are Digimon Card Game, Yugioh OCG Card, One Piece Card Game, and Pokemon TCG. Its Shopee page states that there are over 9K products being sold by them.
2. HEUS
If you shop for shoes on Shopee, chances are you’ve probably come across HEUS. The online brand generally sells women’s shoes, from flats to heels and sneakers.
Established in 2017, Shopee reports in its book that the footwear business has provided over 1 million satisfied customers. This is based on the 4.9 stars rating given by these users.
Perak
1. ATP Professional Business Solution
ATP Professional Business Solution is a supplier of office products for businesses, homes, and educational needs.
Followed by 465.6K users, the brand’s catalogue consists of a wide range of items, such as items to make organisation and cleaning easier.
2. Hotcake. Trading
Similar to Apex Bladers in Penang, Hotcake. Trading in Perak also offers trading cards for the collectors. According to Shopee, the store has more than 7,000 booster packs and rare cards.
Located in Ipoh, one of its more popular options include ones from the Cardfight!! Vanguard anime.
Selangor
1. HYGR
Founded by two law graduates, HYGR is one brand that many online are probably familiar with already.
The local business focuses on producing natural skincare products that come in eco-friendly packaging. Its catalogue includes items such as tinted lip balms, deodorant stick, and essential oils.
2. Marshear Beauty
Another popular name in the self-care scene on Shopee, Marshear Beauty is probably best known for catering the masses with K-beauty products. This includes international beauty brands like Laneige, COSRX, AXIS-Y, and Klairs.
Having been on Shopee for six years, the brand has amassed a following of 678.5K, with a full five-star rating from 1.9 million satisfied purchases.
Kuala Lumpur
1. The Hive Zero Waste Store
From a single shop in a townhouse back in 2016, The Hive Zero Waste Store has made quite a name for itself as a go-to store for eco-friendly products.
Aside from being a marketplace for other zero-waste brands, the Shopee Preferred Seller also creates its own products. This includes items like biodegradable toothbrushes, silicone menstrual cups, and soap.
2. Books n Bobs
A bibliophile’s haven, Books n Bobs is one of the nation’s largest online secondhand bookstores.
Initially started as a Facebook page in 2016, the brand now carries both new and pre-loved books of an assortment of genres. Based on its Shopee page, the brand currently has over 27K items for sale.
Putrajaya
1. SKYGITZ
If you’re gearing up for your next fishing trip, SKYGITZ might have what you’re looking for. The store specialises in fishing equipment like rods, realistic-looking lures, and hooks.
Aside from its own products, the Shopee Preferred+ Seller also offers items from brands like Seahawk, Ryobi, Berkley, and Gamakatsu to name a few.
2. Imaan.Collections
With the local Muslim population being of the largest demographics in Malaysia, it’s no wonder that brands like Imaan.Collections are thriving.
Featuring in-vogue items for the modest fashionista, the Putrajaya-based brand has over 40K followers with a five-star rating from 13.1K purchases.
Negeri Sembilan
1. Pasar Kertas
Another bookstore, Pasar Kertas is one option for comic-book lovers in Malaysia. The Nilai-based shop ships items out on a daily basis according to its Shopee page.
It carries a variety of books catering to both English and Malay readers, as well as other merchandise and CDs.
2. ANIMELUVEZ882
Whether you’re looking for anime figurines, keychains, posters, or plush dolls, ANIMELUVEZ882 has got you covered. Many of its items are priced quite affordable, with the lowest (at the time of writing) being RM3.
Some of the more notable anime merchandise available are ones from Sanrio, Attack on Titan, One Piece, Tokyo Ghoul, and Prince of Tennis.
Melaka
1. Inverno Music Station
A Shopee Preferred Seller, Inverno Music Station is one spot for music lovers in Malaysia. Having been around since 1996 through its physical outlet, the store carries local and imported CDs, DVDs, as well as vinyl records.
The brand states on its Shopee page that due to its large volume of offerings, not all of them are posted online. So if you’re keen on a particular item, then it’s encouraged to enquire to check its availability.
2. Heavy Duty Paint
A local paint brand, Heavy Duty Paint has got you covered if you’re looking to improve the appearance of your space. This includes both indoor and outdoor spaces, such as a sports court and wall paint.
With over 1.9K products to choose from, the brand’s 6.2K followers don’t seem to be at a loss for options.
Johor
1. Siobhan Handcrafts
A Shopee Preferred+ Seller of three years, Siobhan Handcrafts is a small business making eco-friendly, fresh, and natural cosmetics.
Based in Johor Bahru, the brand offers customers with a variety of handmade beauty products to choose from, such as solid hair conditioners, reusable facial cotton pads, and organic lip balms.
2. JJ SPORTS
A Shopee Preferred+ Seller with over 68K followers, JJ SPORTS provides customers with a wide selection of sports gear, outdoor equipment, and accessories.
Some of the more notable brands it carries include YONEX, LI-NING, FELET, APACS SPORTS, and BUTTERFLY.
Kelantan
1. The Organico House
According to its website, The Organico House proudly offers 100% vegan products, crafted with all-natural ingredients with a strong commitment to cruelty-free practices.
Additionally, some of its products feature eco-friendly packaging. Marketed as the brand’s bestseller is its colour-changing lip oil priced at RM24.99.
2. Khairulaming Brand
Founded by (arguably) one of the nation’s most popular food influencers, Khairulaming Brand recently announced its Sambal Nyet to have sold 2.4 million bottles in under three years.
Despite having only one product, the brand has made a whopping RM33.5 million in sales since its launch. With the content creator teasing a new upcoming product, this Kelantanese brand might be making waves again.
Terengganu
1. Ara Emp Books
With almost 5,000 books for sale on Shopee, Ara Emp Books carries from publication houses like PTS Publishing Books, Iman Publication, Komik-K, and Karya Bestari.
A quick browse through its page you’ll find that the bookstore focuses more on certain topics, such as education, religion, fiction, and self-improvement.
2. muhaiminrokman
According to Shopee’s report, muhaiminrokman is best known for its 371 Shopee Live events. The store specialises in curated bundles, pre-loved gems, and new treasures.
Based on its following of 47.1K individuals and five-star rating from 12.1K reviews, it seems that shoppers are satisfied with the brand.
Pahang
1. INHO
A Shopee Preferred+ Seller, INHO’s catalogue focuses on storage solutions for home and office use. This includes cabinets for kids, laundry storage, file organisers, and cosmetic storage.
Shopee’s booklet also reported that the brand has “amazing live streams” to demonstrate its products.
2. Underground Manga Trading
With over 13K followers and over 20K reviews at the time of writing, Underground Manga Trading seems to be a well-favoured spot for manga comics.
Some titles that are included in its catalogue of 650 items include Jujutsu Kaisen, NANA, Initial D, Blue Lock, and Gokurakugai.
Sabah
1. D’ARTSIGN
Based in Kota Kinabalu, D’ARTSIGN is a local brand specialising in designing and printing services for shirts.
According to its Shopee page, the brand’s custom cotton shirt costs between RM28 to RM36 per piece. Aside from that, the brand’s catalogue also includes custom designed pillows and iron-on embroidery patches amongst others.
2. Emas Bangkok Shine Pung Store
As the name suggests, Emas Bangkok Shine Pung Store is an online jewellery business. It has over 90K followers on its Shopee page and has a 4.9-star rating from over 49K reviews.
The ecommerce store focuses mainly on gold-plated jewellery and starts from the low price of RM3.50. There’s earrings, bracelets, bangles, necklaces, pendants, rings, and jewellery sets as well.
Sarawak
1. Baju Kucing Comel Malaysia
For pet parents, dressing up your fur-babies in funny or adorable costumes is probably on your bucket list. One brand you could check out is Baju Kucing Comel Malaysia on Shopee.
The brand carries products like sunglasses, hoodies, shirts, and ballerina tutus. While the name mentions cats, the items can also be used for other pets like small-sized dogs.
2. Cosfume
Based in Miri, Sarawak, Cosfume is a local cosmetics business that offers perfumery products. This includes roll-on perfumes, body mists, car air fresheners, and reed diffusers.
In its seven years of operating on Shopee, the business has amassed over 76K followers and a full five-star rating from over 84K reviews.
Labuan
1. Smart Ryders
With products sourced and imported from the USA, Smart Ryders states that it provides Harley-enthusiasts in Malaysia with a range of authentic merchandise.
So whether you’re looking for a leather jacket or vest, or even collectibles like decals and backpacks, this Labuan-based business has you covered.
2. Victoria Decant Perfume
According to Shopee’s booklet, Victoria Decant Perfume has had 294 Shopee live streams since August 2022. The brand is described as the “go-to spot” for fragrance enthusiasts on Shopee Live.
Based on its Shopee page, the brand focuses on repackaging perfume intro travel-friendly sizes of 3ML, 5ML, and 9ML.
Let’s support local
It was reported back in May that the theme of 2023’s Malaysia Day and National Day celebration is “Malaysia MADANI: Tekad Perpaduan Penuhi Harapan” (Malaysia MADANI: Determination of Unity Fulfills Hope).
According to the Communications and Digital Minister, Fahmi Fadzil, this is in line with the government’s commitment to developing the country with its people united, possessing a high spirit of unity, and living in peace and prosperity.
So to all Malaysians, we wish you a happy upcoming Malaysia Day!
- Read articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.
Also Read: Turn your idea for a social enterprise into reality by joining this SEEd.Lab programme
Featured Image Credit: HYGR / Baju Kucing Comel Malaysia / Emas Bangkok Shine Pung Store
Pilots be warned: AI-powered humanoid robot can fly a plane just by reading its manual
Autopilots have been with us for many decades now and are mandated by international standards in all major passenger aircraft and yet, we still have human pilots on board. But what if even their role could be replaced not by increasingly sophisticated software but by a real, physical robot?
If you’re a pilot and you thought that intelligent planes may make your job redundant in the future, but at least you’re likely to keep your seat on the older aircraft, you might be in for a rude wake-up call.
Scientists at Korea’s Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have demonstrated your robotic replacement, which can do everything you’re doing — not only flying but taking off, landing and taxiing the plane — just by reading an aircraft’s manual, thanks to the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
The robot comes equipped with its very own set of eyes and highly-precise limbs. It behaves just like a human pilot, monitoring dashboard readings, flipping switches, steering and operating all necessary aircraft equipment.
“The robot pilot consists of the humanoid robot body and the software to control the aircraft. The robot has two arms, two legs and a set of software that enables the robot to control any assigned vehicle. Powered by the software, the robot understands the airplane’s states such as position, velocity, attitude, and various actions to perform.
In a typical sequence, the robot starts with turning on the electrical system, starting the engine, taxiing, taking off, climbing, cruising, descending, approaching and landing, and post-landing procedures. PIBOT can handle all of these sequences with a great accuracy and a repeatability beyond a human pilot.”
Its creators emphasise other advantages, such as being emotionless, not prone distractions and capable of remembering every single detail about the aircraft and its operations manuals.
Pibot hasn’t actually flown a plane in real life yet, but was able to demonstrate its capabilities in a highly realistic simulator of a Korean light aircraft, KLA-100, where it performed flawlessly.
Backward compatibility
The biggest advantage of a humanoid robot such as this would be considerable backward compatibility, particularly considering the fact that many planes remain in use for many decades.
Retrofitting an old design with a completely automatic system might be too complex or prohibitively expensive, but you could simply place Pibot in the pilot’s seat and have it operate the plane as is, with relatively minor adjustments.
In fact, its creators are saying that it can be used to operate all kinds of vehicles, not only planes — think cars, trucks, ships and specialised equipment in industrial or military applications.
Armed forces is probably where it could find its early adopters as militaries around the world seek to gain advantage through automation or intelligent, independent self-operation (think: drones) and they typically have much deeper pockets, without having to worry too much about their bottom lines.
Developing autonomous vehicles is, of course, the long-term target but an adaptable, intelligent robot, which can learn anything about any machine and operate it proficiently would be an excellent way of upgrading military capabilities as well as provide a bridge between the old and the new. Just think how much a small nation such as Singapore could gain from being able to deploy such robots instead of humans in various areas of national defence.
The project is set to conclude by 2026, when it is going to be considered for commercialisation.
Featured Image Credit: KAIST / Euronews
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Eco-friendliness is not enough, here’s how this M’sian EV startup tackles the S & G in ESG
[Written in partnership with ChargeSini, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]
As a local business in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, ChargeSini appears to inherently be a sustainable company. After all, EVs are regarded as eco-friendlier compared to gas vehicles, since they emit less carbon emissions.
With that in mind, you might think that a company providing EV charging stations like ChargeSini wouldn’t have to really put in much effort to be considered an environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-compliant company.
Well, you’d be wrong. As elaborated in our explainer article, ESG is actually a framework used when assessing an organisation’s practices and performances regarding not just sustainability, but also ethical factors.
To understand how an eco-friendly company might tackle “S” and “G” factors, we asked ChargeSini what it does to fulfil the social and governance criteria.
Closing the gender gap
As ESG’s social pillar is all about how human-to-human relationships within a company are managed, practices that fall under this include fair pay, a safe and healthy workplace, as well as equal employment opportunity.
“Let’s think about the automotive industry,” the ChargeSini team brought up. “When you think of an automobile mechanic, what gender first comes to mind?”
According to research by Deloitte in 2020, women comprise only a quarter of the automotive industry’s workforce.
While the report uses statistics from the US, the gender gap exists in Malaysia too. Local startup Carsome reported in August 2022 that their female colleagues contribute close to 30% of its workforce, compared to 20% of the industry.
This disparity is something ChargeSini has recognised.
“One recurring concern we’ve heard from a specific segment of society, namely women, is why they have to interact with 10 men from the salesmen to mechanics and the operation team,” the team shared with Vulcan Post. “Are there no women who are interested in working in the auto-mechanics field?”
A look at ChargeSini’s workforce would show that this is not true. That said, ChargeSini has fully closed the gender gap as of yet, with its workforce comprising 18 women out of 50 employees, which is 36% of its staff.
According to the team, ChargeSini has been actively making a shift in this predominantly male industry to be a more inclusive and supportive environment.
This includes providing equal access to training, development, and leadership opportunities for women within the organisation. The team also aims to foster a culture of respect and inclusion where everyone feels valued and heard.
Another key factor under the social pillar is community engagement—something ChargeSini does on a daily basis by working with city councils such as Majlis Bandaraya Kuantan and Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh to develop EV infrastructure.
Being accountable in the bigger picture
In general, to ensure ESG practices are actually being implemented, strong commitment from a firm’s leaders is needed.
The governance aspect in particular looks at these leaders and how they’re managing the company. A company’s governance refers to its internal system of practices, controls, and procedures.
Ethical business practices are also fundamental when it comes to this.
Holding itself accountable, ChargeSini has made the effort to not only attain relevant certifications from MyHIJAU, Malaysia’s green recognition scheme, but also post the certificates on its website.
While this may also relate to the environmental pillar in ESG, the governance element is showcased through the startup’s commitment to being transparent with its stakeholders.
Bringing an EV-olution
Of course, to truly be ESG-compliant requires continual efforts and commitment to these practices, not just a one-and-done thing.
For businesses that may be wondering why they should invest time and energy to pursue efforts under the social and governance pillar, it’s simply because these things create value for the company too.
According to McKinsey, the social criteria can help build and foster the reputation of your business with people and institutions in the communities where you do business.
And governance is essential to ensure regulatory and legal compliance. Keeping a continual eye on governance-related issues could help reduce interventions and regulatory pressure.
As ChargeSini shared with Vulcan Post, “[These practices] not only generate income but also address socio-economic issues such as poverty reduction, ultimately bolstering Malaysia’s economic prowess on a larger scale.”
It is commendable to see how startups have been navigating ESG elements as it becomes increasingly important in our changing world.
While it may seem daunting to begin practicing ESG, there are many resources available. And as pointed out by startups we’ve spoken to that already practice ESG, it’s not an all-or-nothing endeavor—it’s okay to start small, one step at a time.
Also Read: Here’s how M’sian SMEs can get 1,000GB of high-speed data at RM50/month to boost their biz
Featured Image Credit: ChargeSini
