6 minute read
In Living Colour
Stories by alumni for alumni
~ Ossie Davis ~
Contributed by
Daniel Adams
KLASS 2012 - 2014
Badrika Baluch
KLASS 2014 - 2017
Daniel Adams
Alumnus (2012 - 2014)
Photographer
How has the pandemic affected the creative industry? How are you adapting to the new norm now? The pandemic has definitely affected the creative industry in many ways. Many companies are suffering financially and are therefore having budget cuts. They are either looking to create their own campaigns in-house for cost saving purposes or they have a very small budget for the same amount of work to be done. Events aren’t happening anymore. Many nightlife outlets are struggling, including performers, dancers and deejays. With a lot of creatives’ main source of income being limited, many people have resorted to different outlets. The pandemic has also caused people to be more creative in the way they do things, adapting to the times. Moving their opportunities online, there is an increase of online shows, online performances, and online festivals. For me, the experience isn’t the same but it’s a good way for people to branch out.
What’s the most memorable project that you’ve undertaken during the pandemic? I usually tend to create multiple projects a year, pushing myself to make work day in and day out. However, the pandemic has drained me mentally. But it has also allowed me to sit back and take that necessary rest that I never gave myself fully. Having said that, I created one main project in 2020, for KL20x20. It revolved around 20 creative individuals whom I believe have inspired me and are also paving the way for the next generation of creatives with the work that they do. It was an exciting project. I was able to sit down with people whom I admire, people whom I’ve known for ages, and have conversations again. Ones that allowed me to visualise my work in a different manner and perspective. Apart from the process, it was exhibited in a mini photography festival in KL and that has enhanced my experience.
Daniel Adams shares with us his journey in pivoting the art scene during this unexpected pandemic and how finding your niche will help you strengthen your skills in the art industry.
Tell us about yourself. I’m a conceptual portrait photographer. A lot of my work revolves around specific social or political issues that are close to home.
I was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I lived just for a while in London and Puerto Rico in my earlier years.
Share with us your journey of being a conceptual portrait photographer/creative directing. It has definitely been a journey to say the least. I started off creating very stand alone images that were very post processing heavy. However, my years in university have enabled me to understand and strengthen my skills to create actual bodies of work, pushing me to put a lot more of myself (whether it be my emotions or identity or culture) into the work. I started creating work that feels more natural and real, focusing my energy on topics that are very socially or politically charged, allowing me to try and make a change in today’s current society. It’s been an interesting journey and I’m very happy with where I am at the moment. I can’t wait for what happens in the future! Has your experience during your time at Alice Smith helped shape who you are today? I was only at Alice Smith for a mere 2 years but I think the sense of community, especially within the Sixth Form bubble was really strong. It has taught me more about being there for others and helping people in times of need.
Do check out Daniel’s work at: www.danieladamsphotography.work www.instagram.com/danieladamsphotography
Badrika Baluch
Alumna (2014 - 2017) EAL Support Teacher at KLASS (2018 - 2021)
Actress
KLASS is a major part of my life where I have lost and gained relationships, learned valuable lessons, endured hardships and created memories that will last a lifetime.
This is the story of Badrika Baluch. She shares her journey of finding her niche in the industry of performing arts by exploring the different roles it offers and how it has helped her flourish her talents and skills.
Tell us about yourself. I’d say that I’m creative and outgoing. I love exploring and challenging myself in different fields which explains how I ended up in both education and performing arts. I was only 3 when I did my first commercial and as I got older, my love for acting continued to grow.
Share with us your journey of being an actress. You have recently starred in a stage adaptation of Yasmin Ahmad’s masterpiece film, Sepet the Musical and have also acted in a number of musicals. Please tell us about your experience. It’s like being a superhero who can absorb the power of others; I’m taking on the emotions and traits of each character and I believe that develops me as a performer and person. It can be exhausting, especially since most actors, like me, have a day job on top of performing! You learn a lot of discipline and balance from this.
I’ve been in theatre since the age of 9 but the most recent production, Sepet, was an experience close to my heart due to its purpose, storyline and the team involved who are like my family. We started rehearsing in July 2019, thinking this would be a small-scale tribute to the late and great Yasmin Ahmad but the overwhelmingly positive response we received and the love that came out of this production kept it going. How has the pandemic affected the creative industry? How are you adapting to the new norm now? With production houses, theatre companies and dance studios suffering from the MCO and almost everything being put to a halt, the impact on our industry hasn’t been great but we do what we can to get through it.
In terms of adaptability, the founders of Liver and Lung, Shaf and Hannah, really lived up to the saying “the show must go on!”. Working together, we fortunately managed to have an online streaming and Q&A session for Sepet the Musical. A few months later, we released a Spotify album and an online screening for Mahsuri & Other Peculiar Tales.
Of all the roles you have played in the past, which is your favourite? And what is your dream project? Orked from Sepet - the chance to play her character came about during a turning point in my life and there were character traits of hers which I found relatable. It’s also an honour to be part of the late Yasmin Ahmad’s work! Besides this, I was really proud of my role as a TV presenter for Disney SEA even though I wasn’t playing a character. This was a different challenge and an amazing experience.
As for dream projects, I’ve always been torn between TV and stage as they’re two different worlds yet I love them both the same. Stage wise, I would love to play Nala (Lion King), Wednesday Addams (Addams Family) or Sophie Sheridan (Mamma Mia!). For TV, my dream would be to star in a Netflix series or a Disney movie. Even better if I could bag a role as a Disney Princess!
Has your experience during your time at Alice Smith as a student and teacher helped shape who you are today? Absolutely. Having been on both sides of the fence, I truly feel like a well-rounded person today.
Website links: Sepet the musical trailer Liver & Lung IG page
