Aisyah is a writer, poet, and visual artist from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She is currently based in London. Aisyah’s work has been staged, read, and exhibited in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom. Several of her poetry and visual works are in the National Poetry Library and the British Library in London as part of their permanent collections. Recently, Aisyah exhibited her visual work Rememory: Nusantara Story in London, drawing inspiration from the Malay manuscript collection in the British Library. Her latest collection of short stories, to be released this year, revolves around the life story of a Malay lady living in a foreign land.
Zines
2018 Sentimentalia
2018 Memorabilia
2018 Kaktus
2017 Surat Khabar Nakal
2017 Li (paperback version)
2016 Holograf (special edition)
2016 Li (hard cover version)
2016 Khabar Surat Khabar
2015 UNO
2013 kamera.tatami
2012 Laska
2011 Holograf
2009 Soda Gembira
2008 Pos ke Bulan
2008 Kertas - Kertas Kotor
Books
2020 Tanah Lain, a photo-poetry book in collaboration with photographer Hasful Zainuddin
2018 Solo London, a travelogue published by Padajiwa
2012 48 Sajak, a collection of poems published by Jargon Books
Anthologies
2018 Tukang Puisi published by Kata-Pilar Books
2018 Hujan Bakawali Di Rumah Tuhan published by Rumah Ripta
2016 Perempuan-Perempuan Merbahaya published by Rabak-Lit
Poems, Essays, Short Stories and Forewords
2023 Perantau (A Sojourner, translated by Zakaria Ali), a foreword for Personae,
Early Poems by Zakaria Ali published by Kedai Hitam Putih
2020 Three poems in Svara Issue #1
2017 Kepada Anak, Kepada Ibu (two poems for Amal Insani, a Book Project in conjunction with World Autisme Day)
2017 Surat Untuk Penulis Muda (a letter in Manuskrip 2, a zine published by AAFA Publication)
2014 Forewords for Ida Syamila poems in Dia Ida
2012 Mata (a short story in Kata)
2012 Anza Borrego, McCandless, Kim dan Anza Borrego (an article in Kata)
2012 Tentang Sepasang Kasut (an article in Fragranfrantik litzine issue #1 September)
2012 Once (2006): Jalan Pemuzik Jalanan (an article in Fragranfrantik litzine issue #3 December)
Photo Projects and Series
2022 Re-Memory: Nusantara Story
2022 Gestures Beneath
2022 - on going Meet Me Underground
2016 Tomoka
Moving Images
2022 Filmmaker and Narrator for The Story of A Malay Lady in The English Land
2022 Filmmaker for Beneath My Telekung
2016 Video Maker for The Making of Li, a poetry book by Aisyah Rais
2016 Voice over and Video Editor for Pujuk
2016 Video Maker for Lari (Run)
2016 Video Maker for The Making of Aisyah Rais’ Merchandise
2015 Video Maker for Jumpa Lagi (See You Again), a poetry video
2015 Video Maker for UNO, the teaser of Aisyah Rais’ zine
2014 Director and Editor for Finding Yasmin Part 2, a tribute to Malaysian filmmaker
2014 Director and Editor for Finding Yasmin, a tribute to Malaysian filmmaker
2013 Voice over for Habis, a poetry video in collaboration with Gespenst
Collaborations
2018 with actor, Api Hussein and poet, AK Kelana for a poetry performance titled Sonder
2014 with poet and singer songwriter, Karl Agan for a poetry video of Pujuk and Rumahmu
2013 with guitarist, Mei and vocalist, Hakim for a poetry performance of Laska
2013 with Malaysian post-rock band, Gespenst, for a poem titled Habis
Poetry Readings and Performances
2019 Banggai Literary Festival, Banggai Island, Luwuk, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
2019 Closing night of 9th Makassar International Writers Festival, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
2018 Rapat Ripta, An Intimate Poetry Reading with fellow poets of Rumah Ripta in IIUM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2018 Sonder, A Poetry Performance alongside A.K. Kelana and Api Hussein for Panggung Hujan Bakawali di
Rumah Tuhan, TwoTwenty2, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
2018 Poetry Unplugged, An Open Mic Session at The Poetry Society, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom
2018 Under The Poetic Stars, 8th Makassar International Writers Festival, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
2017 Tibai, An Open Mic Session, The Other Festival, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
2017 Pesta Puisi, Lights of Arts & Culture Festival, International Islamic University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2017 KotaKata at Maju Junction, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2016 Kuala Lumpur Literary Festival at APW Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2014 Hello Poetry volume 2 + Pasar Mbak at Rumah Titi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2014 Boco #12 at Taman Budaya Kompleks JKKN, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2014 Puisi Bagasi at Taman Budaya Kompleks JKKN, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2014 Mesin Tempe at Annexe Gallery Central Market, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2014 Chermin 2.0 Ekspresi Dirimu at Rumah Titi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2013 Shakespeare's Night at Mahallah Maryam International Islamic University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Group Exhibitions
2023 Missed Letters, Making Space Gallery, Bethnal Green, London
2023 Lingering Memories, Fox Yard Gallery, Suffolk, England
2022 Consider This, Ambika P3, London, United Kingdom
2022 Work in Progress, Gallery West, UoW, London, United Kingdom
2018 Process! Festival at Somerset House, London, United Kingdom
2016 Zine Canteen by OOMK Zine (London) and Odd One Out Magazine (KL) at Awe Gallery, Selangor, Malaysia
2016 In Between Festival in conjunction with George Town Literary Festival, Run Amok Gallery, Penang, Malaysia
Residencies
2019 GilsfjordurArts, Westfjord, Iceland
Awards
2019 Perak Creative Fund @ PORT
2019 Mobility Fund, CENDANA Malaysia
2019 Artist Fund, National Art Gallery, Malaysia
2019 INXO Arts Fund (shortlisted top 20)
Permanent Collection
2022 British Library, St. Pancreas, London (Visual Arts Collection) - Photos from Re-Memory: Nusantara Story project
2018 National Poetry Library, Southbank Centre, London - Kaktus zine, with English translation by Zhafir Zakaria
Workshops
2019 Puisi Padam Workshop in Banggai Island, Banggai Literary Festival, Indonesia
2018 Blackout Poetry in UiTM Dengkil, Selangor, Malaysia
2017 Blackout Poetry, The Other Festival, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
2017 Blackout Poetry, Selangor Zine Festival at SACC Mall, Selangor, Malaysia
Festivals
2019 Writer and guest artist for 9th Makassar International Writers Festival, Indonesia
2019 Guest poet-writer for Banggai Literary Festival, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
2018 Guest performer at Makassar International Writers Festival, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
2018 Artist, and stall holder at Process! Festival, Somerset House, Strand, London, United Kingdom
2018 Conference speaker and stall holder at Cyberjaya Zine Fest of Cyberjaya Multimedia Festival, Malaysia
2017 Stall holder at Kuala Lumpur Zine Festival, ATAS By Bijan FX, PJ, Selangor, Malaysia
2017 Workshop Instructor and stall holder at Selangor Zine Festival, SACC Mall, Selangor, Malaysia
2017 Workshop instructor and reciter at The Other Festival, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
2016 Stall holder at Kuala Lumpur Zine Festival, AweGallery, PJ, Selangor, Malaysia
2015 Stall holder at Kuala Lumpur Zine Festival, FINDARS, KL, Malaysia
Forums and Conferences
2020 Moderator for Art Talk, 'Dari Ghombau ke Mexico' of Dr. Zakaria Ali, PORT Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
2018 Speaker for the launching of Rumah Zine, Sri Rampai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2018 Speaker for the forum of Zine, Penerbitan Alternatif Membina Pembaca, DBP, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2017 Moderator for Kamar Rahsia, a night to celebrate the readers of Untuk Yang Telah Pergi anthology by Rumah Ripta,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2017 Panelist for Pesta Puisi, International Islamic University Malaysia, Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2013 Panelist for Shakespeare's Night at Mahallah Maryam, International Islamic University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia