Since he broke into the literary scene in his teens, Malaysian writer and academic, Dr Faizal Musa, better know by his pen name, Faisal Tehrani, has written several best selling and critically acclaimed novels and short stories. His articles on issues of culture, human rights and religion have also appeared in periodicals, newspapers and blogs. […]
Faisal Tehrani: From Poster Boy to Pariah Read More »
Graphic novelist Sonny Liew made history as the first Singaporean to win at the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the “Oscars for comics”, held in July 2017 at Comic-Con International, San Diego, USA. The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, which retells the life of a comic artist growing up in pre-independence Singapore, won not just one
By Patricia Tobin (500 words, 5-minute read) A dark traditional Japanese Buddhist altar, or butsudan, stands tall onstage. Engraved gold hinges line the thick borders and towering, half-folded black doors, akin to an oriental treasure chest. Upon the tolling of a bell, two old women slowly push open the butsudan doors, inviting us into the
“Ninagawa Macbeth”: The Bold and The Beautiful Read More »
In May, actor Shrey Bhargava, 21, shared on Facebook his experience auditioning for the latest Ah Boys To Men, where he was told to exaggerate an Indian accent and “make it funny”. His post pointed to the proliferation of racial stereotyping and caricaturing in Singaporean cultural media and the need for more nuanced representation of minority
By Isaac Lim (516 words, 5-minute read) A supersized Butsudan (Buddhist altar) frames the stage, flanked by two old peasants who open the panels to indicate the commencement of a ritual. Within is 16th century post-civil war Japan, replete with samurais and ninjas. Majestic silkscreen doors open and close to reveal different scenes. This is
Ninagawa’s “Macbeth”: Just Not Shakespeare’s Read More »
By Corrie Tan (2094 words, 20-minute read) The pantomime has come to be associated with a set of recognisable traits: traditionally staged during the winter festive season, they are musical comedies based on folk stories and fairy tales, stuffed with songs, farce and some form of audience participation – with colourful gags for the children
A Short History of the Singaporean Pantomime Read More »
The previously defunct Stamford Arts Centre, located in the vibrant Arts Heritage District, is undergoing a $7 million redevelopment process under Arts House Limited, which manages other cultural venues such as Aliwal Arts Centre. It is set to be a new hub for the traditional arts, with studio spaces, residency spaces, and a multi-purpose hall.
Stamford Arts Centre Read More »
By Akanksha Raja (840 words, 8-minute read) “Language is born from imagination, and imagination is what makes language real. Without language, we have no memory: therefore, literacy (the mastery of language) is important. Our sense of language is the most intimate access to what is real, and our literature is our people’s memory; through language,
Same same but different: ASEAN 50 at the Singapore Writers Festival 2017 Read More »
In March, it was announced that Gaurav Kripalani, the Artistic Director of the Singapore Repertory Theatre, would succeed Theatreworks Artistic Director Ong Keng Sen as Festival Director of Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA). This changing of guard foretells a significant shift in approach to programming and presentation choices: Ong is known to favour presenting
SIFA Changing of Guard Read More »
“Not to be outdone by North Asia, which hosts major events like Art Basel every year, Southeast Asia is rapidly growing its own art fair line-up. The inaugurating edition of Art Stage Jakarta attracted 15,000 people last month and pulled in collectors and curators to visit not just the city but the adjacent art hub
Move over China, Southeast Asian art takes center stage Read More »
In March, a LASALLE College of the Arts student, Priyageetha Dia, gilded a grey cement staircase on the 20th floor of her HDB block. The golden staircase divided the internet (of course). Some saw an inconsiderate act of vandalism, others, an insightful and resonant artwork. The Town Council declared the work not permissable, but were
The Golden Staircase Read More »
Photography arrived in Southeast Asia soon after its discovery in Europe in 1839, provoking contrasting reactions and developing in different ways according to the environment where it was introduced, yet having indeed an important impact in the modernisation of the region. Photography in South East Asia: a Survey offers us the opportunity to venture on
Book Review: “Photography in Southeast Asia: A Survey” by Zhuang Wubin Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Jakarta and Bali from 4 – 10 December 2017 JAKARTA Goro-goro: Bhineka Keramik, Now – 12 December 2017, Galeri Nasional Indonesia, Jakarta “Goro-goro: Bhineka Keramik” is a rare exhibition by Indonesian famous funny man, actor and critic Butet Kartaredjasa. The exhibition will present 90 of Butet’s paintings
4 – 10 December 2017: Indonesia Read More »
Three Kin by T.H.E Dance Company, Esplanade Theatre Studio, 7 – 9 Dec Three Kin is leading contemporary dance group T.H.E Dance Company’s closing production for the 2017 season and part of the company’s annual headlining showcase of creations by acclaimed Singaporean and international guest choreographers. Performed by T.H.E’s full-time principal dancers, the triple bill
4 – 10 December 2017: Singapore Read More »
In Feb, an WWII exhibition, titled Syonan Gallery: War and its Legacies was to open at the former Ford Factory. Previewing the show, The Straits Times noted that the title “Syonan Gallery” was a contentious choice. Members of the public too expressed their discomfort with the use of the name “Syonan”, invoking as it did,
Kirsten Tan’s debut feature film POP AYE, became the first Singaporean film to win the prestigious Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Screenwriting in January. The film is a road trip tale about the bond between an aging architect and an elephant, set in Thailand. Her victory was lauded by Prime
“JAKARTA, Indonesia — For a city of its huge size — 10 million people — and economic heft, Jakarta lacked many things one might expect of a thriving Asian metropolis: a metro system, for one, as well as a major international modern and contemporary art museum. The metro system will be operational in 2019, but
Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara Opens in Jakarta [Indonesia] Read More »
In late 2016, anonymous attacks on the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2017 program surfaced online. The IMDA subsequently refused to issue ratings to M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2017’s performance-lecture Naked Ladies by Thea Fitz-James and Ming Poon’s Undressing Room, unless elements of the works be modified. The Fringe organisers pulled these shows out of the
by Chan Sze-Wei (745 words, 5-minute read) Singapore-based Raka Maitra and her company Chowk are familiar names at the Esplanade’s Kalaa Utsavam and Raga programmes annually. The company is firmly based in classicial Odissi dance and the martial arts of chhau and kalari. But with them, tradition is not a formula. Walking into the Esplanade
“from: The Platform” by Chowk Productions: A Running Imprint on the Mind Read More »
“Artists in Malaysia must speak out and challenge any effort by the authorities to control and dictate the direction of their work, said arts activist Raja Ahmad Aminullah. Raja Ahmad said the recent seizure of works during the Biennale Kuala Lumpur (KLB) 2017 exhibition shocked him, adding that he was disappointed at the lack of
Artists must challenge censorship [Malaysia] Read More »
By Akanksha Raja (900 words, 8-minute read) The Regional Forum on Creative Hubs and Cities, organised by the British Council, took place at the Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC) on 10 October 2017. It was an extension of a research and mapping project conducted earlier this year by the Council, to chart creative hubs
Regional Forum on Creative Hubs: Connecting Creative Communities Read More »
“After a controversy over terminology and a year’s preparation, the ambitious Yangon Art Expo has helped to create greater international interest in contemporary Myanmar art. U Aung Min of Yangon’s Magic Art Gallery declared last week’s Yangon Art Expo the best exhibition of Myanmar art for 100 years. Objectivity may have been elusive when the
Myanmar art exposed Read More »
By Naeem Kapadia (800 words, 6-minute read) Atul Kumar is no stranger to Shakespeare. The artistic director of Mumbai-based group The Company Theatre was first seen here in 2009 in the title role of Hamlet: The Clown Prince, which featured a troupe of clowns attempting to stage Shakespeare’s tragedy with a good dose of madness
“Khwaab-Sa”: Shakespeare with masala and magic Read More »
Recently I caught a round of theatrical experimentations by Southeast Asian and Japanese directors in Tokyo. Called One Table Two Chairs Meeting 2017, it was the second of a 3-year series at the Za-Koenji Theatre. Taking part were Prumsodun Ok (Cambodia), Kamei Juntaro (Japan), Fasyali Fadzly (Malaysia), Chey Chankethya (Cambodia) and Liu Xiaoyi (Singapore). One
Tikam-Tikam Japan: Table and Chairs Read More »
ANWESHA-Beyond the darkness! by Maya Dance Theatre, 1 – 2 Dec, Drama Centre Black Box Daily stories of unsuspecting victims crumbling under its consequences increasingly populate the media and social forums. Anxiety, depression and pressure are regular features, yet the awareness and discussion on the extent of their impact on mental well-being is rarely discussed. Maya
27 November – 3 December 2017: Singapore Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Jakarta and Yogyakarta from 27 November – 3 December 2017 JAKARTA Enam Belas Film Festival, Now – 10 December 2017, various venues, Jakarta Enam Belas Film Festival (16FF) is a 16-day film festival to raise awareness and campaign against violence towards women. As part of this festival,
27 November – 3 December 2017: Indonesia Read More »
Duration: 30 min From 12 December to 24 December 2017, up-and-coming theatre group Emergency Stairs presents Southernmost: One Table Two Chairs Project, a first-of-its-kind intercultural arts festival in Singapore that focuses on intercultural dialogue, through the format of One Table Two Chairs. It seeks to bring prominent and established traditional and contemporary theatre artists from the
Podcast 31: Emergency Stairs & Southernmost: One Table Two Chairs Project Read More »
Penangites of a certain age still have fond memories of the Blue Bus that ran up and down the island until the 1980s. The company’s garage, built in 1947, sported a sleek Art Deco façade, still visible today. But years of neglect took their toll and even the purchase of the property by a group
All Aboard: Artists and Locals Come Together at Penang’s Hin Bus Depot Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Jakarta, Bandung, and Bali from 20 – 26 November 2017 JAKARTA Senandung Simfoni Pertiwi, 20 November 2017, 7:30 PM, Teater Jakarta, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta Senandung Simfoni Pertiwi is Jakarta City Philharmonic Orchestra’s last concert of the year. For this last concert, the JCP presents an anthology
20 – 26 November 2017: Indonesia Read More »
BOOM! by Jean Tay, presented by The Callbacks, Drama Centre Theatre, 24 Nov 8pm The Callbacks once again presents a night of truth, humour and sentiment with their take on ‘Boom’ by Jean Tay. Centred on the struggle between a mother and son who are divided about their HDB property going en bloc, the play will
20 – 26 November 2017: Singapore Read More »
