#09-1464 by Johann Fauzi
2023-02-11 - 2023-03-04 | Richard Koh Fine Art, Blk 47 Malan Road #01-26 Gillman Barracks Singapore 109444, Singapore, 109444, Singapore
Richard Koh Fine Art (RKFA) is pleased to announce a solo exhibition of Singaporean artist Johann Fauzi (b. 1962). The exhibition is curated by Louis Ho, titled #09-1464. It is scheduled to run from 11 February – 04 March 2023 at Richard Koh Fine Art Singapore, Blk 47 Malan Road, #01-26 Gillman Barracks, Singapore 109444.
#09-1464 is the first solo exhibition by Singaporean artist, Johann M.F, with Richard Koh Fine Art. An aficionado of Baroque and Rococo aesthetics, the artist has transformed the space of the gallery in Gillman Barracks into a replica of his own HDB apartment, an immersive installation that mimics its lush opulence and intimate atmosphere. The show, curated by Louis Ho, takes its title from the unit number of Johann’s apartment, and includes works ranging from large-scale landscape paintings to small still-life images, from ornate furnishings and artifacts to kitschy ceramic sculptures. The interlacing of artwork, found object and furniture highlights the artist’s appropriation of European visual and material cultures as a means of questioning, and destabilizing, the historical power structures they represent, especially in the context of a former colony in Southeast Asia. The ostentatious excess of the presentation is transformed by the presence of one of the primary thematic concerns of Johann’s practice: the recuperation of the Malay-Muslim cultural universe. The act of appropriation, in his hands, becomes a channel of critical counter-colonization, usurping the prerogatives of Western culture to highlight systemic erasure and marginalization.

Passwords: Disruptions in Type and Reading
2023-02-11 10:00 - 12:00 (Asia/Shanghai) | STPI Creative Workshop & Gallery, 41 Robertson Quay, Singapore, Singapore, 238236, Singapore
Join Artist Genevieve Chua in this workshop held as part of her solo exhibition, ggg>> rrrrranularrrrrr, on view at the Gallery 14 January – 26 February 2023.
Following an introduction to concrete poetry, participants explore creating and reading letters in pauses, speed and collision. The workshop encourages experimentation to create complexity in reading and writing that is not limited to the alphabet.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Participants will need to own a smartphone or a dumbphone. All other materials will be provided.
Recommended for ages 12 and above.
Tickets are $60 each. They can be purchased on the STPI Corner Shop website via the link provided.

Let's Learn About…Marble!
2023-02-13 10:00 - 2023-02-28 19:00 | Online and in Singapore
This month, Let’s Learn About…Marble! Discover how this durable material has been used to make sculptures across different parts of Asia.

Armenian Street Party: Peranakan Museum Reopens!
2023-02-17 17:00 - 2023-02-19 22:00 | Peranakan Museum, 39 Armenian St, Singapore, Singapore 179941, Singapore
You are invited to celebrate the reopening of the Peranakan Museum!

Be among the first at our opening weekend party to experience nine newly refreshed galleries of all things Peranakan. Plus, join in the festivities with Peranakan communities, including special performances of fashion and dance, food at the makan market, as well as gallery tours and craft workshops.

Experience something new as Peranakan Museum returns with old favourites and new discoveries.

Armenian Street Party: Peranakan Museum Reopens! is presented in partnership with the Peranakan Association Singapore, the Arab Network @ Singapore, and the Peranakan Indian (Chitty Melaka) Association Singapore

Film Friday! PlayTime by Jacques Tati
2023-02-17 19:00 - 21:00 | STPI Creative Workshop & Gallery, 41 Robertson Quay, Singapore, Singapore, 238236, Singapore
Celebrate Jacques Tati’s gloriously choreographed, nearly wordless comedies about confusion in an age of high technology reached their apotheosis with PlayTime.
For this monumental achievement, a nearly three year-long, bank-breaking production, Tati again thrust the lovably old-fashioned Monsieur Hulot, along with a host of other lost souls, into a baffling modern world, this time Paris. With every inch of its superwide frame crammed with hilarity and inventiveness, PlayTime is a lasting record of a modern era tiptoeing on the edge of oblivion.
Drop in for this screening and enjoy with a free bag of popcorn.

Spiral by Chok Kerong and Vanessa Fernandez (Singapore)
2023-02-17 20:00 - 21:30 | Singtel Waterfront Theatre at The Esplanade, 8 Raffles Ave., Singapore 039802, Singapore, Singapore, 039802, Singapore
Producer-composer Chok Kerong and singer-songwriter Vanessa Fernandez join forces for the first time as creative partners, putting together the soulful and introspective genre-bending album, Spiral.
Having spent the last two decades developing their individual careers independently of each other, the duo decided that the time was right to collaborate, leveraging each other’s sensibilities as songwriters and performers. The result is Spiral, an eight-track album that serves as a meditation on life’s joys and sorrows. With its illuminative lyrics and seamless blend of hip-hop, classic soul, rock and gospel, the record is a testament to their effortless chemistry.
This performance is a rare chance to see the Australia-based Vanessa Fernandez (also known to many as Vandetta) in action. Fans of Chok Kerong can also look forward to something different from the Mosaic Associate Artist, whose previous concerts at Esplanade featured instrumental music with his various ensembles. Alongside the bright talents in the duo’s newly formed band as well as guest performers weish and Kim Olsen, Kerong and Vanessa are set to stun in this one-night-only concert at the Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade.
Band members
Euntaek Kim (keyboards and guitar)
Dru Chen (guitar and background vocals)
Ben Poh (bass)
Aaron James Lee (drums and percussion)
Josiah Suthan (percussion)
Emmeline Koh (background vocals)
Lisa Haryono (background vocals and keyboards)
Owen Li (background vocals)
Guest artists
weish (vocals)
Kim Olsen (vocals)

GERAK: A Malay Dance Symposium
2023-02-18 08:30 - 2023-02-19 17:00 | Stephen Riady Centre, Dance Atelier 2 (Level 3), University Town NUS, 2 College Ave West, Stephen Riady Centre, Dance Atelier 2 (Level 3), University Town NUS, Singapore, 138607, Singapore
Gerak (lit: to move) is a Malay dance Symposium that is created to initiate conversations and explore possibilities around Malay Dance.
Gerak began from NUS Centre for the Arts (CFA)’s interest to foster a deeper culture of learning and documentation of the arts in Singapore. It is also part of a thread that Ilsa Tari has established over the years in encouraging more dialogue concerning the role of Malay dance in society.
Presented by NUS CFA and Ilsa Tari, the Gerak Symposium intends to provide a space for discussions and explorations on the evolving role of Malay dance in Singapore today.
Day 1 of the Symposium will look at the subject matter and the type of content being expressed through Malay dance performances in Singapore.
Day 2 of the Symposium will look at the potential use of Malay dance in other sectors such as social services, healthcare, and wellness.
We hope Gerak can be a space where people meet, talk, and share ideas and concerns around Malay dance.
Save your spot, and register for free at: https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/gerak-malay-dance-symposium-tickets-492155439167
Jumpa nanti at Gerak on 18 and 19 February 2023!

For Gerak‘s detailed schedule and programme, please visit gerak.sg
For enquiries, email us at ilsatari.projects@gmail.com

Threatened Species Exhibition
2023-02-18 10:00 - 2023-02-26 19:00 | Panay Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines, Panay Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines
Ang unang pagtitipon sa Malikhain Community and Art Space (MCAS)! Open for two weekends — Feb 17 to 19 and Feb 24 to 26. Message us here to schedule a visit.

Our exhibition features two photography projects, excerpts from a picture book, a small publication, an award-winning digital artwork, coloring sheets, and poetry! And kaleidoscope photography workshop on the morning of the 26th!

Threatened Species is an exhibition featuring art and poetry related to threatened animal species in Southeast Asia. Featuring art from Mae Aguinaldo, Biologeek, Ammi Art Studio, Bricx Martillo Dumas, Death by Man, and Gerome Soriano.

*** “Malikhain” is a Filipino word meaning creative. MCAS is a mobile, artist-run project space founded by Mae Aguinaldo.

Performance: sifrmu by Bani Haykal
2023-02-18 18:00 - 19:00 | STPI Creative Workshop & Gallery, 41 Robertson Quay, Singapore, Singapore, 238236, Singapore
“sifrmu: when i talk to you, there’s always someone else listening,” is a performance involving bani’s encryption programme, sifrmu, which encrypts plaintext into ciphertext + sound.
sifrmu is a portmanteau of 2 words. the word “sifr” is Arabic for = zero, of which in Malay is called sifar. Etymologically it is also the root word for cipher. The word / suffix “mu” is Malay for = you or yours, sifrmu translates to mean ‘your cipher’.
This performance reflects on the kinds of intimacies users and machines are part of, from past spirits to their presence in manifestations of who we will become in time ahead.

Arty Afternoon: Kirigami
2023-02-19 11:00 - 16:00 | STPI Creative Workshop & Gallery, 41 Robertson Quay, Singapore, Singapore, 238236, Singapore
Drop by our Gallery to try your hand at the Japanese paper cutting art of Kirigami! Design, fold and construct geometric patterns using only paper and scissors, and turn them into intricate pop-up cards.

The Puppets Are Alright by The Finger Players
2023-02-22 08:00 - 2023-02-26 17:00 | Drama Centre Black Box, Singapore, Select a Country:
The Puppets Are Alright is a celebration of all things puppetry. Featuring a triple bill of puppetry-led works, The Puppets Are Alright marks the final production of Ellison Tan and Myra Loke’s 2019-2023 stint as The Finger Players’ Co-Artistic Directors.
The show is a culmination of The Maker’s Lab from 2020 to 2023, an initiative by TFP to nurture and grow builders and designers of puppets and objects.

THE BENCH
Playwright: Ellison Tan
Director: Myra Loke
TML Maker / Puppet Designer & Maker: Marilyn Ang
Performers / Puppeteers: Ian Tan, T. Sasitharan
On a bench, Paul and his father tell each other stories, disregard their unhappiness with reckless abandon, and allowed their souls to be healed by each other.

PARTING
Playwright & Director: Oliver Chong
Puppet Designer & Maker: Loo An Ni
Performers / Puppeteers: Alvin Chiam, Angelina Chandra, Jo Kwek, Rachel Nip
A relationship has run its course and a man sits at his desk to finalize a separation.

MY FATHER THE A.I MACHINE
Playwright: Chong Tze Chien
Director: Liew Jia Yi
Puppet Designer & Maker: Sim Xin Feng
Performers / Puppeteers: Doreen Toh, Neo Hai Bin
She clings on to her dead husband’s memories, lovingly preserved in an electronic shell of him in her house. He lives on in a fictional world that she tenderly and tirelessly recreates, while their son is caught in between, unable to move on.

Arts & Disability Forum 2023
2023-02-22 09:00 - 18:00 | Gateway Theatre BlackBox, 3615 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 159461, Singapore, 159461, Singapore
The 5th edition of the Arts and Disability Forum (ADF), organised by ART:DIS and the National Arts Council, brings together international and local speakers across the arts and disability sector to share their diverse experiences, providing a space for learning and reflection on best practices in the field of disability arts and access. The theme of “Enabling Aspirations, Diversifying Pathways” spotlights the continuum of access that supports the professional development and leadership of D/deaf, disabled and neurodiverse persons in the arts. We will discuss access within inclusive environments and communities, and the support of collaborative processes and professional practices facilitated with and led by persons with disabilities.
Targeted at arts workers, social sector/SPED professionals and community stakeholders, participants can look forward to a full day of plenary talks on 22 February 2023 at Gateway Theatre, and a series of public talks and experiential hands-on workshops at ARTDIS (Bukit Merah) and Singapore Art Museum throughout that week.

Porsche x Mandala Club presents Curvistan – On Roads
2023-02-23 10:00 - 2023-03-12 20:00 | Mandala Club, Mandala Club, 31 Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore 089845, Singapore, 089845, Singapore
From 23 February to 12 March, Curvistan returns for its second edition – On Roads – to celebrate the joy of the journey rather than the destination. Experience the most amazing roads around the world, through the soulful lens of Stefan Bogner, founder of Curves Magazine, as he displays beautifully captured photos of driving adventures around the world.

In the centre of the space stands the perfect sports car to savour journeys, the all-new 911 Sport Classic, unveiled for the first time in Singapore.

Whet your creative appetite at Curvistan On Roads, through an eclectic display of vintage cameras from premium manufacturer Leica, a curated beverage menu from iconic apéritif Campari, as well as insightful panels and workshops happening throughout the course of the exhibition. Stay tuned to Porsche Singapore’s socials (@porsche.sg) to find out more!

*Opening Hours:

Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 8pm
Sunday, 10am to 6pm

Residency Sharing: Playwrights and their F*ck You Plays
2023-02-23 19:30 - 21:30 | Black Box, 42 Waterloo Street, 42 Waterloo Street, Singapore, 187951, Singapore
Join our resident playwrights in a sharing from their exploration of plays that say “F*CK YOU” to systems, conventions and injustice.

The four residents of Centre 42’s Playwright’s Professional Development Residency have spent the past six months reading and discussing plays that turn back the gaze, plays that dream about systems unraveling, plays that ask hard and pungent questions, plays that stare fear and proscription in the face. In short, they’ve been reading plays that say “F*CK YOU” in some form or another and turning these provocations and insights on their own practices.
This evening will be an intimate sharing of their discoveries, uncertainties, and ambitions for the future. Come listen to what they’ve got to share and stay for a casual chat with the artists at the end.

BE:FIRST One Man Tour BE:1
2023-02-24 21:00 - 2023-03-26 22:59 | Online
Bestys rejoice! Japanese supergroup, BE:FIRST’s first nationwide one-man hall tour is underway!
Recorded live from Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium, this is the first time BE:FIRST is releasing their full arena performance for their international fans. Featuring a full repertoire taken off from their debut album, ‘BE:1’ the show also includes the group’s recently released single, ‘Boom Boom Back’ (a first time performance before the single was actually released).
‘Boom Boom Back’ has already been shared and published by local dancers and choreographers in the lead up to the actual single release date, creating a wave of mystery and excitement to all BESTYs (BE:FIRST fans) who wondered if this was the group’s latest single. On TikTok, the #BBBチャレンジ (#BBBChallenge in English) was published without revealing the group or song title, and has created a massive buzz on social media even before the official announcement from BE:FIRST. To date, this has garnered over 31.6 million views alone, establishing BE:FIRST’s digital first approach and commitment to their love for music and dance. BE:FIRST published their TikTok videos for ‘Boom Boom Back’ on 26 and 27 January 2023. Get excited for their new release and await for what is coming next from BE:FIRST.

Panel Discussion: Art as Historical Method in Southeast Asia
2023-02-25 15:00 - 16:30 | National Gallery Singapore, Supreme Court Wing, Level 4M, Glass Room, 1 St Andrew's Rd, #01 – 01, 178957, Singapore
Sat 25 Feb | 3 PM | Supreme Court Wing, Level 4M, Glass Room

How can contemporary art create new ways of understanding the past?

This panel explores the turn toward history in Southeast Asian contemporary art practice, how it offers models for the ways in which we understand the past and the work that history can do in the world. Panellists will discuss works by Dinh Q. Lê, Yee I-Lann and Ho Tzu Nyen, whose practices draw upon historical photographs, cultural artefacts, collage, video and performance to consider the roles of history and memory in the making of social experiences in colonial and postcolonial Southeast Asia.

The panel will feature Dương Mạnh Hùng, Goh Sze Ying, Issa Yi Xian Sng, Mark Philip Bradley and Seng Yu Jin. The discussion will be moderated by Patrick Flores (Deputy Director of Curatorial & Research, National Gallery Singapore).

This programme is part of “Art as Historical Method,” a collaborative project between the National Gallery Singapore and The American Historical Review.

Register here at: https://bit.ly/ArtAsHistoricalMethod

*There will be a short tour in the galleries after the panel, with a chance to see some of the works that will be discussed. Participants who wish to join are kindly reminded that Gallery Passes are required and should be booked separately in advance.

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About the Panellists

Dương Mạnh Hùng is an independent translator, writer and curator. Their practice weaves together textual intricacy with visual subtlety to raise questions about art and society. Hùng’s interest in the dynamics of translation in art is informed by global and Southeast Asian socio-political and ecological histories.

Goh Sze Ying is a Curator at National Gallery Singapore. She has worked on various exhibitions, including “Something New Must Turn Up: Six Singaporean Artists After 1965” (2021), “Singapore Biennale 2019: Every Step in the Right Direction” (2019) and “Minimalism: Space. Light. Object.” (2018).

Issa Yi Xian Sng is a Researcher at the National Heritage Board Singapore. Beyond her work in heritage preservation, she pursues research, writing, and creative projects like the independent online publication of “Bagyi Aung Soe (1923–1990): Juggling Paradoxes in the Here & the Now,” the curatorial essay for the 2021 exhibition “Bagyi Aung Soe (1923–1990)” at Centre Pompidou, Paris.

Mark Philip Bradley is the Bernadotte E. Schmidt Distinguished Service Professor of History at the University of Chicago and Editor of the American Historical Review. He is the author of multiple publications including “Imagining Vietnam and America: The Making of Postcolonial Vietnam” (2000), which won the Harry J. Benda Prize from the Association for Asian Studies.

Seng Yu Jin is Senior Curator at National Gallery Singapore. He currently lectures in the Minor in Art History at the National University of Singapore. His research interests cover regional art histories, with a focus on exhibition histories and collectivism in Southeast Asia.

Patrick Flores is Deputy Director of Curatorial & Research at National Gallery Singapore. Up till 2022, he was Professor of Art History and Criticism at the Department of Art Studies, University of the Philippines, Quezon City, which he chaired from 1997 to 2003. He was also concurrently the curator of the Jorge B. Vargas Museum.
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Image Credit: Yee I-Lann. ‘Tabled’. 2013. Ceramic rimmed flat plates with digital decal prints and back-stamp (set of 50) and custom-made plate cabinets made from recycled colonial era solid teak wood, 195 × 312 cm overall, (ed. 2/5). Collection of Singapore Art Museum. Photo credit: “Living Pictures” Exhibition View, National Gallery Singapore.

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Nature of Art exhibition, Singapore
2023-03-01 - 2023-03-31 | 1 Fullerton Square, Singapore 049178, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, Singapore, Singapore, 049178, Singapore
The Fullerton Hotel presents Inessa Kalabekova’s exhibition in Singapore, called “Nature of Art,” from March 1 to March 30, 2023. Here the artist explores the sights and secret corners of Singapore’s parks and gardens, through the medium of painting and collage. Each painting is in a dialogue with the poems of Alice Kalabekova, Inessa’s young daughter, in a process of co-creation. In the show Inessa looks at the peculiar Singaporean natural context with child-like eyes; bamboo, banana trees, butterflies, leaves, birds, flowers, and water lilies are not just decorative elements, or a backdrop to a peaceful walk. For her, they are animated entities, and each bush or branch can be the hiding place of a mythological creature. Myths are indeed central for the artist, who draws from both Eastern and the Western culture, to create her own inner tradition. Indeed, when Inessa tackles a new canvas, she doesn’t just make a decorative piece, but rather creates a new, rich and multi-layered world to share with viewers.

Experience The Mandalorian-Inspired Activations at Funan!
2023-03-02 - 2023-03-31 | Funan, 107 North Bridge Rd, Singapore, Singapore, 179105, Singapore
Set your coordinates to Funan and celebrate the premiere of The Mandalorian Season 3 for the month of March. Experience The Mandalorian through three localised and immersive displays that bring popular characters and elements from the global television phenomenon to life.
Head to the Underground Pedestrian Link (UPL) at Basement 2, which homegrown street artist Zul Othman (also known as ZERO) has transformed with elements of The Mandalorian, inspired by our Lion City. Strike a pose at the ActionCity Visual Pop-Up (#01-04), or pick up Star Wars merchandise and enjoy discounts at the store. As night falls, look forward to a special video showcase on the 13-metre high Kinetic Wall located at Funan’s entrance facade. Played every 30 minutes, the video will feature the Mandalorian and the iconic series quote “This is the Way”.

A Date With Friends 2023
2023-03-02 18:30 - 2023-03-05 22:00 | Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Dr, 038981, Singapore
Celebrate Singapore music icons of yesteryear and make A Date With Friends! From 2 – 5 Mar 2023, reminisce the good ol’ days with the eternally young-at-heart through a mix of concerts, workshops and more.

CANVAS INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2023 – MIXING IDENTITIES
2023-03-03 - 2023-03-21 | palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, Venice
ITSLIQUID Group, in collaboration with ACIT Venice – Italian-German Cultural Association, is pleased to announce the open call for MIXING IDENTITIES, second appointment of CANVAS INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2023, that will take place in Venice at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello from March 03 to March 21, 2023.
CANVAS is an International Art Fair that will present collective and solo projects by leading and emerging international artists. The 2023 edition will represent a forum for the direct exchange of ideas and contacts between collectors, artists, photographers, designers and art professionals. The art fair features paintings, sculptures, photography, installations, video art and live performance.
CANVAS INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR consists of 3 main events: BODYSPACES (January / February), MIXING IDENTITIES and VISIONS. We are now selecting artists for:
– MIXING IDENTITIES from March 03 to March 21, 2023, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello
Deadline for applications is January 27, 2023 (11.59 PM your local time)
– VISIONS from April 07 to April 24, 2023, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello
Deadline for applications is January 27, 2023 (11.59 PM your local time)
The concept of MIXING IDENTITIES is based on the reconstruction of new identities: their transformation is essential to face the changes of the contemporary world. The process of building ourselves passes through the continuous relations with other people’s identities and the identities of communities, cultures and societies. The event focuses on the human body as a changing system that connects us with other bodies and spaces to perceive the surrounding reality, a strong communication system with its own language and infinite ways of expression. We invite artists to analyse the hidden parts of our identities, through an immersive experience inside the fascinating universe of the complex labyrinths of our consciousness.

When cloud catches colours
2023-03-03 - 2023-03-05 | Drama Centre Black Box, Singapore, Select a Country:
Qing is struggling to deal with the aftermath of a relationship that ended after 20 years. E is negotiating the difficult position of sole-caregiving to a mother who does not fully accept her.
Both Qing and E identify as queer, and are in their fifties. On the cusp of old age, Qing and E are finding that they have another set of challenges to overcome as queer individuals.
When cloud catches colours is a verbatim theatre based on true accounts that highlights how the sense of safety changes for a queer person as they get older. With much of the queer discourse in Singapore largely focused on the youths, what lies ahead of someone who has lived most of their life in the margins?
Performed in English and Mandarin, with English surtitles.

Let's Learn About…Bronze!
2023-03-03 08:00 - 2023-03-31 22:00 | Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Pl,, Singapore, 179555, Singapore
This month, Let’s Learn About…Bronze! online. Find out how this metal has been used since ancient times to make vessels, tools, and statues.
ACM & Friends Fun Pack: Download and use this fun activity kit, specially designed for children and adults across all learning abilities, and have an enjoyable time learning about the ACM collection through play.
Audio Description Tours: Listen to descriptions of key objects in our collection from the comfort of your home.

Cheong Soo Pieng: Drawings
2023-03-03 12:00 - 2023-03-19 19:00 | artcommune gallery, 76 Bras Basah Rd, #01-01, Singapore 189558, Singapore, Singapore, 189558, Singapore
artcommune proudly presents Cheong Soo Pieng: Drawings, an exhibition of over 30 drawings on paper that span three decades of the artist’s career arc. Drawing was integral to Soo Pieng’s practice and many drawings made during his lifetime were fashioned into recurring forms and expressions in his oil and ink paintings. It is estimated that his drawings alone amount to around two or even three thousand works, many of which are now in Singapore’s national collection.

Cheong Soo Pieng (b. 1917, Xiamen, China – d. 1983, Singapore) is an important pioneer of the Nanyang art style and one of the most creative Chinese artists of the 20th century. Soo Pieng studied at Xiamen Academy of Fine Arts and furthered his education at Xinhua Academy of Fine Arts in Shanghai. After the 2nd World War, he relocated to Singapore in 1946 to take on a teaching post at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and thereon began his fervent amalgamation of Modern Western and Chinese pictorial styles. Often drawing inspiration from themes and subject matters relating to his new, immediate environment in Southeast Asia, the landmark trip to Bali in 1952 inspired Soo Pieng (and three other pioneer artists Chen Wen Hsi, Chen Chong Swee, Liu Kang) to reinvent groundbreaking pictorial modes culminating to the Nanyang art style. A trailblazer throughout his lifetime, his creative output of varied styles and mediums was instrumental in shaping the early Singapore art scene.

The selection in this exhibition largely dates from the period of late-1940s-early 1960s, which offers a glimpse into Soo Pieng’s captivating repertoire of everyday encounters on the streets of Singapore and Malaysia, as well as his sojourns abroad at places such as Bali (1952), Borneo (1959) and Europe (1962-63). Also featured are drawings of Balinese scenes and figures completed by Soo Pieng during his last known visit to the island in 1977, which captures his aesthetic shift to a highly ornate and detailed style of drawing in the later period. Together, these drawings apprehend the interiority of Soo Pieng’s thoughts and the primacy of form in his painting process.

Lunchtime Concerts at ACM
2023-03-03 12:30 - 2023-04-21 13:30 | Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Pl,, Singapore, 179555, Singapore
Lunchtime Concerts return to ACM! Relax and unwind to the music of the talented students of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST) on selected Fridays in March and April.

Finale of T'ang Quartet's 30th Anniversary
2023-03-03 19:30 - 21:00 | Conservatory Concert Hall, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, 3 Conservatory Drive, Singapore, 117376, Singapore
The T’ang Quartet is taking the 30th anniversary finale concert home on March 3 at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, where they are Quartet- In-Residence. Titled, Give and Take (Back & Forth), the gig is of much significance as it is also part of YST’s 20th Anniversary 2022/2023 Season programme, thus celebrating two Singapore music icons in one show.

As the last major concert of T’ang Quartet’s Anniversary Season, the ensemble is pulling all the stops to wow the audience. The programme comprises three sterling works from two outstanding composers – French composer, pianist and conductor Maurice Ravel, and Singaporean composer Chen Zhangyi. Chen (b.1984) is an assistant professor at YST where he teaches analysis and composition. He is also an accomplished conductor, violinist and violist.
The programme underscores the collaborative effort between T’ang Quartet and Chen. On March 3, Chen will debut the titular string quartet work, Give and Take (Back and Forth), specially for T’ang Quartet, as a centerpiece of the programme, alongside another work of his, Twin Cinema for String Nonet, which was previously commissioned by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
The music of Chen has been described as “music from a voice of the future” by BBC Radio 3 and “a breath of fresh air on our musical landscape” by The Straits Times.

Ng Yu-Ying, T’ang Quartet’s founding member, says: “We have known Zhangyi for a long time and have always admired his talent as a musician and composer. This is a significant and meaningful collaboration for all of us.”
Chen adds: “I am very honoured to be able to create a work for the T’ang Quartet on this momentous occasion, where their milestone of three decades coincides with the two decades of YST Conservatory’s. Being an alumnus and a faculty member of YST, it is indeed a good time to reflect upon the past and look forward to the future, and to borrow the YST’s current theme of Looking Back, Moving Forward.”
