By Naeem Kapadia (954 words, 4-minute read) There has been a slew of works responding to the bicentennial of Singapore’s founding by Sir Stamford Raffles, an event that the authorities have chosen to spend all year celebrating through a series of activities such as guided tours, exhibitions and immersive performances. Ayer Hitam: A Black History […]
Reframing Colonialism: “Civilised” by The Necessary Stage Read More »
The prestigious Paris Opera Ballet arrives on local shores this June as part of Esplanade’s da:ns series, bringing with them a trio of wide ranging works. These include the stories of romantic love told through balletic duets in Jerome Robbins’ In The Night (1970), the speed and precision of William Forsythe’s Blake Works I (2016),
By Akanksha Raja (1,155 words, 5-minute read) It’s a series of plastic white flower-fans lining the fence of 74 Jalan Kelabu Asap that lets me know that I’ve arrived at the site of Drama Box’s first work of 2019, Flowers, an experiential installation set in a quaint two-storey landed house in Chip Bee Gardens. I’m
Silent Rooms, Silent Memories: “Flowers” by Drama Box Read More »
ArtsEquator Radar features articles and posts about arts and culture in Southeast Asia, drawn from local and regional websites and publications – aggregated content from outside sources, so we are exposed to a multitude of voices in the region. Here’s a round-up of content from this week, scoured and sifted from a range of regional
National Youth Film Awards: Call for Entry (Deadline extended) Set up to promote and celebrate youth filmmakers, the National Youth Film Awards (NYFA) is a national award that seeks to instill a greater appreciation of film, fuel the passion for filmmaking, and generate opportunities to further develop and exhibit youth talents who are highly adept
Open Calls and Opportunities: May 2019 (Singapore) Read More »
ArtsEquator Radar features articles and posts about arts and culture in Southeast Asia, drawn from local and regional websites and publications – aggregated content from outside sources, so we are exposed to a multitude of voices in the region. Here’s a round-up of content from this week, scoured and sifted from a range of regional
I always tell people this, right, if there was an international convention that invites the main people, directors from Singapore over, and that plane crashes, we’re screwed, right? We don’t have anything else. – Rei Poh, personal interview I’ve had this creeping concern for a several years now. Let’s call it our metaphorical iceberg in
Does Singapore Theatre Have a Directing Problem? Read More »
Duration: 29 min As emerging art-makers having recently graduated from B.A. programmes from three different institutions in Singapore, Ranice Tay, Chua Pei Yun and art naming 奇能 (née Adam Lau*) share their thoughts on the distinctions, overlaps, limitations and challenges between academic research and creative practice. Podcast hosted by Felipe Cervera. *Prior to April 2019,
Podcast 58: Research and Practice in Performance-Making Read More »
ArtsEquator Radar features articles and posts drawn from local and regional websites and publications – aggregated content from outside sources, so we are exposed to a multitude of voices in the region. Here’s a round-up of content from this week, scoured and sifted from a range of regional news websites, blogs and media platforms, and
Weekly S.E.A. Radar: Vietnamese artwork ruined; Myanmar rocket festival Read More »
By Patricia Tobin (736 words, 3-minute read) Spoiler Alert: This review contains spoilers for The Mysterious Lai Teck, which will run from 17 to 19 May at the Singapore International Festival of Arts. “I am the shadow of Ho Chi Minh,” a voice states. It starts as a whisper, before being repeated later as a fast,
Confronting Truths in Ho Tzu Nyen’s “The Mysterious Lai Teck” Read More »
2019 marks the 10th edition of the M1 CONTACT Contemporary Dance Festival, a humble endeavour by Kuik Swee Boon, artistic director of T.H.E Dance Company, that has expanded to be an incredible force and champion for contemporary dance not just locally, but internationally. Reflecting on the Festival’s past nine editions, Kuik muses, “So many artists
For events in Penang this week, go to the Penang Free Sheet. Pesta Playlet, at KongsiKL, 3–4 May This non-profit and artist-run festival offers two days of workshops, forums, performances, found object exhibition and more. For the second day, events begin at 10am. Of note, the 6pm forum Malaysiana: On Creation, Criticism and The Performative
Weekly Picks: Malaysia (29 Apr – 5 May 2019) Read More »
Have you ever imagined dancers’ bodies turning into sculptures, as if time stood still? This is the impression of Körper (Body), the signature dance performance of this year’s edition of the Singapore International Festival of Arts. Choreographer Sasha Waltz (SW), Artistic Director designate of Berlin State Ballet, is renowned for her multi-disciplinary productions, blurring boundaries
By Akanksha Raja (2144 words, nine-minute read) The naked body on stage (even if only imagined) has a potent social power: taboos surrounding the body can shock and offend some Singaporeans. But when did this start? How has public response to incidences of nudity on the Singapore stage changed, and how have changing policies on
Unravelling the History of Nudity in Singapore Theatre Read More »
ArtsEquator Radar features articles and posts drawn from local and regional websites and publications – aggregated content from outside sources, so we are exposed to a multitude of voices in the region. Here’s a round-up of content from this week, scoured and sifted from a range of regional news websites, blogs and media platforms, and
Weekly S.E.A. Radar: Starchitecture in the Philippines; Thong Lor’s erotic art museum Read More »
Duration: 45 min In this interview with Crispian Chan, Bernie Ng and Kuang Jingkai, three photographers of theatre and dance, we get to know more about a profession that’s sometimes taken for granted but is an essential aspect of the packaging of a performance. Learn more about the artistry behind their practice as Cripsi, Bernie
Podcast 57: The Secret World of Performance Photographers Read More »
Seamlessly blending the digital image, live dance and a richly evocative music score, ST/LL is startlingly beautiful treat for the eyes and the ears. This production celebrates the performance collaboration of composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and visual and multimedia artist Shiro Takatani. (Sakamoto’s concert Fragments, with visuals by Takatani, is already sold out.) Here are four reasons to catch ST/LL at the
The Beauty of Time and Image: “ST/LL” at SIFA 2019 Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Solo, Bandung, and Jakarta from 22-28 April 2019 One way to spread values in life is through the media of films. The film students of the Indonesian Art Institute in Surakarta are screening 3 of their final project films that were created with the intention to spread local
Weekly Picks: Indonesia (22 – 28 April 2019) Read More »
For events in Penang this week, go to the Penang Free Sheet. Kandang, at klpac, 25–28 Apr This award-winning Malay language theatre adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm returns to the stage. This production is directed by Omar Ali, who also co-adapted the play. Performed in Malay with English surtitles. Tickets are RM60 (RM50 TAS and RM40
Weekly Picks: Malaysia (22-28 Apr 2019) Read More »
ArtsEquator Radar features articles and posts drawn from local and regional websites and publications – aggregated content from outside sources, so we are exposed to a multitude of voices in the region. Here’s a round-up of content from this week, scoured and sifted from a range of regional news websites, blogs and media platforms, and
By Aparna Nambiar (1440 words, six-minute read) “How has colonialism affected you?” This question flashes upon the giant screens that span the studio walls of The Esplanade Theatre Studio. Miss British, directed by Felipe Cervera and devised by The Art of Strangers staged between April 4th and 7th 2019, offers this answer: colonial attitudes make us both
“Miss British”: Embodying the Post-Colonial Complaint Read More »
Duration: 39 min The 8th World Summit On Arts And Culture took place 11 – 14 March 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Kathy Rowland, Sunitha Janamohanan, Ann Lee and Kai Brennert reflect on the event, in relation to issues of cultural and human rights, the anthropocene, advancements in the digital era, as well as the
Podcast 56: Reflections on the 8th World Summit On Arts And Culture, Malaysia Read More »
Auditions for The Second Breakfast Company’s The Hawker We are casting for our upcoming production this coming November! Interested participants can email us your CV and headshot by 26 April. Auditions* will be held 3 – 5 May. *Only shortlisted applicants will be notified of their audition slots. More information here. Auditions for Bhumi Collective’s
Open Calls and Opportunities: April 2019 (Singapore) Read More »
By Jocelyn Chng (930 words, four-minute read) LEAP is an annual platform from contemporary dance company Frontier Danceland, showcasing the young trainee dancers of the M1-Frontier Danceland PULSE Programme. The PULSE Programme is now in its ninth year, and since 2014 has been supported and co-presented by M1. It takes in aspiring dancers between the
Frontier Danceland’s “LEAP 2019”: Showcasing the Scholars of PULSE 2018/19 Read More »
For events in Penang this week, go to the Penang Free Sheet. WHEN WE WERE, at Lot’ng Arts Space, 18–21 Apr Fresh from Theatresauce’s second season of Emerging Directors Lab, When We Were presents a quadruple bill of short plays exploring conversations — silent and aloud — with our memories. Plays include Whatever That is by Huzir
Weekly Picks: Malaysia (15-21 Apr 2019) Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali from 15-21 April 2019 If you’re a fan of Japanese films, the Japan Foundations is screening some selections from its collection of films starting this week. The first day of the Japan Foundation Movie Recommendations Today (MRT) will take place this Tuesday, 16 April
Weekly Picks: Indonesia (15 – 21 April 2019) Read More »
Plunge: Esplanade’s The Studios 2019 by Arts Republic & Centre 42, 21 April 5pm, library@esplanade If you’ve caught any shows from Esplanade’s The Studios 2019 season and can’t wait to talk about them, come join us at this special edition of Plunge! Co-hosted by reviewers from Arts Republic and Centre 42’s Citizens’ Reviews programme, this
Weekly Picks: Singapore (15 – 21 April 2019) Read More »
ArtsEquator Radar features articles and posts drawn from local and regional websites and publications – aggregated content from outside sources, so we are exposed to a multitude of voices in the region. Here’s a round-up of content from this week, scoured and sifted from a range of regional news websites, blogs and media platforms, and
Commissioned by the Institute of Policy Studies of Singapore (IPS) to trace the course of cultural policy in Singapore from the 1950s to the present, The State and the Arts in Singapore: Policies and Institutions is a comprehensive tome that should serve as an essential text in time to come for any student’s introduction to Singapore’s
Book Review: “The State and The Arts in Singapore: Policies and Institutions” Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Yogyakarta, Bali and Jakarta from 8-14 April 2019 This Monday and Tuesday, Teater Gandrik in Yogyakarta presents a satire of what the country might look like in the year 2049 if Indonesia were unsuccessful in eradicating corruption. Created by Agus Noor and Susilo Nugroho, directed by Djaduk Ferianto,
Weekly Picks: Indonesia (8 – 14 April 2019) Read More »
