2017 was an eventful year for the arts in Singapore, full of the promising and the problematic. While there were the good, such as new projects and plans to develop the cultural landscape in exciting ways, there were also the not so good: controversies or conflicts that have spawned endless debates and infinite scrolling through […]
Ten Newsmakers of the Year in the Arts Read More »
Bold and unrelenting, Shuttle Life 《分贝人生》is an emotionally-charged social drama about Malaysia’s urban poor, offering a poignant insight into privilege and powerlessness in modern Kuala Lumpur. Featuring strong performances and gritty cinematography, the film marks an award-winning feature debut for director Tang Seng Kiat, clinching Best Film, Best Actor and Best Cinematography in the Asian
“Shuttle Life 《分贝人生》”: Grief and Powerlessness in Modern Malaysia Read More »
Insatiable, presented by Sigma Contemporary Dance and choreographed by Hong Guofeng, is crafted to explore the concept of choice and its consequences in our current world. As we are embroiled in a system dominated by corporations with their far-reaching influences, how much autonomy do we still retain? In accordance with the idea of choice, there
“Insatiable” by Sigma Contemporary Dance: A Game of Thirst Read More »
THEATRE Angkat by Teater Ekamatra Artist Residency Programme, 20 – 24 December, Malay Heritage Centre Auditorium Salma, a National Idol hopeful, is asked to alter her image so as to appeal to the masses. As compromises are made, she starts to question her identity, creating a clash between her roots and her upbringing as an adopted
18 – 24 December 2017: Singapore Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Jakarta and Yogyakarta from 18 – 24 December 2017 JAKARTA Proyek Seni Perempuan Perupa: Tulang Punggung, Now – 15 January 2018, Galeri Cipta III, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta Jakarta Art Council’s visual art committee is back with another exhibition under the female artist art project series. This
18 – 24 December 2017: Indonesia Read More »
By Ezekiel Oliveira (573 words, 5-minute read) Subtle lighting can enhance any dance piece, but the gloom that pervades this triple bill too often leaves the fine choreography lurking in the shadows. The decision must have had an artistic impetus, but the result often leaves everyone – performers and audience – dancing in the
Three Kin, T.H.E Dance Company Read More »
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, founded on Dec. 9, 1985, as part of the “mosquito press,” helped dismantle the Marcos dictatorship in February 1986. With the new dispensation followed a liberalization of attitudes, newfound freedom of expression, the democratization of the arts, and a check on art patronage, as practiced by the previous administration. This led
32 Defining Moments in Philippine Arts and Culture since 1985 Read More »
Tokyo Notes, a 1994 play by Oriza Hirata, was inspired by the 1953 film Tokyo Story by Yasujiro Ozu. The shift from ‘story’ to ‘notes’ forms what could be described as the play’s conceptual frame. While Ozu’s film tracked the story of an elderly couple visiting their children in Tokyo, Hirata’s play, fragmented and elliptical,
Rantau Reviews: “Bangkok Notes” Read More »
By Ezekiel Oliveira (524 words, 5-minute read) Maya Dance Theatre tackles mental health in a mashup of dance and theatre that gives us a quartet of characters all struggling with depression and social anxiety. There is Shazam, an artist struggling with depression, played by Shahrin Johry. Providing contrast, Bernice Lee lets her hair-down as Jane – a
ANWESHA – Beyond the Darkness! Read More »
Although modern art is little known in Cambodia, Nov Cheanick hopes his work can inspire Cambodians. PHNOM PENH — Battambang is best known as Cambodia’s second city and a hub of free expression, the home of numerous artists, musicians, and writers.During the reign of the Khmer Rouge, this world was almost snuffed out, but four
Nov Cheanick: From Humble Beginnings to Transcendent Art [Cambodia] Read More »
THEATRE Southernmost: 1 Table 2 Chairs Project by Emergency Stairs, 12 – 24 December, The Arts House Presented by up-and-coming experimental theatre company Emergency Stairs, the first edition Southernmost is a theatre festival which brings the most outstanding and established traditional and contemporary theatre artists from the region together in this red dot for an intensive
11 – 17 December 2017: Singapore Read More »
Top Picks of Indonesia art events in Jakarta and Yogyakarta from 11 – 17 December 2017 JAKARTA Alur Bunyi – Indra Perkasa, 14 December 2017, 8 PM, Goethehaus, Jakarta Alur Bunyi is Goethe Institut’s musical series under its Listening Differently performance series. Alur Bunyi presents performances that juxtapose electronic music against other genres of
11 – 17 December 2017: Indonesia Read More »
Visual artist Seelan Palay was arrested outside Parliament House on 1 October 2017 for his performance art piece “32 Years: The Interrogation of a Mirror”. The performance, which ran from 2 – 4.15pm, was a tribute to former Elected Member of Parliament, Chia Thye Poh, who was detained for 32 years without trial. Seelan Palay turned
National Youth Council’s public engagement program, in September, “For Your Consideration” misappropriated the techniques and methodology from theatre group Drama Box’s The Lesson (which took place across three weeks in July). This was not the first time authorities recycled or re-appropriated artworks or artists’ concepts without permission or acknowledgement. At the Singapore SEA Games in 2015, the Organising
National Youth Council Read More »
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
