★★★★★ Review: Abyss by Hyerim Jang (SIFA 2023)

an orchid standing by the windowhas beautiful scent of leaves and branchesonce it fronted the Autumn wind,fades by the frostalthough lost its flowerthe scent lasts foreverit breaks my heartwipe the tears with my sleeve Sorrow and pain are difficult feelings to escape, often embedded within the body and subconsciously passed down from generation to generation, growing to dangerous levels if not dealt with. In Hyerim … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Abyss by Hyerim Jang (SIFA 2023)

Review: Present Past 今后 by RuanAtWorkz

Continuing their journey to promote the art of Chinese instrumental music and showcasing traditional instruments, RuanAtWorkz returned with Present Past, a brand new performance as part of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre’s annual Cultural Extravaganza. In the same vein as their previous work Night Walker in 2021, Present Past also takes on an intercultural, multidisciplinary approach, bringing together opera, ruan music and bharatanatyam dance. Directed … Continue reading Review: Present Past 今后 by RuanAtWorkz

SIFA 2023: An Interview with Joanna Dudley, creator of art installation ‘We Will Slam You With Our Wings’

Artist Joanna Dudley primarily specialises in the medium of performance, singing and music theatre. So it might be somewhat surprising that the 2023 Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) is presenting an installation work from her, rather than a full-blown performance. But if you take a look at We Will Slam You With Our Wings, the performance and performative aspect of it comes through quite … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with Joanna Dudley, creator of art installation ‘We Will Slam You With Our Wings’

SIFA 2023: An Interview with MOJOKO, curator of digital art showcase ‘PR1V4CY’

In a world of social media, where we’ve unwittingly put our entire lives on the internet and selling away our personal data to big corporations to do as they will, how much privacy do we really have? As part of the 2023 Singapore International Festival of Arts, curator MOJOKO gathers a motley crew of digital artists to address the phenomenon of this fast-disappearing luxury, and … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with MOJOKO, curator of digital art showcase ‘PR1V4CY’

SIFA 2023: An Interview with dancer Muna Tseng, creator of ‘Me, You, Then, Now’

Hong Kong-born, New York-based dance artist Muna Tseng has made a name for herself over the years, developing a four decade-long illustrious career working at the fluid intersections of contemporary dance, visual design, new music and avant-garde theatre. In her work Me, You, Then, Now, which plays for one night only at the 2023 Singapore International Festival of Arts, audience members are invited to join … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with dancer Muna Tseng, creator of ‘Me, You, Then, Now’

SIFA 2023: An Interview with Andrea Salustri, creator of ‘MATERIA’

The star of Andrea Salustri’s show MATERIA is not a person, but a material – polystyrene, one of the most common forms of plastic. Under Salustri’s manipulation, he allows it to come alive, and questions how we engage with objects, and to consider the life behind the ordinary. MATERIA also explores the balance between being a facilitator and being a performer, as the focus gradually shifts … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with Andrea Salustri, creator of ‘MATERIA’

SIFA 2023: An Interview with Festival Director Natalie Hennedige

In 2022, Natalie Hennedige went from artistic director of Cake Theatre, to Festival Director of the annual Singapore International Festival of Arts. Together with her team, the veteran theatremaker programmed a slew of works in her debut year, and established her own spin on the festival by theming each edition around ‘The Anatomy of Performance’, specifically zooming in on the concept of rituals last year. … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with Festival Director Natalie Hennedige

SIFA 2023: An Interview with Hyerim Jang, choreographer behind ‘Abyss’

The concept of ‘han’ in Korea refers to a feeling of multiple layers of sorrow and sadness that represents the suffering of Korean lives from wars and colonialism. These days, it still persists, even if more removed from its historical context, and continues to plague even the modern Korean person with its sadness. Artistic director of 99 Art Company Hyerim Jang seeks to address that … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with Hyerim Jang, choreographer behind ‘Abyss’

SIFA 2023: An Interview with Brian Gothong Tan and Huang Ruo, co-creators of ‘Angel Island’

With its continued mention across history books, film and other media, most people would be familiar with New York’s Ellis Island, a symbol of the American Dream that welcomed European migrants to America searching for a new hopeful life, along with its proximity to the Statue of Liberty. But few know about Ellis Island’s counterpart – Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay, which instead … Continue reading SIFA 2023: An Interview with Brian Gothong Tan and Huang Ruo, co-creators of ‘Angel Island’

Music Is: SSO Kicks Off The New Year With An Exciting Second Half Of Its 2022/2023 Season

The Singapore Symphony Orchestra unveils an exciting line-up of its 2023/2024 season bringing audiences compelling and memorable musical experiences from July 2023 to June 2024. July 2023 The new season is off to a resounding start on 14 and 15 July with SSO Pops: The Music of Hans Zimmer, featuring iconic works from one of the most admired film composers of our time. Conducted by Gerard Salonga, audiences can look forward to … Continue reading Music Is: SSO Kicks Off The New Year With An Exciting Second Half Of Its 2022/2023 Season