★★★★★ 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)

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’

★★★★★ Review: Revisor by Kidd Pivot

Gogol’s satirical comedy becomes a spellbinding movement piece about truth, lies, and power. Category Score (out of 10) Direction/Choreography (Crystal Pite) 10 Writer (Jonathon Young) 10 Music / Sound Design (Owen Belton, Alessandro Juliani, Meg Roe) 10 Performance (Renée Sigouin, Doug Letheren, Rakeem Hardy, Rena Narumi, Ella Rothschild, Brandon Alley, Jennifer Florentino, Gregory Lau) 10 Scenic Design (Jay Gower Taylor) 10 Costume Design (Nancy Bryant) … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Revisor by Kidd Pivot

Review: Come On In by Faye Driscoll (Esplanade’s da:ns focus 2023)

ASMR meets meditation in this private dance between yourself and Faye Driscoll. In her exploration of connection and the relationship between audience and performer, American choreographer Faye Driscoll has conceptualised Come On In, a dance-installation work that eschews traditional dance conventions. Rather than watching a performer enact a series of choreographic movements, the audience becomes the performer, taking instruction from Driscoll as she leads us … Continue reading Review: Come On In by Faye Driscoll (Esplanade’s da:ns focus 2023)