★★★★☆ Review: project SALOME by Ong Keng Sen / T:>works (SIFA 2022)

Unpacking and reimagining the complexities of Salome through a modern lens. Princess of Judea, villainous exotic dancer, or vengeful femme fatale? The historical figure of Salome’s claim to fame lies in her request to see the head of John the Baptist as reward for performing a dance for her step-father. But one thing that is never made clear is her intentions for doing so, with … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: project SALOME by Ong Keng Sen / T:>works (SIFA 2022)

★★★☆☆ Review: Devil’s Cherry by Kaylene Tan and Paul Rae (SIFA 2022)

The outback becomes both nightmare and dreamscape for a couple running from their own problems. The name ‘devil’s cherry’ brings to mind a great many things – ideas of temptation, of evil, and perhaps, the loss of innocence. The moniker itself is an alternative to its more common name ‘deadly nightshade’, a poisonous plant and invasive species to Australia, bearing black, cherry-like fruit. Just a … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Devil’s Cherry by Kaylene Tan and Paul Rae (SIFA 2022)

★★★★★ Review: Bangsawan Gemala Malam by Teater Ekamatra (SIFA 2022)

Shakespeare’s classic comedy lends itself perfectly to the bangsawan form. In Malay culture, the bangsawan is a traditional opera form performed by theatre troupes, regaling its audiences with epic tales, its scenes both melodramatic and comedic, punctuated by song and dance. While no longer as common in modern day Singapore, the form has found new life during the 2022 Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA), … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Bangsawan Gemala Malam by Teater Ekamatra (SIFA 2022)

★★★★☆ Review: Sylvia by Pachyderm Theatre

Man’s best friend counters the dog days of life. How much do we love our pets? For one man, it might just be a relationship that’s unnervingly close to a romance, much to the chagrin of his wife. Written by A.R. Gurney and directed by Pavan J. Singh, Sylvia is a modern romantic comedy that follows middle-aged ‘empty-nesters’ Greg and Kate (Sean Worrall and Susie … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Sylvia by Pachyderm Theatre

Review: Delicate Spells of Mind by Lucy McRae (SIFA 2022)

Unveiling the mysteries of the inner mind. If you could look into your mind, what would you see? In her short film Delicate Spells of Mind, British-born, Australian science fiction artist Lucy McRae imagines the inner workings of the human mind as anthropomorphised creatures working as part of an operating system, and invites you to take a closer look. Commissioned for the 2022 Singapore International … Continue reading Review: Delicate Spells of Mind by Lucy McRae (SIFA 2022)

★★☆☆☆ Review: The Neon Hieroglyph by Tai Shani (SIFA 2022)

Chill out and open your mind to new possibilities in this trippy film. In a world that’s constantly teetering on the edge of insanity and chaos, the more hopeless the situation seems, the more it pushes our imagination towards increasingly radical solutions to overcome it. For Turner Prize-winning British artist Tai Shani, that solution comes in the form of witches, hallucinogens, and communism. This is … Continue reading ★★☆☆☆ Review: The Neon Hieroglyph by Tai Shani (SIFA 2022)

★★★★☆ Review: Ceremonial Enactments by MAX.TAN, Nadi Singapura and Bhaskar’s Arts Academy (SIFA 2022)

Drawing power from tradition and ceremony to herald the start of SIFA 2022. Because of their historical and cultural significance, a ritual is often a powerful, sacred act of performance. At times celebratory, and at others a form of salvation, rituals form the heart of the 2022 Singapore International Festival of Arts, and are explicitly given the spotlight in Ceremonial Enactments, drawing strength from movement, … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Ceremonial Enactments by MAX.TAN, Nadi Singapura and Bhaskar’s Arts Academy (SIFA 2022)

★★★★☆ Review: MEPAAN by Singapore Chinese Orchestra and Tuyang Initiative (SIFA 2022)

A concert of culture inspired by the Borneo rainforest. In the native language of Kayan, spoken by the indigenous Kayan people of Borneo, ‘mepaan’ translates to ‘always’, and makes for an appropriate title for the opening show of this year’s Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA). Performed by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and Tuyang Initiative (from Sarawak), MEPAAN‘ is a musical journey into Southeast Asian … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: MEPAAN by Singapore Chinese Orchestra and Tuyang Initiative (SIFA 2022)

Art What!: Virtual reality installation We Live in an Ocean of Air makes its Asian debut at ArtScience Museum, alongside the ArtScience Cinema

Visitors to ArtScience Museum will soon be able to take a captivating multi-sensory journey through the ecosystem of a vast forest in its upcoming virtual reality installation, We Live in an Ocean of Air at the Museum’s permanent VR Gallery. Created by Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF), one of the world’s leading experiential art collectives, We Live in an Ocean of Air is a 12-minute long … Continue reading Art What!: Virtual reality installation We Live in an Ocean of Air makes its Asian debut at ArtScience Museum, alongside the ArtScience Cinema

Art What!: Ever Present – First Peoples Art of Australia at National Gallery Singapore

Art as a concept has existed since time immemorial around the world, across various cultures and civilisations, even if left unrecorded in history. For the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders of Australia, art has always been an important part of their culture, with artefacts and artwork found to date as far back as 1890 and beyond. Across the past and present, such art has been … Continue reading Art What!: Ever Present – First Peoples Art of Australia at National Gallery Singapore