SGIFF 2025: An Interview with Girl 女孩 director Shu Qi, and stars Bai Xiao-Ying and 9m88

When Girl opened the 2025 Singapore International Film Festival at Marina Bay Sands, the theatre was filled to its edges, with filmmakers, industry regulars, influencers, and longtime fans gathered to witness one of Asia’s most beloved stars step into a bold new role. For Shu Qi, who has spent decades defining onscreen charisma, the packed house represented both the reputation she’d built up over the … Continue reading SGIFF 2025: An Interview with Girl 女孩 director Shu Qi, and stars Bai Xiao-Ying and 9m88

★★★★☆ Film Review: Girl 女孩 dir. Shu Qi

Shu Qi’s directorial debut is deeply personal, and teases out the pain and potential of girlhood in ’80s Taiwan. Adolescence is rarely tidy. It’s unruly, bewildering, and often defined by the kind of pain we only learn how to name years later. In Girl, her semi-autobiographical directorial debut, Taiwanese star Shu Qi turns that ache into cinema. Known primarily for her collaborations with Hou Hsiao-hsien … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Film Review: Girl 女孩 dir. Shu Qi

da:ns focus: An Interview with Nederlands Dans Theater artistic director Emily Molnar on rigour, collaboration and the joy of platforming new voices

Ten years on from their last tour here, Nederlands Dans Theater 2 (NDT 2) returns to the Esplanade this season with a trio of works that Artistic Director Emily Molnar describes as “a programme that truly shows where we’re at.” For Molnar, bringing NDT 2 back to Singapore is “an absolute pleasure,” and the triple bill, featuring works by Alexander Ekman, Botis Seva, and Marcos … Continue reading da:ns focus: An Interview with Nederlands Dans Theater artistic director Emily Molnar on rigour, collaboration and the joy of platforming new voices

Seven arts practitioners honoured with Cultural Medallion and Young Artist Award as Singapore celebrates the role of the arts in the nation’s journey

Seven artists were conferred the Cultural Medallion and Young Artist Award at the Istana yesterday, in recognition of their exemplary contributions to Singapore’s arts sector. The nation’s 60th year of independence provides a fitting backdrop to honour the growth of the arts in our nation-building journey. Cultural Medallion recipients Goh Boon Teck (theatre) and Nai Swee Leng (visual arts) embody the visionary leadership that has fundamentally shaped Singapore’s artistic landscape and cultural identity, while Young Artist Award recipients He … Continue reading Seven arts practitioners honoured with Cultural Medallion and Young Artist Award as Singapore celebrates the role of the arts in the nation’s journey

Arts of Japan: Julian Opie Brings Groundbreaking LED Installation to GINZA SIX

Tokyo’s premier luxury retail and cultural destination, GINZA SIX, will host a striking new work by internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Julian Opie this September. Titled Marathon. Women., the large-scale LED video installation marks a first for Opie, known for his minimalist, pictogram-like depictions of human figures. Born in London and educated at Goldsmiths, University of London, Opie has long explored the boundaries of visual perception … Continue reading Arts of Japan: Julian Opie Brings Groundbreaking LED Installation to GINZA SIX

New HK$20 passenger ferry service connects Central and West Kowloon to bring more people to the arts and cultural district

HONG KONG – Hong Kong commuters, culture lovers, and pet owners have a new reason to enjoy the city’s harbourfront: a cheerful cross-harbour ferry service now connects Central Pier 9 with the West Kowloon Cultural District, offering an easy, scenic, and pet-friendly way to travel. The new air-conditioned vessels, operated by Fortune Ferry Company Limited, began a smooth four-day trial on Monday, with an official … Continue reading New HK$20 passenger ferry service connects Central and West Kowloon to bring more people to the arts and cultural district

Arts of Hong Kong: Ancient Egypt Comes to Hong Kong as the HK Palace presents ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled’

HONG KONG – This November, ancient Egypt will rise again—this time on the shores of Victoria Harbour. When the Hong Kong Palace Museum unveils Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums on 20 November 2025, visitors will walk into the largest, most comprehensive showcase of Egyptian antiquities ever staged in Hong Kong. The scale is unprecedented: 250 artefacts spanning nearly 5,000 years of history, many … Continue reading Arts of Hong Kong: Ancient Egypt Comes to Hong Kong as the HK Palace presents ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled’

Arts of Malaysia: KL Art Book Fair 2025 celebrates fair’s 5th edition with over 125 local and international exhibitors

Bigger than ever, the Kuala Lumpur Art Book Fair (KLABF) is back for its fifth edition to honour the city’s vibrant artist-run culture and self-publishing scene. KLABF 2025 invites artists, designers, illustrators, writers, photographers, printmakers, independent publishers, alongside enthusiasts from Malaysia and beyond to gather under one roof for an exciting three-day celebration of the art book community. Founded in 2021, the KLABF is an … Continue reading Arts of Malaysia: KL Art Book Fair 2025 celebrates fair’s 5th edition with over 125 local and international exhibitors

Thai artist Jamilah Haji wins 2025 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year Award

At the 2025 UOB Painting of the Year Awards ceremony held at the National Gallery Singapore, Thai artist Ms Jamilah Haji was announced as the UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year (SEA POY) winner for her luminous textile work Dua (Pray for a Blessing). The piece, crafted entirely through embroidery on fabric, portrays women in prayerful poses, symbols of collective faith and renewal, interwoven … Continue reading Thai artist Jamilah Haji wins 2025 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year Award

An Interview with Alan Koh, Fair Director of Affordable Art Fair Singapore on the 2025 edition

This November, the Affordable Art Fair Singapore returns to the F1 Pit Building with its most dynamic edition since 2019, inviting visitors to see, make, and collect art in a celebration of creativity and community. Featuring 95 galleries, hands-on workshops, immersive installations, and family-friendly activities, the Fair continues to make art accessible to all. Building on last year’s record of 22,000 visitors and S$5.3 million … Continue reading An Interview with Alan Koh, Fair Director of Affordable Art Fair Singapore on the 2025 edition