★★★★★ 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: 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)

★★★★☆ Review: Holly Herndon – PROTO (SIFA 2022)

Hear the sounds of the future, as machine learning meets music. In this age of speculative and sci-fi films and television series showcasing apocalyptic views of a robot futures, fantastical space and transcendent possibility, Holly Herndon’s album PROTO would feel right at home. An American experimental musician based in Berlin, Holly Herndon played in Singapore as part of the 2022 Singapore International Festival of Arts … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Holly Herndon – PROTO (SIFA 2022)

Last Dance: An Interview with Meenakshy Bhaskar on Bharatanatyam doyenne Santha Bhaskar, and the legacy she left

Saying goodbye is never easy. But how does one even begin to comprehend the loss of a parent? For Meenakshy Bhaskar, she appears to be a pillar of strength when we arrive at Bhaskar’s Arts Academy at Bras Basah Complex, where she currently serves as Artistic Director. She is all smiles, cordial, and professional as we greet each other, shake hands, and sit down for … Continue reading Last Dance: An Interview with Meenakshy Bhaskar on Bharatanatyam doyenne Santha Bhaskar, and the legacy she left

Singapore International Festival of Arts 2022 pilots new experiences in unexpected venues

The Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) 2022 has opened ticket sales for its second tranche of festival programmes, including a mix of in-person programmes and on-demand digital commissions. Organised by Arts House Limited (AHL) and commissioned by the National Arts Council (NAC), SIFA 2022 returns from 20 May with the title The Anatomy of Performance – Ritual, inviting audiences to reflect on the rituals … Continue reading Singapore International Festival of Arts 2022 pilots new experiences in unexpected venues

Preview: The Anatomy of Performance – Ritual (SIFA 2022)

As we approach the endemic phase of COVID-19, and live performances no longer require audience members to be safely distanced, we look forward to an increasing number of venues filled once again, as the arts truly returns to a new normal. Coinciding just in time with that is the hotly-anticipated line-up reveal of the upcoming 2022 Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) this May, as … Continue reading Preview: The Anatomy of Performance – Ritual (SIFA 2022)

★★★★☆ Review: A Thousand Ways Part III – An Assembly by 600 Highwaymen (SIFA 2021)

Last leg of the journey. After being cancelled in the midst of the Heightened Alert phase, we were filled with disappointment that we would likely never catch the final instalment of 600 Highwaymen’s three-part show A Thousand Ways. But perhaps, rather miraculously, the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) pressed on, and somehow found a way to revive the show, allowing those who had started … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: A Thousand Ways Part III – An Assembly by 600 Highwaymen (SIFA 2021)