Arts

You may have heard of the phrase “starving artist”, but what is the reality for artists who are pursuing their dreams? NUANSA’s annual musical production, Lukisan Jati (translated as ‘Portrait of Self’), explores the coming-of-age story of two painters on their journey to self-discovery. One of the two protagonists is none other than Raden Saleh, the 19-century painter who was given a scholarship to study art abroad – just like present-day Elsa, the other protagonist who earned an art scholarship in Singapore. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NUANSA Cultural Productions (@nuansacp) The musical explores the unique…

Pangdemonium ends its 2019 season with a splash – Urinetown: The Musical gleefully takes the piss out of politicians, populism, “people power”, capitalism, corporate corruption, and musicals themselves! 20 years on, Urinetown continues to catapult musical theatre into a new dimension with its demented – yet uncannily familiar – depiction of a dystopian world, outrageous songs and a cunning knack of making you laugh ‘til you wet your pants. Urinetown is set in a fictional “most expensive city in the world”, where a cross-border water crisis has led to a government ban on private lavatories. The woeful water shortage sees the…

In collaboration with world-famous couturière Guo Pei, Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) presents ‘Guo Pei: Chinese Art and Couture’. Held till 15 September 2019, the exhibition spans across two galleries and feature 29 of Guo Pei’s dresses, as well as 20 Chinese art pieces from the museum.  Guo Pei’s creations were erratic yet full of grandeur, it felt like I was walking through Lady Gaga’s wardrobe – had she been a fan of Chinese-inspired fashion. I personally like how each of her gowns come complete with accompanying accessories, headgear, and shoes. Yellow Queen Even before entering the galleries, visitors are met…

“The sea of bitterness has no bounds, turn your head to see the shore.” The world is the throne of evil, and as humanity goes through the cycle of sins, it is odd to say that Haw Par Villa is a place that one can get a revelation of sin.  Built in 1937, Myanmar-Chinese brothers Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par of Tiger Balm fame erected these sculptures to educate the public on traditional Chinese folklore and mythology. It is simply unbelievable for a modern cosmopolitan like Singapore to house such a strange place like Haw Par Villa. Yet,…

Since the curtains have lifted at the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands Singapore, the Broadway musical production of Aladdin was met with rave reviews. With less than 5 days left to the end of the extravagant yet mesmerizing production, Aladdin continues to transport audiences into an exotic world of daring adventure, classic comedy and a timeless romance.  Many of you Disney fanatics would have seen the spectacular show by now, but did you know how much efforts was required behind the scenes to deliver the grandeur that we see on stage?  Let us take you wonder by wonder as…

Singapore Night Festival returns for its 12th edition from 23 August to 31 August 2019, featuring a plethora of experiences and artworks that are set to transform the Bras Basah.Bugis district into an arts and cultural oasis.  View this post on Instagram The Singapore Night Festival returns for its 12th year, transporting you to an ethereal wonderland as always — and this time, tackling issues such as climate change along the way. Check out what's new in bio. A post shared by DANAMIC (@danamicorg) on Aug 25, 2019 at 9:05pm PDT This year, the Singapore Night Festival will host two…

Hot on the heels of the Aladdin film that hit the big screens on 23 May 2019, the Broadway Musical of Aladdin has also arrived the Marina Bay Sands’ stage on 21 July 2019. Complemented with set pieces that transform smoothly between sets and dazzling stage effects, Aladdin is a bold and extravagant musical that sweeps audiences into an exotic world of daring adventure, classic comedy, and timeless romance in this production that was nothing short of genie-ous. Set in the city of Agrabah, the Aladdin tale follows the eponymous Aladdin, a common thief and ‘street rat’. Upon discovering a…

Cirque du Soleil dons an all-new white and grey top for its highly-anticipated return to Singapore! Setting its Big Top beside Marina Bay Sands once again, the troupe presents the highly-acclaimed KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities from 5 July (Friday) to 18 August 2019 (Sunday).  Set in an alternate yet familiar past – in a place where wonders abound for those who trust their imagination – a Seeker pursues works to take a glimpse of the marvels that lie just below the surface. In his larger-than-life curio cabinet, the Seeker discovers a hidden, invisible world; a place where the craziest…

Back for its fifth edition, the National Youth Film Awards (NYFA) 2019 sees an increase in nominees tackling difficult subjects in their films. These aspiring filmmakers deep-dived into controversial topics such as public nudity, sugar dating, and the pitfalls of being a social media celebrity. Others took to exploring the intricate complexities of familial versus personal identity, as well as Singaporean experiences such as National Service. Trailers of some of the shortlisted films were screened at the NYFA 2019 luncheon Since its inception in 2015, the NYFA has been cultivating a community of likeminded media enthusiasts and is the connecting…