Huang Yimin
Aiming to live passionately and not settle for a mundane life. Firm believer in the Oscar Wilde quote "You can never be overdressed or overeducated". I wish to publish a novel someday in the unknown future.
ICN 2019’s Arunika Musical Boasts a Talented Cast with Intricate Storytelling
Arts
December 18, 2018
ICN 2019’s Arunika Musical Boasts a Talented Cast with Intricate Storytelling
In next year’s edition, ICN 2019 – Arunika: A Musical sheds light on the perspectives of both the Indonesians and the Dutch, with the historical setting of 19th century Batavia, the present-day Jakarta, Indonesia. Presenting a blend of different Indonesian cultures (Balinese and Mollucan), the production aims to inspire its audience to strive for a more tolerant and peaceful society. Produced entirely by the Indonesian students of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), ICN is an arts and cultural community that produces theatrical works annually, albeit having taken a gap year in 2017. From the music composition, scriptwriting, training of actors and…
Christmas Wonderland 2018: Singapore’s biggest yuletide fair is back with magnificant luminarie light sculptures
Events
December 10, 2018
Christmas Wonderland 2018: Singapore’s biggest yuletide fair is back with magnificant luminarie light sculptures
The golden luminaire Christmas tree in Gardens by the Bay Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay opened on November 30 2018, with the guest of honour Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Trade and Industry, officiating the lighting of the golden Christmas tree. Currently Asia’s tallest luminaire tree, it is quite a sight to behold, towering at 20.7 metres that is akin to the height of a 7-storey building. Attracting close to 3.5 million visitors since its debut in 2014, Christmas Wonderland is Singapore’s biggest yuletide fair. The first highlight of Christmas Wonderland is definitely the magnificent luminaire light sculptures. They…
SGIFF 2018: A Showcase of Emerging & Established Film Talents
Cinema & TV
December 8, 2018
SGIFF 2018: A Showcase of Emerging & Established Film Talents
Founded in 1987, the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is the largest and longest-running film event in Singapore. This year, the 29th edition of SGIFF aims to showcase both emerging and established film talents, focusing on the regional while expanding out to the global. From highly anticipated film screenings to programs and masterclasses led by experts in the film industry, there is something in store for all. Festival Opening & Special Presentation Films Cities of Last Things (2018) SGIFF will be opening with Malaysian-born director Ho Wi Ding’s Cities of Last Things, where we are introduced to Zhang, a retired…
Electropop local musician Edson Charntor releases new party track ‘You’
Music
December 7, 2018
Electropop local musician Edson Charntor releases new party track ‘You’
Aspiring pop musician Edson Charntor (real name Edson Chong), released his latest single ‘You’ last week (30 November). Charntor’s first single, ‘Freedom’, gained unexpected popularity on Spotify, sitting on 140,000 streams with 3,000 saves. While ‘Freedom’ reflected his desire to enjoy freedom before adult responsibilities set in, Charntor revealed that ‘You’ is the “banger” in his upcoming EP and has no deeper meaning beyond wanting to party with someone. ‘You’ has a catchy and repetitive beat, and the lyrics are not easily discernible amidst the background music. This could be intentional as Charntor explained that the mood of the song is…
Guards at the Taj Review: Beauty Comes at a Price
Theatre
November 29, 2018
Guards at the Taj Review: Beauty Comes at a Price
Guards at the Taj is a personal story of a friendship challenged under dictatorship. Two long-term friends, Humayun and Babur, stand guard at the Taj Mahal hours before it is unveiled at dawn. They are forbidden to look at the monument, speak, or lower their swords. The play reaches a turning point as the guards are ordered to do an unimaginably violent act and their friendship is changed forever. I leave the Singapore Repertory Theatre after Guards at the Taj with mixed feelings. For a start, I am impressed by the actors’ performance, especially since the whole play only runs…
In Review: Singapore Writers Festival 2018 Strips Language Barriers & Universal Boundaries
Arts
November 24, 2018
In Review: Singapore Writers Festival 2018 Strips Language Barriers & Universal Boundaries
The eventful Singapore Writers Festival (SWF), organised by the National Arts Council to champion and cultivate an appreciation for literary arts and culture was held from 2 to 11 November 2018. There is a concerted effort to expose the general public to global literature beyond those written originally in the English language. This is a welcome change as Singapore’s education system is often very centralized on English literature, limiting the perception of what literature can be and what different languages can offer. While I find the programs to be generally illuminating and enjoyable, I also see the potentialities in further…
5 Questions with Ghafir Akbar and Jay Saighal on SRT’s Latest Production: Guards at the Taj
Theatre
November 20, 2018
5 Questions with Ghafir Akbar and Jay Saighal on SRT’s Latest Production: Guards at the Taj
Guards at the Taj, written by award-winning playwright and winner of the best new play in the 2016 Obie awards, Rajiv Joseph, will be performed in KC Arts Centre from 14 November 2018 to 1 December 2018. Set in 1648, Guards at the Taj is a dark comedy based on a myth about Taj Mahal, a mausoleum commissioned by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. In the play, the majestic beauty of the Taj Mahal is a deliberate contrast to the ordinary guards who are placed in charge of the mausoleum the day before its unveiling.…
Mammia Mia!: More Than Just A Pop Musical
Theatre
November 16, 2018
Mammia Mia!: More Than Just A Pop Musical
Last performed in Singapore in 2014, with iconic ABBA hits from the 70s, the musical Mamma Mia! once again proves its broad appeal with its latest production at the Sands Theatre. The audience was going wild in every scene, with non-stop laughter, applause, and even tears. The playful sexual innuendos, heartwarming family scenes, and lively rendering of the catchy oldies are the highlights of the night. One of the scenes that have made the deepest impressions is where leading lady Sophie’s mother, Donna Sheridan, met her three ex-lovers for the first time since decades. It is also the moment when…
Exploring Worlds in Singapore Writers Festival 2018
Exhibitions
November 10, 2018
Exploring Worlds in Singapore Writers Festival 2018
The Chinese character 界 (jiè), the theme of this year’s Singapore Writers Festival (SWF), is multi-layered in its meanings, referring to both the world and the universe at large, and physical and non-physical boundaries. It also alludes to the endless worlds of imagination, where such boundaries are more porous and even erasable. (L-R) Festival Director Yeow Kai Chai, Guest-of-Honour Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Transport Mr Baey Yam Keng, and Chairman of SWF steering committee, Professor Kwok Kian Woon Its opening ceremony song under the same name already set the stage, with homegrown musician Kelvin…
Between the Lines of Chinese Political Cartoons
Arts
November 2, 2018
Between the Lines of Chinese Political Cartoons
What comes to mind when “satirical cartoon” is mentioned? The common tendency is to associate them with The New Yorker or other famous western comics of similar genres. The latest special exhibition, Between the Lines – The Chinese Cartoon Revolution, aims to highlight this lesser-known history by taking us on a time travel back to the golden age of Chinese political cartoons that emerged at the end of the Qing Dynasty. The exhibition space of Between the Lines – The Chinese Cartoon Revolution. You may be as surprised as I am to find out that witty commentary-styled cartoons in Singapore…