Arts Picks: Artists Of An Isle documentary, Baroque concert Suckerpunch, woodcut show

Straits Times

17 hours ago

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Chinese-language writer You Jin (pictured) is featured in the five-part documentary series Artists Of An Isle.
Artists Of An Isle documentary series
Get an intimate look into the lives of Singapore's most respected artists in a five-part documentary series by Lianhe Zaobao and the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. Each 35-minute episode is a wispy and poetic window into an artist's personal journey in the arts.
There is, for example, footage of
the 103-year-old artist Lim Tze Peng painting bumboats, as well as the title calligraphy for this video series in his home studio in Telok Kurau.
In the final months of his life –
he died on Feb 3, 2025 – the Cultural Medallion recipient continued painting and doing calligraphy daily, although he could not leave his house to paint en plein air.
Chinese-language writer You Jin, who is also a Cultural Medallion recipient, is the subject of another episode. Travel with the writer to Ipoh, where she spent the first eight years of her childhood, and hear her talk about her food writing.
The other three featured artists are playwright and xiangsheng (crosstalk) pioneer Han Lao Da, also a recipient of the Cultural Medallion; Joy Chen Yu Shen, a doyenne of Singapore's vocal music education; and dancer Yan Choong Lian, who founded Dance Ensemble Singapore.
The documentaries, with dialogue in Mandarin, come with English subtitles.
Info: Watch the series at
str.sg/kGm3
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Suckerpunch: A Taste Of The Baroque
Suckerpunch: A Taste Of The Baroque is an after-hours concert of music from the Renaissance and Baroque eras.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF LESLIE TAN
Leslie Tan, cellist and founding member of the T'ang Quartet, feels that Baroque music is always hiding an unexpected blow.
It is why his group is called Suckerpunch. 'The Baroque idea of 'affects' is all about sudden shifts in mood and character – a musical sucker punch. We want our performances to have that same quality – unexpectedly punchy and able to catch you off guard in the best way.'
The after-hours concert of music from the Renaissance and Baroque eras is performed by Tan and Mervyn Lee on the viola da gamba, Placida Ho on the violin and viola da gamba, Christopher Clarke on the treble viol and theorbo and the soprano Alison Wong.
Tan hopes this concert – which opens with French composer Honore D'Ambruys and closes with French composer Josquin Des Prez – will show audiences less common repertoire and instruments, adding: 'We want to show that Baroque music is not just Bach, Vivaldi and Pachelbel.'
The best way to enjoy the music is with a glass of bourbon, a charcuterie plate or even a concert dinner set – all available to purchase at Baroque House.
Where: Baroque House, 29 Rowell Road
MRT: Farrer Park/Jalan Besar
When: Aug 23, 8.30pm
Admission: $30 for the concert; various food and drink add-ons available
Info:
str.sg/mNCy
Traces Of Presence: A Woodcut Printmaking Exhibition
Young Artist Award recipient and artist Zhang Fuming's Playground (2023).
PHOTO: ZHANG FUMING
Mention woodcut in Singapore and one might immediately think of social realists like Lim Yew Kuan and his scenes from the 1950s or 1960s. But 36-year-old artist Zhang Fuming is giving the traditional genre a contemporary spin – responding to modern-day scenes such as the playground.
Traces Of Presence: A Woodcut Printmaking Exhibition presents works from the past 10 years of the Young Artist Award recipient's practice. But there is a twist – instead of just presenting the printed image, Zhang is also displaying the carved woodblocks and allowing the visitor to ponder the processes behind printmaking.
He says: 'Alongside large anchor works, I'll also be presenting blocks and process pieces to highlight the physicality of printmaking. I hope viewers can sense both the endurance and fragility that run through these works.'
He will be demonstrating his woodcut process from 4 to 5pm on Aug 23, 24, 30 and 31. Visitors can observe him at work and even try their hand at basic carving.