Arts Picks: Fost Gallery show, dance showcase and opera meets getai at Kreta Ayer People's Theatre
1x1x1
Fost Gallery's 1x1x1 exhibition has a clever gimmick – the works measure no more than 1m in any dimension. This limitation has challenged some of the artists in the show who usually work on a larger scale.
Interdisciplinary artist Grace Tan, for example, is better known for her large-scale public artworks such as Woven Field (2015) at Downtown Line's Little India station and Symmetry At Duo (2017). For this show, she has produced a new experimental series of sculptures made from rice and mineral pigments.
Other artists have opted for a deconstructed approach. Wyn-Lyn Tan 's patina-on-copper series Particulate – A World Without End I-VI presents six works, each under 1m . But the individual pieces set together form a much larger work.
Similarly, Ian Woo's acrylic-on-wood Emotional Things (Slant) with works that stand individually or can be seen as part of a larger whole.
Sculptor Ong Si Hui has gone for the other end of the spectrum with meticulously handmade, perfectly symmetrical marble sculptures – the smallest of which is just 3cm in diameter.
There will be a second edition of the show, presenting works by different artists, which opens on June 28.
Where: 01-02 Gillman Barracks, 1 Lock Road
MRT: Labrador Park
When: Till June 21, 11am to 7pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays ; by appointment on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays
Admission: Free
Info: fostgallery.com
Ascent To The Bamboo Forest
Arts Fission Company's artists visited a Vietnamese village for The Barefoot Dancers' Initiative.
PHOTO: ARTS FISSION COMPANY
This latest showcase by the Arts Fission Company presents visual journals and stories from a five-day sojourn in Vietnam. Dance artists visited Sai Duan village in north Vietnam under The Barefoot Dancers' Initiative project, immersing themselves in a different rural environment.
The idea behind the project is to allow dancers to experience the changing rural landscapes of Asia and tap the experiences to enrich their dance work. Under its auspices, dancers have also visited Indonesia and Thailand.
The dancers will share their stories about their stay in village houses with squat toilets and raw earth floors, as well as close encounters with majestic mist-shrouded mountains during a hike through the village's sacred bamboo grove.
Where: Living Room, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane
MRT: City Hall/Raffles Place
When: May 17, 2pm
Admission: Free with registration at str.sg/oNvUc
Info: facebook.com/artsfission
Out Of The Red Box
Nam Hwa Opera and The ETCeteras theatre company have collaborated for a new take on the traditional Teochew opera, A Match Made By The Red Chest.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE HERITAGEFEST
Traditional opera company Nam Hwa Opera has teamed up with Chinese theatre company The ETCeteras for this fusion production melding Teochew opera with getai for Singapore HeritageFest.
The story is inspired by the Yuan Dynasty comedy, A Match Made By The Red Chest. It tells the story of a Chinese opera artist – played by popular getai artist Lee Pei Fen – who nurses an ambition to perform getai. This is Lee's Teochew opera debut.
Other cast members include opera singer Shaun Lee, who is also making his Teochew opera debut, and veteran opera artist Gladys Lee.
Contemporary music group Reverberance will offer wind and percussion accompaniment.
Where: Kreta Ayer People's Theatre, 30 Kreta Ayer Road
MRT: Maxwell
When: May 16 and 17, 8pm; May 17 and 18, 3pm
Admission: $25 from peatix
Info: str.sg/GtyQ
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Bilingual presentations and surtitles bridge the linguistic gap, while "Q&A sessions" with giveaways keep students engaged. TV actor-turned-opera artiste Nick Shen striking a pose at Jewel Changi Airport on June 29. He conducts Chinese opera cultural workshops and exhibitions in schools. PHOTO: LIEW TONG LENG Beyond schools, Mr Shen, who is in his 40s, has staged performances in malls, museums, on yachts, online, and even with DJ Wukong in Zouk. His recent performance at the Asian Civilisations Museum drew a full-house crowd. In 2017, he became the 7th-generation troupe leader of Lao Sai Tao Yuan, Singapore's oldest Teochew opera troupe with a 161-year history, which is now managed under Tok Tok Chiang's non-profit arm. In celebration of the troupe's 160th anniversary in 2024, Mr Shen launched an online gaming and digital comic project, as well as a miniature opera stage with collectible figurines. These are available on the troupe's e-commerce website, which also features collectibles like handcrafted opera headgear made by his veteran performers. "The world is evolving rapidly, and so must our methods of outreach," he said. "We hope our Chinese opera online gaming, online comic series, and e-commerce website can attract more youth by merging tradition with interactive and creative platforms they are already engaging with." He has also been working with photographers and content creators who capture backstage moments and share them on social media platforms. These organic shares, tags and stories help boost visibility and spark curiosity among younger audiences who may not otherwise engage with traditional opera. "In today's mobile-first world, digital outreach is crucial. Live streams, behind-the-scenes reels, short videos with subtitles, and interactive content have proven effective in reaching broader audiences both locally and globally," he said. "What's most important is consistency, regular engagement, authentic storytelling, and creative reinvention to keep the tradition alive and meaningful for future generations." In the face of modern distractions, Chinese opera practitioners are not bowing out just yet. Star-crossed lovers, crime and punishment are themes with time-tested appeal. Bedazzling costumes have always been a feast for the eyes through the ages. With fresh spins on evergreen content, new platforms, and innovative audience outreach, the heady beats of "tok tok chiang" that once beckoned the crowds are likely to resonate into the future - if not on rickety wooden stages, then on TikTok.
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Arts Picks: Fost Gallery show, dance showcase and opera meets getai at Kreta Ayer People's Theatre
Fost Gallery's 1x1x1 exhibition has a clever gimmick – the works measure no more than 1m in any dimension. PHOTOS: FOST GALLERY 1x1x1 Fost Gallery's 1x1x1 exhibition has a clever gimmick – the works measure no more than 1m in any dimension. This limitation has challenged some of the artists in the show who usually work on a larger scale. Interdisciplinary artist Grace Tan, for example, is better known for her large-scale public artworks such as Woven Field (2015) at Downtown Line's Little India station and Symmetry At Duo (2017). For this show, she has produced a new experimental series of sculptures made from rice and mineral pigments. Other artists have opted for a deconstructed approach. Wyn-Lyn Tan 's patina-on-copper series Particulate – A World Without End I-VI presents six works, each under 1m . But the individual pieces set together form a much larger work. Similarly, Ian Woo's acrylic-on-wood Emotional Things (Slant) with works that stand individually or can be seen as part of a larger whole. Sculptor Ong Si Hui has gone for the other end of the spectrum with meticulously handmade, perfectly symmetrical marble sculptures – the smallest of which is just 3cm in diameter. There will be a second edition of the show, presenting works by different artists, which opens on June 28. Where: 01-02 Gillman Barracks, 1 Lock Road MRT: Labrador Park When: Till June 21, 11am to 7pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays ; by appointment on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays Admission: Free Info: Ascent To The Bamboo Forest Arts Fission Company's artists visited a Vietnamese village for The Barefoot Dancers' Initiative. PHOTO: ARTS FISSION COMPANY This latest showcase by the Arts Fission Company presents visual journals and stories from a five-day sojourn in Vietnam. Dance artists visited Sai Duan village in north Vietnam under The Barefoot Dancers' Initiative project, immersing themselves in a different rural environment. The idea behind the project is to allow dancers to experience the changing rural landscapes of Asia and tap the experiences to enrich their dance work. Under its auspices, dancers have also visited Indonesia and Thailand. The dancers will share their stories about their stay in village houses with squat toilets and raw earth floors, as well as close encounters with majestic mist-shrouded mountains during a hike through the village's sacred bamboo grove. Where: Living Room, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane MRT: City Hall/Raffles Place When: May 17, 2pm Admission: Free with registration at Info: Out Of The Red Box Nam Hwa Opera and The ETCeteras theatre company have collaborated for a new take on the traditional Teochew opera, A Match Made By The Red Chest. PHOTO: SINGAPORE HERITAGEFEST Traditional opera company Nam Hwa Opera has teamed up with Chinese theatre company The ETCeteras for this fusion production melding Teochew opera with getai for Singapore HeritageFest. The story is inspired by the Yuan Dynasty comedy, A Match Made By The Red Chest. It tells the story of a Chinese opera artist – played by popular getai artist Lee Pei Fen – who nurses an ambition to perform getai. This is Lee's Teochew opera debut. Other cast members include opera singer Shaun Lee, who is also making his Teochew opera debut, and veteran opera artist Gladys Lee. Contemporary music group Reverberance will offer wind and percussion accompaniment. Where: Kreta Ayer People's Theatre, 30 Kreta Ayer Road MRT: Maxwell When: May 16 and 17, 8pm; May 17 and 18, 3pm Admission: $25 from peatix Info: Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
