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the virtual machine. Cloud Storage Save your limited cloud storage space with Parallel Desktop 9. The SkyDrive, iCloud, Photo Stream, Dropbox, Google Drive optimizations make sure you don’t inadvertently duplicate files locals to get the most of storage space. Hardware support Thunderbolt and Firewire storage device support: For convenience of everyday use, users can connect these devices directly to a Windows virtual machine. Custom keyboard: Editable keyboard shortcuts help users maximise their Windows experience. Sticky multi-monitor setup: When using Windows in Full Screen mode and connecting to an external monitor, Parallels Desktop will remember settings and put the Windows virtual machine back in full screen mode on the remote monitor. Pricing Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac is available at SGD98 and for students at SGD58. Both prices are inclusive of GST.
MESSAGE FROM
THE EDITOR EDITOR: Alphonsus Seng
ArtJam is
proudly brought to you by:
EMAIL: publications@ntucac.com
Miss your rebellious days? Embrace it and turn it into something positive! Remember the times we used to create trouble for others as a kid? Our peers, teachers and parents would unfortunately fall victim to our acts of mischief. Those were the days! I certainly do miss the old days of being carefree and (more) rebellious! This issue, ArtJam encourages you to embrace your inner rebel with Nanyang Arts Festival’s Rebellioné. While it’s certainly not an excuse to create mischief, we can channel it into something positive by innovating to create new boundaries! The
past months have seen CAC wholeheartedly embracing the idea of exploring new possibilities - by having 3 inaugural concerts (Nanyang Arts Showcase, HOURGLASS: Bringing The Sexy Back, and Lady in Red)!
from you! Simply drop us an email!
ArtJam faces its rebel in its own way, through the radical changes in its design. After 10 fruitful years, the time is ripe for a change in layout. This sleek and modern layout predominantly features CAC’s corporate colours, red and white. Love or hate the new layout? We’ll be glad to hear
It’s been a busy month of us both in CAC and in the figurative press room, with numerous CAC events, but as always, the team looks forward to keeping you updated on both CAC and the cultural scene in Singapore. Stay with ArtJam as CAC goes into full swing once again after exams!
ArtJam now has its own page on the CAC website (ntucac.com/artjam/ online), be sure to check it out for more online content and goodies!
publications
magazine contact
Published by NTU Cultural Activities Club (NTUCAC). Printed by Xpress Print Pte Ltd, Tel: 6880 2881.
magazine team
editors
Editor IN CHIEF: Alphonsus Seng CHief editor: Rimjhim Relan CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER: Victor Li Qi
Clarisse Tan, Eleanor Chua, Lim Kang Ying
photographers
writers
advertising
Amanda Kwok, Amanda Lim, Angelene Wong, Joel Lim, Jovy Tiew, Lim Kang Ying, Ophelia Chew, Yeo Tan Cheng
To advertise with us or list your events in ArtJam, please send us an email to publications@ntucac.com
distribution
Derrick Say, Lee Kok Hong, Lim Ying
MCI (P) 121/10/2013 ArtJam is printed quarterly and is distributed at: All Junior Colleges, All Polytechnics, NTU, NUS, SMU, SIM, NAFA, SOTA, The Esplanade, National Museum, ART STAGE Singapore, The Substation, Alliance Francaise, Studio Wu, Singapore Symphonic Orchestra, The Necessary Stage, Stamford Arts Centre, Goodman Arts Centre, Marina Bay Sands, SCAPE, Virtuoso Arts, Home Club, Attitude Dance Studio, ARTrium, and DBS Arts Centre.
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WELCOME/ CONTENTS 2014/2
5 9
special projects Nanyang Arts Festival Impresario Semi-finals
member clubs
10 11 12 13
String Orchestra
reviews
interviews
Chinese Orchestra Jazz and Blues DanceSport Academy
5
Nanyang Arts Festival Opening Ceremony
22
LightSeeker, Resorts World Sentosa
16 Megan Nicole 18 Art Stage 20 Singapore Symphony Orchestra 22 LightSeeker 24
Charlie Lim
upcoming
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Events Listing
SPECIALPROJECTS
NANYANG ARTS
FESTIVAL rise up and join the RIBELLIONé
With a theme of Ribellioné (Rebellion in Italian), the 12th installment of the Nanyang Arts Festival saw a more adventurous carnival. The month long festival featured several cross cultural peformances, unique workshops, mind boggling installations, as well as the inaugural Nanyang Arts Showcase.
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OPENing CEremony let the festivities begin!
PHOTOS: Alphonsus Seng, Lee Kok Hong, Victor Li Qi, Nanyang Arts Festival
#1 EXPLOSIVE DRUMS
#2 RIGHT TO EXPRESS
#3 FEAR THE #4 BEHIND KICKS THE SCENES
Bloco Singapura kicked off the ceremony with their spirited drum performance, creating a festive mood that remained present throughout the ceremony.
The Free Man, plastered with the wishes of student and staff, stood proudly at Canopy K during the festival. Let’s hope that all the wishes will come true!
Meanwhile, in the South Spine, our wushu team wowed us with their spotless techniques and flying kicks! Watch out for their spears and blades!
The people with their ever present smiles are the main committee members of the NAF! A big hand to them for helping to plan and execute this colossal event!
ART GENRE: Brazilian percussion.
ARTS GENRE: Mannequin.
ARTS GENRE: Martial Arts.
MORE INFOMATION: Visit their website at naf.sg!
GUEST PERFORMER: SA SA, the trio consisting of Andy C (Dizi), Natalie Alexandra (Guzheng) and Cheryl Ong (Percussion) proved that music transcends all boundaries by fusing electronica with traditional chinese instruments. The trio surely knew how to put on a show for the crowd! ART GENRE: Traditional music through modern electronics.
SCAN THIS!
OTHER PEFORMERS
to view SA on Facebook!
Dance groups like MJ HipHop and Soul Funky Pop & Lock (pictured) showed their moves on stage while music groups such as Guitar Ensemble, String Orchestra and Chinese Orchestra brought the ceremony to melodious finale. ART GENRE: Hip Hop, Popping/Locking, Traditional, Instrumental
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NANYANG ARTS
showcase
FOR THE FIRST TIME!
STORY: Yeo Tan Cheng PHOTOS: Victor Li Qi, Chen Zhe
In its twelfth year running, Nanyang Arts Festival continues to surprise the NTU population with new initiatives to draw arts closer to the students. Nanyang Arts Showcase (NAS) was held on 13 February 2014, being the first event of its kind to draw jam bands from the NTU campus together with CAC member clubs on the familiar stage of Nanyang Auditorium. As the doors opened, excited students streamed into the venue and prepared themselves for a night of good music after a long, tiring day of lessons. The stage lights dimmed, and only a few bright spotlights for the special performance of Courage by CAC Contemp{minated}. The dancers glided gracefully across the stage and displayed great skills with flexibility and complex dance moves, providing a visually- refreshing start to a music concert.
FACTS The Nanyang Arts Showcase was the first concert to feature the Jam Bands, which included: District 12, Hall 4 Band, The Rebounds (Hall 3), 16 Piece Nuggets (Hall 16), Pushplay (Hall 13), 4degrees (Hall 12), Hall 14 Band and Hall 15 Band. The bands ranged from a quartet to septet, but all bands effortlessly left the audience satisfied.
District 12 started the concert with some slow songs before bursting into “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk. “We’re up all night for good fun” in this concert indeed! Next, the 6-person Hall 4 band, all decked in black, gave a rockband aura. The heavy-metal feel was enhanced by a guitar solo from one of the guitarist, and the crowd cheered loudly to the
FACTS The list of performers included Contemp{minated}, Piano Ensemble, as well as 8 Jam Bands (namely hall 3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, District 12) for the evening.
ARTIST PROFILE Left: Hall 4 Band Bottom: District 12
special effort in the performance. While most jam bands featured female singers for the wide vocal range that they could cover, Hall 3 surprised the crowd with a male singer for their first performance! The Rebounds (Hall 3 Jam Band) delivered a performance that grabbed the audience’s attention – the powerful shouts
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NANYANG ARtS SHOWCASE
from the male vocalist somehow reminded me of Haydn’s Symphony No. 94 ‘Surprise’. Performances from Hall 16 (16 Piece Nuggets), Hall 14 and Hall 15 were really enjoyable, with crowd favourites like ‘Royals’ by Lorde. The interesting mix of instruments of each jam band highlighted their unique identity as a band, on top of their choice of songs. Some enthusiastic fans of the hall bands even when in front of the stage to cheer for their friends!
FACTS
ARTIST PROFILE
A portion of the ticket proceeds went to charity.
Top: Contemp{minated} Bottom: 16 Piece Nuggets
The CAC Piano Ensemble took the stage next and performed The Phantom Of The Opera medley, where a violin ‘vocal’ played against the neat piano arrangement to blend the various tunes of the soundtrack. With the lack of lyrics, the music provided a soothing transition in the concert. My favourite performance for the night came from Hall 13 (Pushplay), as the female vocalist sang
SCAN THIS!
to view the Nanyang Arts Festival on Facebook!
‘Toxic’ by Britney Spears and instead of adopting the original pop style, gave a slow and soulful rendition of the song. Last but not least, Hall 12’s band, 4degrees, sang ‘Lucky’ by Jason Mraz before Nanyang Arts Showcase closed its curtains for the night. Throughout the show, it was evident that the bands enjoyed themselves performing to a formal audience
with smiles on their faces. During the short interviews onstage, we learnt that many of them had only met each other in hall and this opportunity to perform together was an experience they won’t forget. The effort taken by the Nanyang Arts Festival (NAF) Organising Committee to carry out this concert is truly wonderful. And, the charity towards Children’s Cancer Foundation was a nice initiative
to add on to the good night of music! We look forward to enjoying future events by NAF to bring out the artistic talent among our fellow pals!
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IMPRESARIO
seMI-FINALS
PHOTOS: Alphonsus Seng, Impresario
#1 AUDIENCE This year, the Impresario semi-finals were held at Bugis+. The non-ticketed event attracted a huge crowd, who were in awe of what the contestants had to offer. Some even whipped out their phones to record the peformances - truly a sign that the memories of the performances were worth keeping!
SCAN THIS! to view Impresario on Facebook!
#2 VOTING
#3 JUDGES
The audience were given the chance to vote for their favourite contestants in the different categories: Vocal Solo, Vocal Group, Original Composition, and Dance to help them qualify for the Grand Finals!
The judges sat stoned faced as they scruitinzed each performance by the contestants. Nevertheless, the judges’ comments were constructive to the contestants, as they prepare for the Grand Finals.
Stay tuned for the next issue of ArtJam, where we cover the Grand Finals of Impresario. The top 5 in each category would be vying to be crowned champion.
#4 CONTESTANTS Of course, we’re not fogetting the amazing contestants who blew of us away! The contestants delivered powerful performances that certainly did set the stage for the Grand Finals.
#5 BACKSTAGE The Impresario main committee members, while fatigued after setting up the venue, ran tirelessly during the semi-finals to ensure a smooth event. And smooth sailing it was! Well done guys!
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CHINESE OrCHestrA
tition, was invited to showcase her skills in the Pipa Concerto, ‘The Heroic Little Sisters on the Grassland’. Her impressive skills blew the audience away. NTU CAC Chinese Orchestra also never failed to include all time favourites such as the ‘Jewel in the Palace’ and ‘The Lion King Medley’ which got the audience dancing in their seats. Following those, a special composition by Law Wai Lun titled Prince Sang Nila Utama and Singa was performed, bringing the audience back into time when Singapore was first rumoured to be founded and named the ‘Lion City’ upon the sighting of a lion.
TRANSIENT REMINISCENCES 2014 To many, a picture speaks a thousand words but NTU CAC Chinese Orchestra’s Transient Reminiscences 2014 on the 23rd February conducted by Ng Seng Hong is one that paints a thousand pictures. The concert was filled with charming music and virtuosic playing that carried the audience through many historical stories such as the ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’, ‘The Butterfly Lovers’, ‘The Heroic Little Sisters on the Grassland’ and ‘Regret and Hate of Lin An’. The splendid harmony between all the instruments never failed to guide one into the stories the music was telling; the agony, fear, happiness and uncertainty. Pipa Soloist Gale Tan (pictured top right), champion of the Pipa Soloists category in the National Chinese Music Compe-
The concert ended on a unique note with a special performance from the orchestra and the members doing a resounding ‘HA’ at several intervals whilst strumming and plucking their instruments at frenzied speed. At the end there was a few minutes long of applause for the orchestra for their brilliant performance. It was indeed an inspiring and worthwhile experience.
SCAN THIS!
to view more photos of the concert!
STORY: Ophelia Chew PHOTOS: Alphonsus Seng Lim Ying
“To many, a picture speaks a thousand words but NTU Chinese Orchestra’s Transient Reminiscences 2014 on the 23rd February conducted by Ng Seng Hong is one that paints a thousand pictures”
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BLUES
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HOURGLASS: BRINGING THE SEXY BACK
Jazz
THIS WAS THE CLUB’S CONCERT DEBUT. STORY: Amanda Kwok EDIT: Lim Kang Ying PHOTOS: Derrick Say
as a musical genre has a tendency to bring to mind an idea of nightclubs, dim lighting, improvisation, trombones, and something of a seedy underworld feel. I can’t pretend to understand much about Jazz, since I am sincerely unfamiliar with it, but HOURGLASS: Bringing the Sexy Back by NTU CAC Jazz and Blues did indeed seemed very Jazzy. The concert started slightly late, around 7.45pm, as stragglers continued streaming in; The Wednesday Band was extraordinarily composed and chilled, as they started with I Put a Spell on You, originally by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and then I’d Rather Go Blind. Accordingly. The CAC Concert engineers worked their own brand of magic in helping to create the ambiance of an old jazz club, with deliberately dim stage lighting. As the band hit a high through a crescendo, the lighting strengthened in response – a nice build up from a slow intro. Following the Wednesday Band was the Tuesday Band with At Last and My Foolish Heart. Then, the Thursday Band performing Sunny Side Cruise, as well as a ‘mash-up’ of Lately/ My Cherie Armour/ Signed, Sealed and Delivered. The audience responded with cheers for their friends who are members of the bands, and especially during powerful moments, such as when the charismatic short-haired singer from Tuesday Band stepped out of the spotlight intentionally to draw attention to her other band-mates’ instrumental solos. After the intermission, Tuesday Band re-entered to perform Too Darn Hot and Kind of Blue: A Tribute to Miles David, which was high energy; and the audience responded with enthusiastic cheers and playful catcalls. One such moment of the band’s spontaneity was with the dedica-
tion by one the member’s to a girl named Joanna. This was matched by the Wednesday Band’s rendition of Come Rain or Shine and Green Onion, and later, I Just Called to Say I Love You by the Thursday Band. The second half of the concert was filled with sexier and higher energy songs where the bands’ chemistry stole the show with chemistry and enthusiasm along with exceptionally powerful voices and dominating stage presence of the singers. Since the audience’s response is key to determining the success of a concert, it is telling that following the last song, they overwhelmingly demanded an encore. The entire cast then proceeded to return to the stage to pull off Nat King Cole’s L-O-V-E, and very much did it justice, and once again, calls for a repeat performance. The probably most fun part was Joshua of the Thursday Band’s happy improvisation of lyrics to thank the Concert Engineers, the audience, various friends and sponsors or supporters of the Jazz and Blues Club. And that spontaneously traditional and uniqueness to Jazz is a testament to NTU CAC Jazz and Blue Club’s enjoyment and dedication to the genre – NTU can look forward to more concerts in years to come. HOURGLASS was a success; It is the first, but certainly not the last Jazz concert organized by this Club.
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DANCESPORT
ACADEMY
LADY IN RED
SCAN THIS!
to view more photos of the concert!
Many made their date with these dancers at the Nanyang Auditorium on February 23rd, and they were thrown into flamboyant colours from NTU CAC’s DanceSport Academy (DSA). Contrary to the title, the Lady in Red showcased DSA dancers in colourful and highly energetic group performances that featured the Latin dances: Cha Cha Cha, Samba, Jive, Rumba and Paso Doble. Amidst the upbeat pieces, the Rumba from Chua and Evon contrasted nicely as their duet evoked an emotional atmosphere that revealed the unique connection between the partners. On the other hand, the two consecutive Rumba and Jive items from the Spanish guest performers Nicolas Garcia and Masha Turlupova blew me away from their very presence on stage. Their lifts, musicality and charisma melded into a choreography that truly showed their
dedication for the art. It is no wonder they are DanceSport champions in their country. A special shoutout must be given to Joyce, the DSA alumni who not only emceed for the show but also starred in the dazzling alumni item, “Once Upon an Ocean”, as the Little Mermaid. The item showcased all 5 Latin dance genres, and told the story about a fairytale romance packed with mood whiplashes. The show ended on a high note as the dancers gave another medley item that combined all 5 dance genres into “The Final Countdown”. This item wrapped the show up perfectly by showcasing the dancers’ passion for their art. As I sat on the train homebound, there were many impressions left in my head, not just red. What would the team whip up in the next DanceSport Academy recital?
STORY: Amanda Lim EDIT: Eleanor Chua PHOTOS: Derrick Say
‘Lady in red’ IS THE CLUB’s INAUGURAL CONCert.
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STRING ORCHESTRA
Movendo’ 14
STORY: Eleanor Chua EDIT: Rimjhim Relan PHOTOS: NTU CAC String Orchestra
SCAN THIS! to view Beethoven String
Quartet No.1 Op.18 from the concert!
Memories gushed back as I stepped into the Esplanade Recital Studio on the 4th of March. It was where I had competed in my first and only violin competition. Coincidentally, the conductor of NTU CAC String Orchestra (NTUSO), Mr Gerard Chia, was the prize winner of the same competition but in 1993. NTUSO is 20 this year, and they bring to us a new concert series- Movendo ;their previous series was called Prism. Movendo means ‘moving’ or ‘growing’ in Italian, and the orchestra certainly proved they wanted to be something different. For one, they chose to perform music written for string quartets, except that instead of four people they had an orchestra. They started with the fast-paced, light-hearted Divertimento in F major by Mozart, bringing out the staccato-ed conversation between the violins and cellos well. Following that was Beethoven’s String Quartet No.1, also in F major. This piece had beautiful contrasts and the cel-
THE CONCERt MARKED THE ORCHESTRA’S 20TH yEAR RUNNING. lists were exceptionally expressive. The crescendo at the start of the slow second movement was well-controlled, while the haunting march in that same movement was also well-executed by both the cellists and violinists. Their last piece was Schubert’s String Quartet No. 14 in D minor (interestingly the relative minor of F major). I loved the 2nd movement, as the sound of the orchestra was very grand during this solemn part. Lastly, they gave an encore, playing the Minuet & Trio from Luigi Boccherini’s quintet in E major. It was also the very first piece that I myself performed with the violin ensemble in my primary school. Watching the violinists enjoying themselves, I just had to wonder if all these were signs for me to set aside more time for my first instrument.
Win tickets to the opening performance of Ballet under the Stars on 18 July! Simply tell us why you deserve to win! Email your entries (in 30words or less) to publications@ntucac.com Contest ends 15 May.
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SCAN THIS!
to view Megan Nicole’s Youtube Channel!
“She provides a good opportunity for creativity, so she’s very open to new things … She never says no unless we’ve tried it a couple times, which is really awesome. Megan’s a WILL PIERCE, good boss.”
MEGAN’S GUITARIST
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MEGAN
NICOLE STORY: Angelene Wong
EDIT: Alphonsus Seng
PHOTOS: Derrick Say
MEGAN NICOLE SHOWCASE Twenty-year-old YouTube sensation Megan Nicole performed in Singapore on 15th November. The performance venue was filled with her Singaporean fan base; consisting mostly of young teenage boys and girls. Waving as she entered the stage shyly, Megan Nicole opened with her cover of “Glad You Came”. She complemented her understated entrance with the slow acoustic first chorus, which she transitioned to an upbeat party-starter. The cheers from the audience moved Megan to thank the audience for getting her emotional after only one song. She proceeded with two original numbers, “Earthquake” and “Let It Go”. “Earthquake” is reminiscent of seventies tunes, with a girly pop-rock touch. Megan alternated between jumping centre-stage and small cheeky dance moves. In contrast to this playful side, she showcased her maturity in her sultry cover of Lordes’ “Royals”. Seven audience members were chosen to dance on stage as she serenaded them with Maroon 5’s “This Love”. Although she forgot the lyrics to the second verse, her charming honesty won us over.
ABOUT THE ARTIST Singer Megan Nicole boasts over two million YouTube subscribers and more than five million hits on her latest single, “Summer Forever”. Megan’s original songs regard topics like first loves and unfulfilled crushes, resonating with her youthful fan base.
The best part of the concert was probably when she sang Justin Bieber’s “Baby”. The audience erupted into wild applause. Halfway into her performance, she urged the crowd to sing proudly, assuring the males it was acceptable to go crazy to the song. The crowd abided by shouting the chorus’ “Oh’s” and “No’s”. Another highlight was “Summer Forever”. She mused, “I know summer’s technically over, but here in Singapore it really feels like summer forever.” Pink and white beach balls rolled down from the back of the audience and Megan came down to the audience aisles where fans flocked to dance with her. As the finale, “Starships”, came on, the crowd rushed from their seats to stand below the stage. I found myself in a sea of fist-pumping teens and phones held up to record this up-close experience. An overzealous girl pushed past me to get to the front while other fans crammed to touch Megan’s hand. I enjoyed how she involved individual audience members in her performance, showing her down-to-earth character. Megan has justified her stardom and will continue to wow in her upcoming 2014 UK tour.
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aRT STAGE SINGAPORE STORY: Lim Kang Ying
EDIT: Rimjhim Relan
PHOTOS: flickr.com/photos/surveying
BACKGROUND
The fourth edition of Art Stage Singapore lit up the local visual art scene with 130 galleries from 28 countries and a new platform for creative dialogues - 10 curated sales exhibitions with artworks from around the region. Receiving 45, 700 visitors within the span of five days, it is undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated art fair in Singapore. Art Stage reveals the first hand information on prominent artworks in the area. While the use of mix media as well as exotic materials to translate ideas into tangible objects is not a new phenomenon in contemporary art, artists participating in Art Stage Singapore this year took it to a whole new level. From timebased installations made of tofu (The Hundred Surnames in Tofu – Chen Qiulin, pictured), to a paper installation akin to that of a slinky toy (Bust of Ancient Roman Girl – Li Hongbo) and even an inflatable pink flying pig (Love Me – Choi Jeong Hwa, pictured). These are most often that the most visually accessible and relatable works that capture our attention at first sight. Curious onlookers were unable to tear their delighted eyes away from the fascinating use of the simplest of materials to mold ideas into concrete works of art. Works of both, the established and emerging local artists can be found at Art Stage Singapore. This includes names often spotted at the National Art Museum and
Singapore Art Museum, such as PHUNK, Justin Lee, Jeremy Sharma, and Donna Ong, among many others. Not forgetting, familiar names of artists which are represented by galleries from around the world, like Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Yayoi Kusama. The art wasn’t necessarily better than that of the previous years but the real good ones naturally shine brighter in the creative environment, which may sometimes be oh-toooverwhelming. This year, it was not all dominated by mixed media, new media and digital media. Among an ocean of videos, photography works and installations, and flashy artworks, the use of ‘traditional’ medium stood out more, and seemed more polished than ever. Izumi Akiyama made still life come to life simply with intricate touches of pencil on paper in works of vases and candles. One look at it infused serenity into admirers even whilst standing in the middle
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IMAGE CAPTION Could us this box for caption the photos in this spread, or a pull through
SEE PAGE024 EXHIBITS ON DISPLAY of a huge art fair buzzing with eager consumers. One look at it infused serenity into admirers even whilst standing in the middle of a huge art fair buzzing with eager consumers. Shadows of influential artists such as Jackson Pollock could be seen as well. Appropriating Pollock’s iconic ways of abstract painting, Indonesian artist Gede Mahendra Yasa brought viewers’ attention to traditional Balinese images, critiquing the roles of paintings and ‘its place in art history’ at the same time. However, the real highlight shone on the regional platforms (also known as the curated sales exhibition) which covered 2,000 square metres of the fair space. It was indeed refreshing to have these sites to gather thoughts after having received the many varied and scattered meanings from the range of artworks encountered in the participating galleries. The museum like style of viewing art in the platforms at Art Stage challenged the conventional notions of space and artistic activity and art viewing
behaviors. This added to the dynamics and vibrancy of the event, where critical dialogues emerged and transcended mere economic transactions by collectors. The curated exhibitions by invited curators and artists communicated their visions and perspectives; presenting audiences with artistic, thought-provoking, and concise ideas within particular contexts. The regional platforms exhibited impressive artworks revolving around the themes of complexities of contemporary life as well as the changing notions of time and art, created by high caliber artists from Australia, Central Asia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. With means to make sense of the changing cultural, economic and political landscape of the region, the works captured transient moments caught in transition and intersection of time. It provided viewers with ways of seeing, coping and interacting with the new world, which in a way, all sums up to the most basic, fundamental meaning of being human and human existence.
The Hundred Surnames in Tofu – Chen Qiulin (bottom), Love Me – Choi Jeong Hwa, (far bottom) were some of the works featured this year.
It is always invigorating to start the year with an art fair; one of the best ways to receive updates about the latest trends in the global art scene and be inspired with works from around the globe. So if you’ve missed this year’s edition, stay alert in the visual art scene and do look out for the next one!
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SCAN THIS! to view more SSO content online!
spirited away the music of joe hisaishi
–
STORY: Joel Lim EDIT: Rimjhim Relan PHOTOS: Singapore Symphony Orchestra
“... one that graces the minds and creates etching memories that blends well with peace, and hope.”
SINGAPORE SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
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The Singapore Symphony Orchestra will be concluding their 2013/14 season after the current performances in April and May, with associate conductor Jason Lai directing the last few performances. We can’t wait for see what the orchestra has in store for us in the 2014/15 season!
Music isn’t just about hearing a sweet serenading tone or catchy rhythm - it is more than that. The irony is that many people inevitably feel that classical music at every stage should have its period, yet most of us look down on the creations of today’s scores. mic experience, let alone the musical embellishment that flourishes the entire melody of Mamoru Fujisawa (Hisaishi’s real name) composition.
To me, music is all about being held, cradled, comforted, strengthened, and understood – yet somehow the idea of music has gotten distorted among aplenty of us as we tend to sway towards hating the pinnacle of what today’s music has been transformed into. You could be in a state of distraught thinking about your life plans, a stained relationship, or perhaps your financial stability yet through all these, almost all of us still turn to our music players one point in the day to find a spatial area, seeking refuge. I closed my eyes and allowed the music to seep through. It was surprising. I wasn’t exactly much of a fan for Japanese music and neither was I sure how much appreciation I could give when there’s quite a distinct derivation from the usual classical symphonies but somehow, I felt exposed. It isn’t every time that you can get treated to an auralgas-
Building on the animated movie My Neighbour Totoro, set pieces such as Departures captured the hearts and attention of the audience, who comprised of mainly younger children accompanied by their parents. The kids were enthused and cheered each time a hit was played. What was more amazing was the way their parents lilted and swayed together with their children, making the ambience simply pastoral and filled with tranquility. To add to the serenity, glow sticks were given to both the young and adult to wave and enjoy, giving them the ability to mask their ages and get lifted off to another world for the two hours. With the entire concert hall at the Star Performing Arts Centre filled completely with swaying glow sticks and hums, the spectacle created could easily speak the minds of the audience. Joshua Tan, the conductor, along with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, has well made Japanese classical not just another ordinary musical establishment, but one that graces the minds and creates etching memories that blends well with peace, and hope. Indeed, spirited away.
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LIghtSEEker
SCAN THIS! to view more events from RWS!
SEEKING THE LIGHT WITHIN STORY: Jovy Tiew
EDIT: Alphonsus Seng
PHOTOS: Resorts World Sentosa
LightSeeker is a musical locally produced by Resorts World Sentosa, in collaboration with renowned songwriter Dick Lee. Prior to the show, multiple negative reviews, combined with the fact that it is a local production, had impaired my expectations of this musical. However, the production surpassed my expectations with its combination of uplifting musical pieces, death-defying stunts, and spectacular CGI, immersing its audience in a multisensory experience. The play sets off deep within a forest, in a fantasy world, where jolly creatures, known as Imps, populate. These creatures thrive happily under the leadership of their tribe leader. The scene quickly descends into chaos with the entrance of the protagonist, the General. The tribe leader is captured while the imps are enslaved in the empire. The story revolves around the emperor’s trusted aide, the General, and his journey to restore the evil empire to its former glory. The ‘Light’ is a source of power for the dark empire
and can be found in every being. In his quest for the source of the ‘Light’, the General captures Nova, a mythical creature who is rumoured to be an infinite source of the ‘Light’. The slaves regain hope upon seeing the elusive Nova and in a twist of events, Nova reveals that the ‘Light’ can be found within oneself, forcing the General into a dilemma to choose between — his loyalty in serving the dark empire and embracing the new world with the omnipresent ‘Light’. The story continues to unfold in a more light-hearted tone, reaching out to the audience’s conscience, encouraging them to embrace their potential within and to not give in to their fears. The musical expertly brings its messages across with the cast’s resounding vocals, graceful dance routines and unwavering dedication. The amazing cast shone more brightly with the grand backdrop and stage setup, allowing the musical to constantly deliver. LightSeeker was definitely an experience!
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“ The production surpassed
my exectations by immersing its audiences in a multisensory experience.
“
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ArtJam has an ...
INTERVIEW WIth
CHARLIE LIM MOSAIC MUSIC FESTIVAL 2014 Artist biography Charlie Lim looks like your average twenty year old, innocuous looking and unassuming. Armed with a guitar and microphone and the young lad becomes extraordinary. He has since come a long way since his debut EP in 2011, even embarking on a successful Asian tour and being featured in leading radio stations in the region. The singer recently performed at the Mosaic Music Festival, showcasing his lush and soulful voice. Here’s what the singer had to say ahead of Mosaic:
ARTJAM: Your voice was auto-tuned in the Bandwagon Sessions. Would we be hearing more auto-tune in your next EP, given its popularity in electronic music.
CHARLIE LIM: It depends if the song calls for it, I suppose. In fact, the studio version of ‘Conspiracy’ (single from upcoming double EP Time/Space) doesn’t have any. The auto-tune thing I use live sometimes is more of an effect, like the way Kanye or Bon Iver uses it to get a particular sound that really distorts and mangles the voice, sort of like a vocoder would…it’s not the same kind of auto-tune that singers use in the studio to make them sound pitch perfect without changing the tone of their voice. Sorry I’m probably boring you with this tech stuff. (laughs) But basically I guess you get more of an interesting juxtaposition when you’re singing something soulful with a robotic tone. But it can be a bit of a gimmick so it’s best not to overuse it…unless you’re T-Pain, of course.
PHOTOS: Hoong Wei Long, Mosaic Music Festival
AJ: You’re a bit of a perfectionist, but do you see it as a help or a hindrance in recording an EP? CL: It’s a bit of both, I guess it’s hard to get perspective sometimes but at the same time it’s what drives me to get stuff done well. Most of the time it’s better to have people around to bounce ideas with, and they can tell you when you’re missing the forests or the trees. Finding the right people to work with is another thing altogether, though. AJ: Which comes first, music or lyrics? CL: It really depends on the song. Sometimes both come together, but that’s rare. I tend to collect lyrics in notebooks and sing hooks or melodies into my phone, and I’ll try to string them together later on. Melodies are not too hard to come by, so I tend to slave over the lyric a lot more. AJ: How did it feel like when you went on your first international tour? CL: It was the best. I think it always works well when you don’t have any expectations…we were just happy to be able to travel and play to a different audience altogether.
AJ: Any words of advice for aspiring musicians in NTU? CL: Listen to more music that’s out of your comfort zone! Not just because it’s popular or hip or whatever...it’s okay to have your own opinion. Try to understand why something moves you. Actually take time to listen; be active in the process and try to understand how a good song is made. It’s a bit of a challenge sometimes, but you’d be surprised how much you’ll get out of it.
FEATUREINTERVIEW
SCAN THIS! to view Charlie Lim’s Youtube page!
Charlie’s upcoming double EP is titled Time/Space and will be out later this year. Check out ntucac.com/ artjam/online/35/ charlielim for the full interview!
“I hope I can keep doing it for as long as I’m able to”
CHARLIE LIM
ON BEING IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY Forever
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events THIS
QuarteR APRIL APRIL 16TH - 27TH
HAPPY EVER LAUGHTER 13 comedians, including Hossan Leong, Kumar, and Mark Lee will take the stage to make everyone laugh about everything under the sun.
In the latest of his popular piano recitals, Kenneth Hamilton turns “Back to Bach” in a stunningly varied programme of Bach’s original music, Bach tributes (by Brahms and Liszt) and transcriptions (by Rachmaninoff and Busoni).
APRIL 25TH - MAY 11TH Marina Bay Sands Grand Theatre
APRIL 18TH - 27TH
GREASE
AH BOYS TO MEN: THE MUSICAL MORE INFOMATION: www.sistic.com/events/ bach0414 APRIL 25TH - MAY 11TH
After 2 hit movies, the cast of Ah Boys To Men will return - this time as a musical ensemble. Better wake up your idea, book-in and buy your tickets now! MORE INFORMATION: www.sistic.com.sg/events/ abtm0414 APRIL 19TH - 26TH
BACK TO BACH: KENNETH Hamilton
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Lionel Richie “All The Hits All Night Long” The multi-platinum selling artist and five-time Grammy winner Lionel Richie brings his greatest romantic ballads and dance worthy pop tunes to Singapore in the one-night only “All The Hits All Night Long” concert. MORE INFORMATION: www.unusual.com.sg/ LionelRichie2014_Synopsis.php
Featuring a spectacular international cast, the party musical promises super-slick dance moves, dazzling costumes and those unforgettable songs from the movie! MORE INFORMATION: www.sistic.com.sg/events/grease0514 APRIL 29TH - MAY 25TH
Shakespeare in the Park - The Merchant of Venice Spread a picnic blanket under the stars, uncork that bottle of wine and lose yourself in the rich world of The Merchant of Venice, where all that glisters is not gold. Join Shylock, one of Shakespeare’s most sympathetic villains, and the quick-witted Portia in their pursuit of justice and mercy in this fabulous and affordable outdoor theatre experience!
MAY
MAY 2ND - 18TH
THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE
The Rise & Fall of Little Voice tells the story of a shy, reclusive but talent-
EVENTSLISTING
ed at singing girl named LV - or Little Voice - and her, boozy, out-of-control mother Mari. As LV’s debut performance approaches, a showdown that will change everyone’s lives would also happen as well... MORE INFORMATION: pangdemonium.com/ production/the-rise-fall-oflittle-voice MAY 21ST
Jeff Dunham ‘’Disorderly Conduct Tour’’ Comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham is in Singapore as part of his Asia tour. Be sure to catch him with his friends Achmed, Peanut, Jose Jalapeno on a Stick, Walter and many more on stage!
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JUNE
JUNE 12TH - 15TH
BEERFEST ASIA 2014 This four-day lifestyle and trade festival will feature close to 400 types of beer from all over the world, live stage performances, a comedy club, amongst others. MORE INFORMATION: www.beerfestasia.com JUNE 13TH
ELLIE GOULDING Global chart-topper Ellie Goulding returns to Singapore on 13 June 2014 on the back of an incredible year, after rising to become one of the most talked about acts in modern music.
MAY 23TH - 25TH
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR SINGAPORE The Affordable Art Fair returns this May at the F1 Pit Building. Art lovers, seasoned collectors and first time art novices will be happy with twice the opportunity to seek out the perfect piece of art. MORE INFORMATION: www.affordableartfair. com/singapore/ MAY 31TH
B.A.P LIVE ON EARTH SINGAPORE 2014 Korean boy band B.A.P returns to Singapore for their second concert and will perform their songs from the latest album.
featured event
MORE INFORMATION: www.sistic.com.sg/ events/ellie0614 JUNE 15TH
SOJOURN 2014 Our very owm NTU CAC Symphonic Band takes a stage again in their annual concert, Sojourn 2014. Don’t miss this chance to catch them on stage! MORE INFORMATION: www.ntucac.com/memberclub/symphonic-band
MAY 27TH - JUNE 1ST Marina Bay Sands Grand Theatre
TAP DOGS With 20 years of global success, the TAP DOGS move to the groove of their own beat to bring the steel-works construction site alive, with their high energy dance, theatrical performance and live music. STAND A CHANCE TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS! Simply tell us in 20 words what you love about the TAP DOGS! 2 Pairs of tickets up for grabs! Contest ends 15 May. Send your entries to publications@ntucac.com JUNE 15TH
ENCHANTE Enchanté, which means “Nice to meet you” in French is the theme for Arts From The Heart charity Carnival 2014. With Children’s Cancer Foundation as their beneficiary this year, the theme aims to promote the spirit of meeting people without prejudice, and looking beyond the physical disabilities of people.
JUNE 20TH - 23RD
The carnival will include performances at Marina barrage as well as several carnival games. At sunset, there will be a mass release of helium balloons so be sure not to miss it!
From Baroque court to the more abstract and cosmic pieces, this year’s Piano Festival promises four uplifting evenings of passionate music-making.
singapore international piano festival 2014
WANT YOUR EVENT FEATURED HERE? We would gladly welcome any press releases or any events related to the arts and cultural scene in Singapore to be featured in this page. Please direct all emails to publications@ntucac.com and we’ll get back to you soon!